The Last Supper

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, after cleaning 1498, Tempera on plaster
460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 ft.), Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Refectory), Milan

 

 

The Last Supper is one of the greatest artwork done by the genius artist, Leonardo da Vincci. This artwork was painted in Milan, Italy and this artwork describe the last day of Jesus as it is told in the Gospel of John. And that is when Jesus announced that one of his Twelve Apostles would betray him and something have to be done. It can be clearly seen that in this picture, there are Six Apostles on both side of Jesus.

In this piece of artwork, almost all of the other artists interpret it as John is the one who is betraying Jesus because as shown in the artwork. John is holding a knife which is supposed as the weapon going to use to assault Jesus and kill him. (The Last Supper- the study of the painting of Leonardo da Vincci). Apostle John according to some provocative speculations is in reality Maria Magdalena (with the look of Leda) who wears clothes with inverted color schema in comparison to the clothes of Jesus (royal blue blouse with red cape versus red blouse with royal blue cape) as a symbol of a relation.

Besides, this artwork also has a theology of humility because Jesus knew what was going to come and he gathered all his disciples around and they feast and he told them that he knew what is coming and he washed his disciples’ feet. (Wikipedia- The Last Supper).

For my interpretation towards this painting, I think that Apostles John is the one that going to betray Jesus as what we can see from the painting. John is holding a stick which looks alike with knife. From this, it might be explained that John is going to kill the Jesus. For this painting, it shows the bad humanity of soul as the apostles is betrayed the Jesus though the Jesus is sharing the wine and bread with his disciples and said “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.", according to the bible story.

Picture Credit: http://www.google.com.my/imgres?q=the+last+supper&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1064&bih=479&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=DFMAgAsYg8OFCM:&imgrefurl=http://everyday-revolutionary.blogspot.com/2011/04/last-supper-and-eucharist-whats-deal.html&docid=FsGq6aAITsJT4M&w=909&h=481&ei=nhtVTsyYOsTRrQfT-JTcDg&zoom=1

Assignment 3: Art Appreciation & Criticism

WOMAN HOLDING A BALANCE

Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, oil on canvas, C.1662-1665, National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection.

The true interpretation of this painting is unknown however there are several interpretations from the artists. The painting is interpreted as a vanitas painting as it represents as divine truth, religious meditative aid and incitement to balance life. (Vermeer and Plato: Painting the Ideal, 2005). Some interpreted that the woman is ‘symbolically weighing unborn souls’ of human with her empty scale in balance (John Michael Montias, 1938-2005). There is also interpretation saying that the weighing process that the woman carried and the Last Judgment painting on wall show the trinkets of the world are vanities which might too little in the scales. (Masterpieces of Western Art, 2002). The mirror on wall may refer to self-knowledge but also symbolize the sin of vanity, so do the pearls and gold. The Last Judgment painting shows Christ as weigher of souls, with this hidden meaning in the painting, shows that the woman is holding a scale in balance and contemplates the life free from wealth temptation in order to be judged favourably on Judgment Day. (Gardner’s Art through the Ages: A Global History, 2009).

For the imitative, the painting shows the woman in Dutch costume, waiting, holding and starring at the scale. The Last Judgment painting also shows the depiction of various saints included in the work holding instruments of their martyrdom.

For the emotionalism, it shows a calm expression on the woman’s face. The scale she hold symbolize as justice, mirror as vanity, pearl and gold chains as wealth, the Last Judgment painting as religious basis of the woman. The blue mentalge(jacket) represents the middle or upper class social status in the 17^th century. The blue colour in the painting represents as immaterialism. 

