Teaching with Domenico Veneziano…Student Activities

Domenico Veneziano - Humanism and Secularism

Domenico Veneziano, c. 1410-1461The Adoration of the Magi, 1435, tempera on panel, 90 cm diameter, Gemäldegalerie,

Berlin

“Secularism comes from the word secular, meaning “of this world”. Before the Renaissance, medieval Christian civilization had been largely concerned with faith

and salvation in the afterlife. The new economic and political opportunities opening up for Western Europe in the Late Middle Ages encouraged more people to take an interest in this world. During the Renaissance people started to see life on Earth as

worth living for its own sake, not just as an ordeal to endure before going to heaven. The art of the period in particular exhibited this secular spirit, showing detailed and accurate scenery, anatomy, and nature. Medieval artists generally

ignored such realistic aspects in their paintings which focused only on the glory of

God. This is not to say that Renaissance people had lost faith in God. Religion was still the most popular theme for paintings during the Renaissance, but people were

finding other things worth living for.

Humanism relates to secularism in that it is the concept that places human beings, not God or faith, as the center of attention in life. Renaissance art, which portrayed the human body as a thing of beauty in its own right, not like some medieval "comic

strip" character whose only reason to exist was for the glory of God. Along those lines, Renaissance philosophers and writiers saw humans as intelligent creatures

capable of reason (and questioning authority) rather than mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God. Even the term for Renaissance philosophers,

"humanists", shows how the focus of peoples' attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. It also described the group of scholars who drew upon the more secular Greek and Roman civilizations for inspiration.”

https://www.tamdistrict.org/cms/lib8/CA01000875/Centricity/Domain/1076/Renaissance_Art_Literature.pdf

Students are asked to Answer the two Question:Where do you see aspects of Secularism in Domenico Veneziano’s

“Adoration of the Magi” painting?Where do you see aspects of Humanism in Domenico Veneziano’s

“Adoration of the Magi” painting?

Domenico Veneziano The Berenson Madonna and Child

Domenico Veneziano, c. 1410-1461Madonna and Child, 1435-37, tempera on panel, 86x61 cm, Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance

Studies

“The Madonna and Child in the Berenson Collection is also similarly related to Florentine painting of the 1430s. For this reason it is normally dated at around the same period as the Carnesecchi Tabernacle. The gentle image of the Virgin is placed against a reddish brocade

backdrop, creating a very elegant and courtly mood; she offers a flower to the plump little Child. Here, too, the lighting contributes peaceful intimacy to the scene.”

http://www.travelingintuscany.com/art/domeniconeneziano.htm and https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/34614373/Connors%20Berenson%20Catalogue

%202016%2007%2009.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed= y page 5

Instructions for the Teacher: Present information on The Berenson Madonna and Child

Instructions for the Students: Which of the following statements apply to Veneziano’s painting of the Madonna and Child? Circle what you think is correct.

History, Purpose and Subject Matter:

1. The Painting is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection and exhibited in New York.

2. The Madonna and Child Painting was acquired by Bernard and Mary Berenson in 1900. Today it belongs to the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies.

3. Paintings of the Madonna and Child were commissioned for to decorate churches & public buildings only.

4. Paintings of the Madonna and Child were very popular among Renaissance Patrons of the Arts.

5. The Madonna and Child Painting stans in front of a beautiful and luxurious “Silk Brocade Curtain” background.

Medium and Techniques:

1. Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of coloured pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk.

2. Tempera painting have been found on early Egyptian sarcophagi decorations. Many of the Fayum mummy portraits used the Medium of Tempera.

3. Popular among painters of the Middle Ages were Wall Paintings in the Tempera Medium.

Style and Design:

1. This is a fine example of correct contrapposto stance.2. Madonna’s robe drapery moves elegantly around her body. 3. The figure of the Madonna is depicted as a well-muscled woman of older age. 4. The Madonna is depicted as an elegant and graceful woman in a peaceful and relaxed

mood.

Madonna and Child enthroned with St. Francis, John the Baptist, St. Zenobius

and St. Lucy

Domenico Veneziano, c. 1410-1461 Madonna and Child enthroned with St. Francis, John the Baptist, St. Zenobius and

St. Lucy, c. 1445, tempera on panel, 209 x 216 cm, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

A Bulletin Bord ActivityInstructions for the Teacher:

Divide the class in groups of two students. Each group should be provided with a coloured photocopy picture of the Madonna and Child enthroned

with St. Francis, John the Baptist, St. Zenobius and St. Lucy Altarpiece.

Instructions for the Students: 1. Students should start the activity with the provided coloured

photocopy of the Altarpiece, thick white paper, scissors, glue, coloured pencils.

2. Students are asked to create “clouds” big enough to write their thought on the Altarpiece

3. Groups brainstorm 5 words that characterize the style of the painting, then another 5 words that describe his/her own reaction to the painting. Groups use their responses to create 4 sentences, 2 sentences for the style and 2 sentences for the reaction to the

Altarpiece. 4. Write the final sentences on the paper “clouds” they have created.

5. Discuss the results in class.6. Create a Class “Domenico Veneziano” Bulletin Board with the Activity

“Clouds”.Inspired by:

http://www.italianrenaissanceresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1.Virgin_ACTIVITIES-1.pdf

Domenico Veneziano… My Favourite!

This is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) ActivityInstructions:1. Students have access to “Domenico Veneziano” PowerPoint2. Students are asked to study the provided pictures of Domenico’s

paintings, select 1 of them and then write a paragraph describing the picture’s composition.

3. This paragraph should includea. an Introduction/Identification of pictureb. a presentation of what can be seen in the picture of choicec. reference to the colors, lines, shapes and texture the artist usedd. a sentence or two on the student reaction to the picture - how does

student feel about the picturee. a sentence or two on why this painting is important – what students

learnf. a closure to the paragraph

Useful Tips: use descriptive adjectives and action verbs