POTDPOTD--The BeginningThe Beginning

The ‘Early Renaissance’The ‘Early Renaissance’ aka “Let’s Get It Started In Here!”aka “Let’s Get It Started In Here!”

Howdy!Howdy! Welcome to the first installment of the soon to be "painting of the day" Welcome to the first installment of the soon to be "painting of the day"

email! email! With these emails, you'll gain an understanding of painting and learn how With these emails, you'll gain an understanding of painting and learn how

to more effectively look at modern art. Unfortunately, I’d be robbing you of to more effectively look at modern art. Unfortunately, I’d be robbing you of the foundation of your art history education if I didn't at least glaze over the foundation of your art history education if I didn't at least glaze over some of the stuff that's been accomplished by our talented and long-dead, some of the stuff that's been accomplished by our talented and long-dead, white European ancestors! white European ancestors!

Botticelli ‘Birth of Venus’ 1485 Tempera on Canvas Botticelli ‘Birth of Venus’ 1485 Tempera on Canvas 67 7/8 × 109 5/8 in67 7/8 × 109 5/8 in

The Renaissance- The Boring The Renaissance- The Boring YearsYears

I always hated the beginning of US History I always hated the beginning of US History class because it always started the same class because it always started the same way...with the Spanish! What a way...with the Spanish! What a snoozer...every time! I wanted to get to the snoozer...every time! I wanted to get to the "whites of their eyes" and Boston Tea Party "whites of their eyes" and Boston Tea Party action. Well, I know what you're saying...and to action. Well, I know what you're saying...and to that I say...“Quiet you! It’s learnin' time!“that I say...“Quiet you! It’s learnin' time!“

The Renaissance came into being, as many art The Renaissance came into being, as many art movements do, as a reaction to the previous movements do, as a reaction to the previous style/movement of art. The Middle Ages of Art style/movement of art. The Middle Ages of Art were nasty boring times for the most were nasty boring times for the most part...paintings of empty eyed Jesi (Jesuses?) part...paintings of empty eyed Jesi (Jesuses?) and Saints glared at the viewer showing a and Saints glared at the viewer showing a dearth of emotion and movement. Sweet! dearth of emotion and movement. Sweet!

No matter how much Mary repped the West Coast, her No matter how much Mary repped the West Coast, her baby Jesus still looked like Billy Joel.baby Jesus still looked like Billy Joel.

Madonna and ChildMadonna and Child Berlinghiero (Italian) Circa 1228 Berlinghiero (Italian) Circa 1228 Tempera on Wood PanelTempera on Wood Panel

***Early Renaissance All-Stars!******Early Renaissance All-Stars!***

I don’t want to get too far into this, because most I don’t want to get too far into this, because most early Renaissance painting is identified by it’s stiff early Renaissance painting is identified by it’s stiff awkward painting and stagnant biblical scenarios. awkward painting and stagnant biblical scenarios. There are though a few heavy hitters and wack There are though a few heavy hitters and wack jobs out there that I think you’ll find interesting. jobs out there that I think you’ll find interesting.

In the beginning of the 1400’s, Europeans began In the beginning of the 1400’s, Europeans began learning more about ancient Rome and Greece (the learning more about ancient Rome and Greece (the classical periods). This began a reawakening of classical periods). This began a reawakening of artistic, philosophical and scientific pursuits which artistic, philosophical and scientific pursuits which resulted in the beginnings of the modern age.resulted in the beginnings of the modern age.

Fra Angelico- Fra Angelico- The AnnunciationThe Annunciation 1432-43 1432-43

This painting illustrates Gabriel (the angel) telling Mary that This painting illustrates Gabriel (the angel) telling Mary that she got knocked up by the ‘Big Playa in the Sky’ himself.she got knocked up by the ‘Big Playa in the Sky’ himself.

Note the composition of the painting and it’s extreme lack of Note the composition of the painting and it’s extreme lack of dynamism, it’s sectioned off into thirds, vertically, while dynamism, it’s sectioned off into thirds, vertically, while closing in top of the painting with the arches. The figures are closing in top of the painting with the arches. The figures are wholly framed inside the columns making them about as wholly framed inside the columns making them about as exciting as an Excel spreadsheet. Here Madonna is curiously exciting as an Excel spreadsheet. Here Madonna is curiously flashing more gang signs. Daaaaamn, she’s straight Gangsta!flashing more gang signs. Daaaaamn, she’s straight Gangsta!