For my own interpretation towards this painting, the woman seem like ignoring the pearls, gold and coins that placed on the table, she only focus on the scale that she hold. Scale was represented justice, from this scene, it might shows that the woman think that justice is more important than materialism. She look alike waiting for the scale to become balance. But, from her eyes level, she not really staring at the scale, she is more like focus her concentration on her own thinking or mind. She looks like thinking with the appearance of staring on the scale. What was the woman thinking? Here comes the other question.the overall painting shows the waiting motion. Perhaps the woman is waiting and wonder when the human will care of justice more than wealth. Besides, the Last Judgment painting is painted behind the woman. Why was it drawn? It might showing the religious of the woman. From the painting, we could see that the Christ is judging the human soul as the weigher. It might also reflect the hidden message that final judgment on human with bad sin. The woman might believed that the final judgment would fell onto the human so she is ignoring the pearl, golds and coins in front. 

This is the painting that I have chosen for the assignment 3 and I have added on my own interpretation towards the painting. 

I posted on and hope that Sir could give some comments on it and I think this would be helpful for my interpretation and further learning.
Picture Credit: Taken from - 

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?q=woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=mppYQtGiyQTbfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.nga.gov/feature/vermeer/moment3.shtm&docid=npBVe1u421hKCM&w=359&h=400&ei=VahTTtTXMI_SrQe629GsDg&zoom=1&biw=1064&bih=479

References: 

Walther, F, I. , Suckale, R. (2002). Masterpieces of Western Art. Baroque in the Netherlands.    Retrived August 10, 2011 from http://books.google.com/books?id=G7NuIFzDcZcC&pg=RA2-PA332#v=onepage&q&f=false

Kleiner, F, S. (2009). Gardner’s Art through the Ages.  A Global History.  Retrived August 10, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=beCbtH9HJXUC&pg=PR3&dq=artist+interpretation+of+woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&ei=gaJHTqr0D8P4rQePn5HYCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=artist%20interpretation%20of%20woman%20holding%20a%20balance&f=false

Steadman, P. (2002). Vermeer's camera: uncovering the truth behind the masterpieces. Vermeer’s camera. Retrieved  August 8, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9Xu6lJc2Nt8C&pg=PA110&dq=analysis+woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&ei=LZw_TpyfMsTMrQfrlsQa&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFgQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=analysis%20woman%20holding%20a%20balance&f=false

Snow, E, A. (1994) A study of Vermeer. Meaning in Vermeer. Retrieved August 6, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=lLtM6F0gH6EC&pg=PA152&dq=artist+interpretation+of+woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&ei=AaVHTuyRO4SGrAe76OiOBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=artist%20interpretation%20of%20woman%20holding%20a%20balance&f=false

Principle of Organization - MIndmap (Tutorial Work)

Repetition Mindmap

Balance Mindmap

Dominance mindmap

Elaboration Mindmap

Movement mindmap

Proportion Mindmap

Rhythm mindmap

Scale mindmap

Unity mindmap

Variety mindmap

Assignment 1: Art Appreciation & Criticism

The Shaft of the Dead Man

THE SHAFT OF THE DEAD MAN, painting in the well of the cave at Lascaux, France.ca.15, 000 – 13, 000 BCE, Bison 3’ 8’’ long.

The Shaft of the dead man, one of the wall painting that founded in the Lascaux  cave. The true intention of this cave painting is unknown. However, there are several interpretation of the cave painting. It is drawn by the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic Men during Middle Aurignacian, c. 20,000 BCE (The Paleaolithic Age, 1955). This cave painting revolves around the record of an important hunting event (Larousse Encyclopedia of' Prehistoric and Ancient Art, 1962). Where it shows a tragic hunting scene. The bison was wounded by the hunter; however it killed the hunter instead. In addition, drawings showing a rhinoceros fleeing the scene, and a bird stick which might represent the hunter’s totem are present.  A stroke on the hunter, which is regarded as a prominent penis as he is turned on by the bison, can be seen. (Ages a Global History). It is also assumed that the scene is a representation of the Siberian Yakuts cow sacrifice in which there are posts topped by birds similar to the ones depicted in the Lascaux scene, which helps to complete the shaman’s spiritual journey (Anthropos, 1952).

