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101 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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In which ways is the notion of American Art and the American Artist problematic?
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who is American?
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In which ways is it a product of three lines of communication (import, export, home-grown)?
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1. Importation of Artistic Culture
old world ---> look to Europe When: 1500 to the present transportatino of ideas, imposition of ideas, appropriat of ideas epicenter: Paris, London 2. Exportation of American Culture 3. Native Origins |
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Know the importance of the various prehistoric mound cultures in North America and how they reflect contact with the great civilizations of Central America.
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POVERTY POINT CULTURE
- interesting structures - radial organization - patterned - roughly a mile in length - some sophistication/planning - central axis - pyramids and mounds - funerary in nurture Adena Human Pipe Effigy Hopewell Mound Cut-OUts MISSISSIPPIAN Mound Culture - most important culturally - Cahokia Moundsite, Collinsville, Illinois - step pyramid temple - cities organized around central plaza - love games and sport - ball court in middle GRANDEUR ** Serpent Mound |
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Know the importance and impact of Theodore de Bry’s A briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia, c. 1590. In which ways does it establish the image of the Native American?
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1544 - maps - interest in and knowledge of new world. Don't know what's there
When they arrived - what did the find? Tenochtitaln, stratified culture, sophisticated buildings Representation doesn't match realities "Theodore de Bry published A Briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia the first of a athirty volume series of illustrated accounts of European exploration throughout the world. While other accounts had been circulated in the first half of the 16th century, they reached a very limited audience. Even fewere people ahd teh opportunity to see the inhabitasn and art works brought back to Europe by Christopher Columbus and other early 16th century explorers. De Bry's texts, therefore, were extremely influential in establishing widespread notions of what people in the Americas were like, and the circumstances under which they came into contact with Europeans. Such images and their accompanying texxts were not, however, without certain biases. The earlier accounts of voyages of exploration undertaken by the British, Dutch, and French upon which de Bry relied were written by European men concerned not only with understanding what they saw, but also with ensuring that there was enough interest in this New World to fund furhter voyages. The hinhabitants were varioulsy presented as exotic, innocent, savage, mysterious and almost always less civlized, indeed heathen. In addition, de Bry conssitently presented the Catholic Spanish, in word an dimage, as more violent and less "civilized than their Protestant counterparts." FROM NOTES: Frontispeice to Theodore de Bry A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virgiinai Published in Frankfurt, 1590 - what was the purpose of this text? - You’ve got Europe - Who has traveled through Europe? - Vast open landscapes in Europe? No - Included in Theodore de Bry’s text were images - Telling them about the landscape themselves – doing so in means of imagery - Colombus meeting the natives - Inatives always running away – |
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Know the art and architecture of Pre-Columbian societies in the American Southwest including the Fremont and Anasazi Cultures.
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The Great Cultures of the SW:
- "Desert Archaic" - Direct lines of communication and trade throughout sites of SW HoHokam Culture: - not a lot that survives - dealing with adobe structures - casa grande - start to analyze - all doors & windows, etc. show it was alinged with/stars MOGOLLON - SW corner of NM - farmers would come across shallow - in deceased - sitting up - wearing pottery on heads - bowsl - deliberately punctured -bowls punctured for communication of spirit -950-1150 AD - SW Aesthetic: geometric patterns, stylized - Mimbres pottery -fascinating - how persistent these styles are spiraling antennae on mosquitoes Mimbres: how persistent these styles are spiraling antennae on mosquitoes MIMBRES: some examples --> totally abstract SW landscape - abstraciotn ANASAZI - last great SW - don't know what they called themselves - Navajo - enemy ancestors - famous element cliff dwellings - SW COlorado & Arizona - difd. culture --> attacked a lot --> protective barriers - golden age 900 - 1100 then dissappear - great builders of SW - is this a smell teeny community? - the whole iea of community - living, working, fighting together - kivas - site of ceremonies - all these things coming out - enormous strucutres - all protected w/in canyon - magini in size and scale - KIVAS: - idea and shape - permeate well beyond the anasazi - would ahve to descend into these structures -representing creation itself - temples emphasize creation and your part within creation - native boulders, enormous biulders - as teh sun sets on equinox the site itself sets on equinox - the site itself might not be connceted as astronomically MESA VERDE ---> Cliff Palace, Anasazi - when were these things discoered - the one trying we had wax land & lots of it Kiva: one commono building - the circle Pottery: - pot shards -baskets - GEOMETRIC PATTERN - common point of human nature - ove to decorate/embellish the funcitonal - interest in geometry speaks to intelligence - around 1300 Anasazi disappears - become forefathers of Pubelo people -instead of building in cliffs - on cliffs - inaccesible defendible - still see the remnants -oldest civ. in N. America - inhabitated as city for Acoma Pubelo FREMONT CULTURES - nothing in comparison to SW cultures in terms of power/size -located in Utah - lots of tension over sites when Mo's came - material culture - have a lot of figures and fertility imagery - where fremont truly excel is painting - Canyonland National Park *** Holy Ghost Panel |
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Know the importance, aims, and features of the Spanish Missions in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. How did they utilize art and architecture to serve their goals? In which ways were Native beliefs and crafts mingled with European artistic traditions?