Hieronymous Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights”Hieronymous Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights”

The Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych (a 3 panel piece with hinges that folds in The Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych (a 3 panel piece with hinges that folds in upon itself) of VERY strange old school biblical subject matter. Experts over the upon itself) of VERY strange old school biblical subject matter. Experts over the years have studied this piece with many conflicting theories—here’s the gist- the years have studied this piece with many conflicting theories—here’s the gist- the triptych is 3 pieces in chronological order. When folded, the image is the earth on the triptych is 3 pieces in chronological order. When folded, the image is the earth on the 33rdrd day of creation. When opened it is to be read sequentially...1 day of creation. When opened it is to be read sequentially...1stst panel is the panel is the creation of man, second is man gettin’ BUSY and the third is man getting punished in creation of man, second is man gettin’ BUSY and the third is man getting punished in hell for it. Take that sex-getter!hell for it. Take that sex-getter!

Garden of Earthly Delights- outsideGarden of Earthly Delights- outside

When folded, the painting shows the When folded, the painting shows the earth on the third day of its creation earth on the third day of its creation (plants are present, but no animals or (plants are present, but no animals or humans yet). The aforementioned humans yet). The aforementioned ‘Big Playa in the Sky’ is up in the top ‘Big Playa in the Sky’ is up in the top left corner. The inscription reads: left corner. The inscription reads:

"Ipse dixit, et facta sunt: ipse mandávit, et "Ipse dixit, et facta sunt: ipse mandávit, et creáta sunt"—creáta sunt"—For he spake and it was For he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fastdone; he commanded, and it stood fast

Garden of Earthly Delights- left panelGarden of Earthly Delights- left panel

Above is the detail of the left panel. Note the Above is the detail of the left panel. Note the puppy/kangaroo hybrid next to the white giraffe. This puppy/kangaroo hybrid next to the white giraffe. This entire painting has so much iconography and just plain entire painting has so much iconography and just plain weird shit, that I’m not really going to get into it. At the weird shit, that I’m not really going to get into it. At the bottom, Adam and Eve are getting face time with The Big bottom, Adam and Eve are getting face time with The Big Playa (who is working a little magic on you-know-who).Playa (who is working a little magic on you-know-who).

Garden of Earthly Garden of Earthly Delights- Center PanelDelights- Center Panel

This piece shows people This piece shows people partaking in the Earthly partaking in the Earthly Delights. It’s supposed to be Delights. It’s supposed to be about lust but if you look about lust but if you look closely you’ll see:closely you’ll see:

--A headless man petting a big fishA headless man petting a big fish-lots of people with fruit on their heads-lots of people with fruit on their heads-birds feeding people-birds feeding people-2 bodies that share one head...but the head is -2 bodies that share one head...but the head is an owl.an owl.-A naked dude inside a giant mussel.-A naked dude inside a giant mussel.(detail below)(detail below)

Garden of Earthly Delights- Right panelGarden of Earthly Delights- Right panel(hell)(hell)

Welcome to hell! I’ve hyperlinked the panel for closer perusal of damned Welcome to hell! I’ve hyperlinked the panel for closer perusal of damned afterlife. All those cats that were monkeying around in the second panel are afterlife. All those cats that were monkeying around in the second panel are paying for it now. There’s no fish petting here! paying for it now. There’s no fish petting here!

Below left is the ‘Prince of Hell’, this bird headed fellow eats the souls of Below left is the ‘Prince of Hell’, this bird headed fellow eats the souls of corrupt clergy. Below center is a man with a pig/nun wife!corrupt clergy. Below center is a man with a pig/nun wife!

That Bosch was quite a card.That Bosch was quite a card.

End.End. Thanks for exploring a kersmidgen of early Renaissance with me. It’s been quite a Thanks for exploring a kersmidgen of early Renaissance with me. It’s been quite a

ride. I hope you’ve enjoyed this first installment of Jason’s Painting of the Day! Just ride. I hope you’ve enjoyed this first installment of Jason’s Painting of the Day! Just remember, don’t dance around naked w/ your head co-joined with someone elses in remember, don’t dance around naked w/ your head co-joined with someone elses in the form of a big owl or a giant rabbit may eat you feet first.the form of a big owl or a giant rabbit may eat you feet first.

Have a good day.Have a good day.