For the imitative, the cave painting is showing a tragic hunting scene of a middle-upper Paleolithic hunter in Lascaux, France. While for the functionalistic, the cave painting is also assumed to be a record of an important event during the time, which is hunting. Hunting is considered an important activity as it is how they get their food and survive. 
For my own interpretation, this wall painting give me a mystery impression as it is the only wall painting that founded in the well of the cave which is hard to reach and the painting is painted there. Why the painting being painted in this kind of location? For my point, maybe the painter was the man inside the painting. From the painting, the man is act as hunter and he has the fight with bizon and hurt by it. He escaped and come to the well where hard to get in by the bizon. He painted the painting to record down the scene he fight with the bizon. There is also a rhino which is far apart from the man and rhino and it is painted in the opposite direction. Why? For my interpretation, the rhino might being rescued by the man or bizon and it is escaping, this could explain that why the rhino is drawn in the different direction and far apart from the other.
This is my interpretation for the cave painting as I felt mystery of the background of cave painting as many things are still a question marks for the archeologist and the meaning of the painting are still unknown. I am quite interesting with this so I decided to find some research about and also express my thought. I hope sir could give me some comment regarding to my interpretation.

References

Gurthrie, R, D. ( 1936). The Nature of Paleolithic Art. The Art of Hunting Large Mammals. Retrieved June 9, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=3u6JNwMyMCEC&pg=PA266&lpg=PA266&dq=paleolithic+rhino&source=bl&ots=JNnNRq3lUp&sig=HJ0_8Nu2RiddOGpsGqo_wmYMMHc&hl=en&ei=ix4kTonrEYeIrAfe6LSLAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=paleolithic%20rhino&f=false

Ajorloo, B., Bolt, R., Cameron, D., Covey, A, R., Edwell, P., Burke, H., et al. (2007) Archeologica. In Loretta, B., Monica, B., Annatte, C., Danielle, D., Judith, S., Marie-Louise, T. (Ed), Lascaux Cave, France. Retreved, June 2, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=A0llBlzF6UgC&pg=PA127&dq=the+hall+of+bulls+lascaux&hl=en&ei=Dq0RTpWSH8eurAfI6YWIBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=the%20hall%20of%20bulls%20lascaux&f=false

Andrea, J, A., Neel, C. (Eds). (2011). World History Encyclopedia. The Origin And Evolution Of Art. Retrived June 2, 2011 from, http://books.google.com.my/books?id=saMDq9eARUcC&pg=PA285&dq=the+hall+of+bulls+lascaux&hl=en&ei=Dq0RTpWSH8eurAfI6YWIBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=the%20hall%20of%20bulls%20lascaux&f=false

Kleiner, S, F. (2006). Gardner’s Art Through The Ages: The Western Perspectives, 13^th Edition, Volume 1.  Sharon, A, P. (ed). Materials and Techniques. Retrived June 6, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=mBrvazPDFoYC&pg=PT41&dq=the+hall+of+bulls+lascaux&hl=en&ei=Dq0RTpWSH8eurAfI6YWIBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=the%20hall%20of%20bulls%20lascaux&f=false

The Principles of Good Design – Balance (n.d.) Retrived  May 27, 2011 http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/art-lessons-2.asp

The Principles of Good Design – Unity  (n.d.) Retrived  May 27, 2011

http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/art-lessons-9.asp

The Principles of Good Design – Movement  (n.d.) Retrived  May 27, 2011

http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/art-lessons-3.asp

Elements of Art (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrived May 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elements_of_art

The Shaft of the dead man [Photograph]. Retrived May 29, 2011 from http://www.archaeology.org/online/interviews/zombies/

Picture credit:
http://www.google.com.my/imgres?q=the+shaft+of+the+dead+man&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&gbv=2&tbas=0&tbm=isch&tbnid=cp5dAo4LgKYgMM:&imgrefurl=http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lascaux&docid=tr1M-Lggf8I8pM&w=200&h=147&ei=N5FTTpeqBsTirAeLg6HeDg&zoom=1&biw=1064&bih=479

Element of Art - Mindmap (Tutorial Work)

Color mindmap

Shape mindmap

Line mindmap

Texture mindmap

Value mindmap