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Spanish Missions in New Mexico
Franciscan: - members take on vows of poverty - brown habit – rope belt – three knots - Franciscans follow the teachings of Francis - Believed in the beauty of all things - Jesuits –much more of a militantorder MISSIOn Trails: The Spanish Entrada - Fathers Dominquez and Escalante 1776 - Knew this territory back and forth - What lake was a part of their map? - Living in the middle of this – Utah Lake - Understood this whole area – pushing all the way into Utah - SouthWest- presence still there - Still people chasing Spanish Gold - We tend not to think about this area as being very European Church of San Jose de Laguna New Mexico, 1699-1706 - smaller, more humble structures of places like - Does it look European? Still adobe - Been whitewashed today – probably wasn’t whitewashed when it was built - Abstract cross - Elements here that tie in well with Native cosmology and believefs - Stepped pyramid shape – representation of their heavens - Christian and Native beliesfs being mixed up - Subtle on outside – overt on inside - Like Acoma – geometric representations on alls – these are their deities - When you get to the altar and you look up – - The sun and moon – representation of horned snake God – oen of the most important deities in pantheon of Puebolo people - Painted buffalo hides –d ate til 1770 - Driving along what is being mixed here? - Colors – love sumptuous colors – pigments and dyes that come out of southwest – bold bright colors - Magic mushrooms – hallucinogen – native pueblo religion – still has liscence to use these Lady of Guadlaupe, 1531 - candles, votive candles - Back of pickup trucks - Taxi cabs - Back of shirts, etc. - Origins of the Lady of Gaudalupe? - Virgin appears to Juan Diego – tell the bishop of Mexico city ot build a church for me – - bishop dosent belive him - appears in represented form on fabric again – goes back to bishop with image – - Native elements here – - this is an image of Mary – closely connected with native Goddess imagery - tremendous overlap between the European and the native - push back in Europe – Murillo – - more than a century after Spanish Missions in Texas Church of the Mission San Francisco de la Esplada, San Antonio Texas, 1745-1756 - different from New Mexican examples - not using Adobe – using stone - same elements - now clearly the most famous example of this – San Antonio de Valero Mission - Alamo - The Alamo - good example – the Spanish were thinking of being here for a long time - They are ornate – but not to the extent we will see in Arizona - The real architectural gems coming a little further from the West - Arizona was shaped by Jesuits in particular Father Kino - The Jseuists and the missions of Arizoan SPANISH MISSIONS OF ARIZONA: - Mission San Xavier del Bac** - colonial America – in size and scale and detail - Tucson, Arizona - Much bigger scale than things we have seen in New Mexico and Texas - Tremendous westwork - Giant bell towers - Separation on the different levels - Tripartite interior - Really Baroque - Takes a little while to get there - Front portal – - Things translated from one culture to the next - Quite frankly – artisans much more primitive than their European counterparts - It takes a while to develop artistic sophistication - When you get inside – yes it is Baroque - Would anything like this ever be seen in Europe? - Colors very bright again - Horror vaccui – loathing of any blank space – intensely decorated interior - Love these over the top ornate structures - Incorporating modern architectural design and planning - Maintains that look and feel of an American Spanish mission - San Xavier del Bac – in Tuscon - So different from what the European experience would have been - in contrast to that European SPANISH MISSIONS IN CALIFORNIA - California the jewel of the SW - No better climate in the world – a wonderful place to live - 1533 contact - 1769 – onward establishment - missions there – not as palablae of presence ias in New Mexico - but there are places where you can still see it - give good examples of how the Spanish were thinking about community - not a lot that survives – just the plan itself - outpost mentality - clothing – make their own food – everything can be made in the context of the mission itself - dependent on only yourself – and not only be dependent and beholden on the world - like SLC in 1850 Church of the Mission of Satna Barbara, California - go back all the way to the 1780s - the positivity of answers - nothing cool being built in East in the 1780s - doesn’t have the same garish style as the Arizona missions - what order is it? Ionic orde r - ironic – greek ionic order being translated into Southwest – every place Europeans go - all figures of Native origin – a little off in proportions and thing – really alive in their execution |
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Know the art and architecture of Puritan New England and why it differed from that of the Spanish Missions. In which ways were their beliefs and ideology reflected in their art and architecture?
