Sample Analysis for Chapter 2

This is what one analysis should look like. Note the use of comparison to works in Learning to Look at Paintings and incorporation of chapter content such as "orthogonals."

Giorgione, The Adoration of the Shepherds from Gospels Pg. 81 for Chapter 2: Space

In The Adoration of the Shepherds, Giorgione uses a variety of techniques to achieve spatial illusion. He utilizes single viewpoint two-point linear perspective to give the painting depth. The assumed orthogonals run from the center of the work where the shepherds are standing to two separate vanishing points. One of these vanishing points can be found on the horizon by the mountains to the far left, while the other occurs somewhere within the cave to the right. At first glance everything seems mathematically proportionate, but closer examination reveals that the figures in the middle ground do not appear to be consistent with the assumed orthogonals running through the work. Instead, they appear much smaller than they should when compared with the figures in the foreground. Adoration looks even less spatially convincing when compared to School of Athens on Pg. 34 of Learning to Look at Paintings, in which Raphael carefully represents the figures in different sizes corresponding to the geometrical organization of the painting.
In addition to this somewhat imperfect linear perspective, Giorgione also uses aerial perspective to convey depth. He does this by painting the houses, foliage, and mountains in far less detail than the subjects in the foreground, such as Mary's robe. He also uses cooler blues and greens in the background, which tend to recede from the viewer and contribute to the illusion of distance. This contrasts the reds and browns found in the foreground and middle ground which catch the viewer's eye and appear closer. Unlike Millet's The Gleaners on Page 44, Giorgione does not ignore the middle distance but instead calls our attention to it by placing structures and figures within it. The viewer's gaze begins on the figures in the foreground and drifts slowly back to the left through the middle ground and into the distance with the mountains and sky.

Remember, ask any and all questions you have and do your best work! Good luck!

Sincerely,
Mr. Clarke

First BIG Assignment Summer 2016

This assignment is due by Monday July 25th at midnight.


You will turn in your work with the following method. Those of you who already know me know how specific I am about procedures. Please read the following carefully.

• Please type your written work in a Google Document.  

• Change the sharing settings so that ANYONE WITH THE LINK may EDIT. If you don't know how to change sharing settings like this, there are great tutorials online.

• Copy the link and email it to me at christopher.clarke@redclay.k12.de.us.

• DO NOT send me an invitation to edit your document. Use the procedure above. 

• DO NOT edit your document after the time the assignment is due. I can see all track changes anyway and will grade whatever you had done at the time the assignment was due.

• You may email me the link to your Google Doc early, even if you have not finished working on it.

• I will be adding comments to your work with commendations and/or suggestions for improvement on the next phase of the summer work. Please be sure to read these comments before doing significant work on the next phase. I will add comments as quickly as I can but it's a slow process and there are more of you than there are of me :)

READING

In "Learning to Look at Paintings", read:

Chapter 1: Composition
Chapter 2: Space
Chapter 3: Form

In "Gospel Figures in Art", read pages 1-165 (many pages are just pictures)
In "Gods and Heroes in Art", read pages 1-188 (many pages are just pictures)

WRITING

This assignment will be practice in formal analysis of works.

Choose 3 works from your reading in "Gods" or "Gospels" and write an analysis of each based on the "Learning to Look at Paintings" chapter on COMPOSITION (Pages 1-28).

Choose 3 works from your reading in "Gods" or "Gospels" and write an analysis of each based on the "Learning to Look at Paintings" chapter on SPACE (Pages 29-55).

Choose 3 works from your reading in "Gods" or "Gospels" and write an analysis of each based on the "Learning to Look at Paintings" chapter on FORM (Pages 56-87).

Each analysis should be 1-2 paragraphs in length. List the work and page # at the top of each analysis (ex. Anthony van Dyck, Flagellation, 1620. Pg. 277 in Gospels). In each analysis compare/contrast the work to the ones listed as examples in that chapter and the other 2 works you are analyzing. Analyze only the qualities from that chapter! (Ex. If you are writing using the FORM chapter don't talk about the subject matter of the work...) Please try to differentiate the works to the greatest degree possible. It is very boring to write formal analyses of very similar works (It's not very invigorating to grade them either). Correct spelling and grammar will be expected on the AP test and for all assignments in this course. Proffread everthing ;)

I will post an example paragraph to help guide you. Email me or post on the blog any questions you have!  Do your best! Good luck!

Sincerely,
Mr. Clarke

First Assignment Summer 2016

Hello everyone!

For your first (easy) assignment, comment on this post with the following:

Your name. 
Your status in acquiring the textbooks.
Your experience (or lack of) with the visual arts.
What you hope to learn from this class.

Do this by Monday 6/20 to avoid getting an email from me checking up on you.

Your first real assignment will be posted on that Monday as well, so check back or follow this blog.

Thanks!

Sincerely, 
Mr. Clarke