Transcript 2011 The Florence Baptistry Doors09

Values and Vanities
What does our public art say
about us?
• Values
• Vanity
• 4. values: [plural]
principles or beliefs.
the principles and
beliefs that influence
the behavior and way
of life of a particular
group or community
• 1. being too proud of
yourself or your
appearance. the fact
of being too proud of
your abilities, or too
interested in your
appearance
How does this monument reflect
American values?
How does this monument reflect
American vanities?
Public Works of
Art
Symbols of Society’s Values
or Vanity?
Monoliths
excavated from surrounding rock
Stonehenge, England 2500 B.C.E.
Easter Island (off coast of S.America) 1000-1500
A.D.
Olmec Civilization, Mexico 1200–900 BCE
Buildings
any man-made structure used or intended for
supporting or sheltering any use or continuous
,
occupancy
Taq-I Kisra, Ctesiphon, Ancient Persia 540 AD
The Forbidden City, Beijing 1406-20
Kuala Lumpur
Twin Towers, NYC
Memorial
is an object which serves as a focus for memory of
something, usually a person (who has died) or an
event
.
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Canadian National Vimy Memorial, 1922
Obelisks
is a tall, narrow, four-sided, tapering monument
which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top
Obelisk of Senurset, 1970 (?) B.C.E.
Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.
Tombs and
Masoleums
is an external free-standing building constructed as
a monument enclosing the interment space or burial
chamber of a deceased person or persons.
The Sphnix (c.1400 B.C.E.)
Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1653
Religious Sites
a physical structure used for religious activities
Ellora Caves, India, 5th–10th century
Ankgor Wat,Cambodia, 12th century
St. Peter’s Cathedral, Rome
Arches
a structure that spans a space while supporting
weight
Arch of Constantine 315 A.D.
Gateway to India
Statues
is a sculpture in the round representing a person or
persons, an animal, or an event, normally fulllength, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to
life-size, or larger.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The UNESCO "Statement of Significance" describes the statue as a
"masterpiece of the human spirit" that "endures as a highly potent
symbol—inspiring contemplation, debate and protest—of
ideals such as liberty, peace,
human rights, abolition of
slavery, democracy and
opportunity."
Statue of Liberty, New York
The Florence Baptistry Doors
A competition for immortality
“The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the
Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and
achievement from the 14th to the 16th century.
* excerpt from Wikipedia
The word renaissance (rinascimento in
Italian) literally means "rebirth", and the
era is best known for the renewed
interest in the culture of classical
antiquity after the period that
Renaissance humanists labeled the Dark
Ages.”*
* excerpt from Wikipedia
Madonna, by Duccio, 1311
an example of a painting done in the time known as the Dark Ages
Comparison of two Madonnas.
from the Dark Ages.
Duccio, Madonna and Child, 1280’s
from the Renaissance
Raphael, Sistine Madonna, 1514
The Italian Renaissance began in Florence.
The Medici family ruled there and they
were great patrons of the arts.
The Big Three of the Italian High Renaissance
These artists actually came later than the period we’re talking about here, but they are names you’ll probably
recognize.
Michaelangelo
Raphael
Leonardo da Vinci
A view of the city of Florence
The square of the Duomo, the great
cathedral, was the focal point of the
Florentine society.
The Duomo facade
The Campanielle designed by Giotto
The dome was designed by Michaelangelo
The Battistero di San Giovanni sits at the
center of the square.
It is the first cathedral in Florence, built in
1059.
The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St John)
The Baptistery’s ceiling
South Doors, Andrea Pisano 1330-36
This frame is called a
quatrefoil – it means
“four leaves”
The Baptism of Christ, Andrea Pisano, 1330-36
In 1401 a competition was announced to
find an artist to design the doors for the north
side of the building. Two sculptors, the well
known Filippo Brunelleschi and the
unknown Lorenzo Ghiberti became the two
finalists.
The entries for each artist in the competition
Brunelleschi, Sacrifice of Issac, 1401-03
Ghiberti, Sacrifice of Issac, 1401-03
Lorenzo Ghiberti, the North doors, 1403-24
In 1425 Ghiberti started another set of
doors for the baptistery which he did not
finish until 1452. when Michelangelo saw
these doors he said they “were fit to be the
Gates of Paradise”. They are known to this
day as exactly that.
The Fall of Jericho
Lorenzo Ghiberti, Porta del Paradiso,, 1425-52
What are the values and vanities
of ISB?