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Art of New England:
- Puritanism and the challenge of a healthy new merchant class - They don’t encourage art work - If you create any images – they need to be religious/ didactic - Everything has a religious backbone - How simplicity, order, propriety – all those things what was the dominant aesthetic - More specifically out of Calvinism - Calvinist church –stripped down and bare - 1588 – when Calvinism reaches the low countries Elizabeth 1 – partiucluar style Elizabethan Period: NICOLAS HILLER - in contrast to Rubens - not excess of Rubens - muted colors - simple forms - no form to him More simplified, stripped own aesthetic – like the Elizabethan period Parson Capen House, Topsfiled, Massachusetts, 1683 - tiny window panes - pretty big home - simple - British influence - Windows expensive – small and not that many - Chimney – heating, cooking – all the practical things in terms of domestic architecture - Might not be much to look at – look at how much it does reveal - Is it totally perfunctory? The Old Meetinghouse, 1681 - geometric patterning and shapes - Calvinist – stripped down - More wood, less stone - At the center – - Pulpit – right in the center - Elaborated in architectural form - We are products of this – spoken word so important – core principles - Low church (in contrast to high church) - low church – the laymen are running it – working at a much more grassroots level - Everybody can be inspired – the word can touch everybody – principles already well entrenched in new world Carlo Maderno, Santa Susanna, c. 1600 - two totally differet visions of what architecture should do/what it should look like London’s Great Fire September 1, 1666 - still culture being brought from East to West - decimates much of London - with great calamaity – comes great opportunity - Christopher Wren – - St. Paul’s – steeples, concept of “the church” - Mark placement of churches – incorporates steeples – enables experimentation - Wren will have followers James Gibbs, St. Martin-in the Fields - in Washington D.C. - type that you recognize - various architectural elements - basically placing all these classical elements – combining them all – producing works that are easily copied Christ’s Church Philadelpia, 1744 - clearly inspired by Wren William Price, Old North Church, Boston 1723 - one if by land, two if by sea - stripped down version of what Wren was doing - what is more American than English? Use of brick - brick – typical sign of Americanness - a little more simplified – especially in contrast to Christ’s church - pulpit – still at the front - other common element? Family boxes – pay for them, pass them on - William Price – no architects at this point – William Price by trade is a carpenter - Sometimes stonemasons – individuals from a perfunctory level know how materials work - Not very fancy – the only fancy element is the tip of the steeple Congregational Meeting House Farmington Conn, 1771 - started out as a barn church - take away the steeple – appears to be a house - by mid 18th century – YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STEEPLE - LDS – have grafted ourselves into this long protestant tradition "The art historian Michael J. Lewis notes taht Puritan towns were often laid out according to the model of the New Jerusalem, "the perfected city that would arise after the seoncd coming of Christ,a s described in Revelations." This city was rectiliniera in plan "recalling other gridded settlements in teh Bible where divine order was expressed through right angles." this is not to say that all gridded cities embodied the New Jerusalem; the grid had been used extensively throughout Renaissance Europe and in the Spanish American coloines. But, according to Lewis. These Spanish grids lacked the religious theme of the Puritan town plan, which was a diagram of moral order and not merely a convenient system for the equable division fo real estate. As such teh Puritan town paralled the city of Tenochitaln, whose plan embedded the soical and religious universe." |
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Know what your author means by “aristocratic pretensions in the South [Virginia &c.]” How does the “tide-water aristocracy” use art to solidify its stature in Virginia society?
