Museum of Fine Arts: European Art Exhibit

Critiqued by: Zechariah Palmarez

INTRODUCTION

• For this presentation, I have decided to examine a few of the arts of Europe in the Middle Ages and Renaissance Periods, located within the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. This exhibit showcases a variety of well organized pieces from skilled painters dating from the 13 th-20th Century Europe.

• I was impressed by the variances among the styles by region and the techniques used in these works. The collection also featured well lit displays and humbling large scale works with elegant frames.

• Located in the Audrey Jones Beck Building, open for General Admission.

• Definitely worth a good look and the museum is open Tuesday-Sunday with free admission on Thursdays.

RECOGNITION: NORTH AND SOUTH

CONSTANT MAYER (1832-1911) - RECOGNITION: NORTH AND SOUTH• This is the first piece I saw that really resonated with me.

• This is an American Painting from a French born man who depicts the tragedy of a terrible war between Union and Confederate Brothers.

• It shows the grief of the times which are enhanced by the half dreary half vibrant landscape that shows the symbolic contrast of life and death.

• It evokes powerful emotion that questions the sense in the tragedy of the Civil War.

• Dark tones are added to the painting to further express distress.

• Great use of foreshortening, angled figures and harmonious composition of objects, color elements, shadows and tension. This achieves the maximum effect of mood and emotion.

• Painted 1865, Oil on Canvas.

Jacopo Robusti – Mocking of Christ

• Italian Painting, (Ca. 1585-1590).• Oil on Canvas• Jacopo Robusti was said to be very elderly for this

time period, being only in his 60s. • He inserted himself into the painting, (Bearded

man top right) possibly to bear witness to the torment of Christ that he relates to himself on a personal and spiritual level, adding to the realism.

• Detailed to showcase absolute naturalism and Realism elements.

• Angled figures achieve foreshortening which achieves depth of a surrounded Christ. A very chaotic and stressful scene, as he is punctured by a spear. Dark tones are used.

• Elements show divine inspiration, loyal to biblical texts.

• Christ’s robe is the brightest of all and red, possibly for emphasis of his pain and the depth of his sacrifice.

Sandro Botticelli – Adoration of the Christ

Child• Oil on Panel, Painted ca. 1500. Italian.• I found this to be a very stunning work of art and very intricate.• This painting uses a very complex technique noted by the cubed space in

which Mary and Joseph sit. It utilizes a sort of three point perspective that allows the illusion of the two spaces seen outside the walls being viewed as the space outside this cube.

• Christ is angled in foreshortening, and Saint Joseph exhibits relaxed composed state with angled cane and stress lines.

• Mary is easily the brightest figure in this painting that exudes comfort as she prays over her child.

• The Ox and the Ass sit juxtaposed within a cave bearing one single tree, possibly to symbolize the purity and impurity that loom and blossom out from the cave – which likely symbolizes something at bay not yet brought to light. Unnerving and comforting at the same time.

• Travelers depart in the distance, which are believed to be Mary and Joseph on their pilgrimage to Egypt. They rest for now and more trouble is ahead, (hence the prayer for an infant Jesus) and their looming bodies reflect the circular nature of the painting in a harmonious capsule.

• The painting evokes several different emotions and is able to effectively capture a vibrant and expressive scene.

Tiger on the Watch

Jean-Leon Gerome

-French (1824-1904)

-Oil on Canvas

-C. 1888• Subject Matter was not always religious as you can see

this wonderful depiction of a watchful predator on a caravan.

• An interesting piece that displays great naturalism across an ordinary desert landscape with incredible detail.

• A good example of utilizing background elements and horizon lines to create illusion of landscape.

• Also utilizes perspective lines, and scaling techniques.

• This piece was interesting to me because it was very life-like and realistic. It simply depicted pure nature from an outsiders perspective. Like you can feel the predator and see what it sees.

PAOLO DE MATTEIS –ALLEGORY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE OF UTRECHTCA. 1714-1718

• A very interesting piece that exhibits great celebration after a long and tedious conflict. Creates a very surreal feeling for the viewer.