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VIRGINIA
- big estates - big tracts of land - maintains that feel - big wide open space – lots of fields etc - really rich area - beginning in 17th century – will grow richer - absolutely explodes in terms of population - what else starts to explode there? Cash crops - instead of just crops grown for use of farmer – cash crops change the economy - cash crops start to make this area richer and richer - because of the richness – the well to-do nature of this area - even things like architecture are going to look different The Old Brick” St. Luke’s Church – near Smithfield, Virginia 1632 - earliest church in America - pretty early 1632!! - What does it appear to be? - Not a huge gigantic cathedral - Model – small English parrish church - More elaborate architecture than we’ve seen in this part of 17th century - So much stuff here – that is ancient really in terms of America - Historic Organ - Does give an idea of painting and craftsmanship - In places like this – great indicators of wealth - Particularly the growing wealth of Virginia - Local artisans Bacon’s Castle, surrey County, 1665 - is there al ot more here than there was up North? YES - more elaborate structures - this – if you were to plop into England – still would have been a manor home - an importance here you don’t see elsewhere - use of more robust materials like brick - European influences – Flemish gables on outside - Flemish turned crenulated fireplaces - Is this a wealthy structure? Yes - This area far wealthier WILLIAMSBURG - This is really going to show up in old colonial Williamsburg - Complex buildings - Roads meant to end in important structures – plan out, map out p Christopher Wren Building 1695, Williamsburg - impressive and important step upward - Looking at large architecture - Virginia an entity in and of itself - Greater sophistication in our architecture - Its symmetrical – has the clock tower - Big buttresses - Use of space – use of open arcade - Colonies have never seen anything like this - Entire city built up – with planning in mind - Order and harmony to it - Possibly designed this Governor’s Palace, Colonial Williambsurg - another one of those important buildings that are set apart - the road ends and this is the experience you see - because this is the Governor’s palace – implied its more important - structure that matches importance of position - modest, but important manor structure coming from England – now plopped in the middle of the colonies - structures on sides – house servants - not showing up just in elaborate architecture - makes this all possible - what is hokey about Colonial Williamsburg? - We showcase it – because it is almost this time capsule from the past - Showcase of the best the colonies had in terms of architecture & sophisticated town planning - We’ve upped the ante now and can’t go back |
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Know the art and importance of Benjamin West.
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BENJAMIN WEST
- keystone figure in American art - hunt birds – backwoods story - spends much of his career in Europe – working for King George III – working for the crown - his most crucial role – is as a teacher - all American artists – will eventually find them at West’s doorsteps Sketch – Benjamin Franklin in a coon skin cap - holds on to his Americanness - his Americanness is an asset - always going to have one foot in new world – even though he is fully entrenched in the old - how does Benjamin West start? - His first paintings are going to look like Benjamin West – first works – Dr. Samuel Boude and mary Bethel Boude, 1755 - starts as a Quaker – many people who want to be his patron - no place in the new world - goes to - tries his hand at history painting – Patrons kick in – find his way to Rome While there – becomes friends with the future names of neo-classicism Angelica Kauffmann – calls him the American Raphael Leaving those pretentious rococo style – starting to swap it for neoclassicism It makes sense – when you are in Rome – makes sense for Classical past to rub off on you One of the great parts about it He talks about going to see the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoon When he sees the Belvedere – like a Mohawk warrior – revealing his Americanness While he is there – see beds of this new style David – painting Oath of Horatii Eventually makes his way to London Thanks to people like Kauffman – letters of invitation to several members of Western society Benjamin West, Agrippina Landing at Brundisum with the Ashes of Germanicus, 1765 - what is happening here? - Looking like – with so much of neoclassicism – looking to past for subject matter - Past always has relevance to present - Message = virtue and honor - Like Oath of Horatii is about civic duty – this is about virtue - Who is the bad guy in this story? The king/the emperor - About the virtue itself - How is Benjamin West at the forefront of neoclassicism? - Volume of ancient sculpture – rippling, Hellenistic bodies - Obviously meant to be the centerpiece - Look back at 201 days – looking at ancient examples – copying drapery – making painted forms look like sculpted forms - Borrowing from Ara Pacis - Had several important painters around him - What is Ramsey able to do? - Ramsey becomes the official portrait painter - Benjamin West official history painter Benjamin West, The Departure of Regulus from Rome, 1769 - current problems over ancient ones - Benjamin West at height of his powers - Head and shoulders over anything we’ve seen - Never going to return to United States - In many ways – greatest contributions – to King George III - Modeled after the French academy - Follows Sir Joshua Reynolds - Even the figures in the colonies – able to rise to levels unimaginable before - Already – in America – idea if you had talent you could rise to the surface – far faster, with far less hasslte than any other nation in the world Matthew Pratt, The American School, 1765 - what do you notice? - What is it telling you about status of art in United States? - Handful of