• Angels and cherubs prevail in a conflict and appear to be helping construct symbolic art.

• Many tense, wrenching figures hold strong emotion and activity and are painted using Michelangelo’s innovative technique that relies on complex twisting of extremities to accomplish stress, strain or great action.

• Added Symbolism of Monkeys, lions and sheep to show a quell of conflict.

• Interestingly warped to show the painter lost in the scene of inspiration.

William Bouguereau (1825-1905) –Our Lady of the Angels Oil on Canvas. Painted 1889. French. A great and simple example of the beloved Madonna and

Child style depiction. Incorporates symbolic elements such as her standing on clouds, and having a halo of golden light typically found in most Madonna depictions.

Soft cherub figures stand in reverence of a confident upright female figure that projects a divine will as she comfortably holds a child. Her body rests in the absolute center of the photograph and her head appears to be the sun that illuminates the area.

Done in a Neoclassical style, it has traditional Greek elements such as the flowing robe styles and life-like figures. It incorporates also the biblical references and is a good sized elegant painting.

Curiously there is no background, and it all suspends in a heavenly scene. It stands to humble the viewer as it sits in a very well illuminated display with beautifully soft details.

Francois Pascal Simon Gerard (1770 – 1837) –

Portrait of Louise-Antoinette-Scholastique Gueheneuc, Madame la Marechale Lannes, Duchesse de Montebello, with her children.

• French. Oil on Canvas, painted 1814.• One of my favorite paintings in the exhibit that dazzles the

viewer with extremely lifelike figures and great color hues.• Depicts nobility at it’s finest, extravagant clothing and lavish

home-style backdrop.• Portraiture was important in noble families and served to

immortalize. • Bright colors and sharp lines are used to have absolute

precision and give a light, airy and cozy tone. It successfully captures the noble family in a calm scene of a proud mother and her gifted children, who have different clothing styles and/or items that indicate their interests.

• Skin appears to be very soft and the textures are brilliantly blended. A great example of skillful portraiture.

GUSTAVE COURBET (1819 – 1877) : THE GUST OF WIND

• Painted c. 1865, Oil on Canvas. French.

• This was a piece inspired by the forces of nature itself, which is why it caught my attention.

• It depicts a storm brewing, and is thought to have been actually painted during the storm which adds to its authenticity and almost gives the viewer anxiety.

• Shows a French landscape with billowing wind that is accentuated by the streaks of clouds and bending of the branches. It shows a looming darkness that seems to be actively taking over the light as the storm approaches adding a tense vibe to the scenery.

• Lots of blurred textures show an erratic use of paint; An aggressive style that would become popular in the 20th Century. This style complements the bloom of the ground scenery, along with the wide range of colors.

• The most alluring aspect of the painting is the line technique used for the foliage, which uses extremely thin lines that almost seem haphazard, but are expertly crafted to appeal at even a distance.

• Appears slightly angled, which accentuates the sun beams on the trees in the horizon and adds a nice touch to the scenery.

Conclusion• The Museum of Fine Arts is a great museum with tons of

interesting pieces and this exhibit in particular was very thought provoking. The best part about art is knowing how to look at it and having a good amount of time to dedicate to it really makes me appreciate the beauty of it. The artists of Europe during these times were highly skilled and brought their many values, ideas and their time period itself to life in their work by use of technique, intelligence and creativity. A very thoughtful and well organized collection that will stay with you for a lifetime. A must see!

“There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.” - Pablo Picasso 

Sources:

Cunningham, Lawrence, and John J. Reich. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print.

"Home | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2016.

"Michelangelo, His Paintings, and Sculptures." Michelangelo:Paintings,Sculptures,Biography of Michelangelo. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2016.

"Northern Renaissance (c.1430-1580)." Northern Renaissance Art: History, Characteristics. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2016.

"The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston." The MFAH Collections. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2016.

"The Significance of the Ox and Ass at the Manger." Post and Courier. N.p., 2012. Web. 16 Aug. 2016.