artists – American School - Only men and boys – young boys - Right up to the rooms next to the throne - Something prestigious – - West – in Green cloak – doing pretty well as an artist - Makes 1000 pounds a year – a princely sum in that day and age - An important entrée into European ideas. Training, etc Benjamin West, The Incredulity of St. Thomas - Christian subjects - Distinctive style - What do you notice about West’s style? What is he emphasizing – interested in a lot of drapery - Facial types – patterns here - French academic way of painting - Familiar faces – overwrought melodramatic figures - Figures themselves have to tell a story - Large figures putting forth the narrative – West is good and limited - What odes he love clearly? If you go up to University of Utah – what kind ofartists rubbing off - Renaissance artists – Raphael Benjamin West, The Death of General Wolffe, 1770 - a little more – does push envelope a little more - when George III saw this – didn’t know quite what to do - what made it so controversial? - Not in Classical dress/ time - Old Roman generals - Being the American – who can buck - Both controversial and cutting edge - Everyone is circling around – in the middle of battle - Time has stood still – for the death of this great man - In awe and reverence - Simlar to representations of Christ as he was dying – Pieta, etc. - Looks to the heavens - More than just a death – an apotheosis - Some figures really there – some are not - Iroquois fighter – clear embellishment - What is the importance of that figure? - Gives a geographic marker – - Clearly wants to indicate it is a new world subject - This is going to change everything - This is going to be drastic - Aloof – contemplating what is happening – stoic warrior - Native Americans – playing different roles - Hand supporting head – old roman way of showing thought/thinking - Ancient staturay – employed in a new way - So many ways of being read - West realized – secondary marker - Commissioned certain individuals ot make etching copy - How many places can the painting itself be? Two spots - Mezzotint – it can go anywhere!! - Where do many of them show up? In the United States - How much did they make? From sell of image alone – thousands and thousands of pounds - West – 20 – 30,000 pounds - Pretty clear haul - Copyright issues that come into the fore - West important figure in many different ways - Local boy done good Penn’s Treaty with the Indians When he Founded the RPvoncenc of Penssylvania in North America, 1771 - THE AMERICAN CITY – Philadelphia - Penn was what by religioin? Quaker - What’s the important thing happening? History painitng always somewhere else - HISTORY PAINTING COMES HERE!!! - History painting being caught up – great deeds of great men in the United States Benjamin West, Death Pale on the Horse Always limitations with West Does deserve his place – as father of American Art From 1771 – Juno Receiving the Cestius from Venus – not as good as artists from other courts around Europe He knows anatomy from sculpture more than real things |
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Christopher Columbus
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Pocahontas
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JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA 1607
- colony that sticks around - Pocahontas story - By birth who is Pocahontas? Daughter of the Chief Powhatan – - Historical figure - More and more English coming - Pocahontas becomes a symbol of tolerance - She saves John Smith – - Ultimately Pocahontas becomes symbol of America Simon van de Passe Pocahontas, c. 1616, Etching - “Matoaka, also known as Rebecca )Rolfe), daughter of the most powerful prince of the Powhatan Empire of Virginia … at the age of 21 in the year 1616” - based on an original painting that is believed to be lost - telling – what can we read about Pocahontas? About this transnational, translatlantic process - clothing – definitely European – not Native American at all - goes by Rebecca in Europe - still is that interesting tension between new world and old world - face – different phsyiogonmoy – different color – different representation - primarily because of this trip – she contracts smallpox and dies - she is the symbol of this period of this time - not a romanticizied/idealized image by 19th century – becomes the romantic symbol |
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Spanish Missions & Presidios
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Spanish Missions in New Mexico
Franciscan: - members take on vows of poverty - brown habit – rope belt – three knots - Franciscans follow the teachings of Francis - Believed in the beauty of all things - Jesuits –much more of a militantorder MISSIOn Trails: The Spanish Entrada - Fathers Dominquez and Escalante 1776 - Knew this territory back and forth - What lake was a part of their map? - Living in the middle of this – Utah Lake - Understood this whole area – pushing all the way into Utah - SouthWest- presence still there - Still people chasing Spanish Gold - We tend not to think about this area as being very European Church of San Jose de Laguna New Mexico, 1699-1706 - smaller, more humble structures of places like - Does it look European? Still adobe - Been whitewashed today – probably wasn’t whitewashed when it was built - Abstract cross - Elements here that tie in well with Native cosmology and believefs - Stepped pyramid shape – representation of their heavens - Christian and Native beliesfs being mixed up - Subtle on outside – overt on inside - Like Acoma – geometric representations on alls – these are their deities - When you get to the altar and you look up – - The sun and moon – representation of horned snake God – oen of the most important deities in pantheon of Puebolo people - Painted buffalo hides –d ate til 1770 - Driving along what is being mixed here? - Colors – love sumptuous colors – pigments and dyes that come out of southwest – bold bright colors - Magic mushrooms – hallucinogen – native pueblo religion – still has liscence to use these Lady of Guadlaupe, 1531 - candles, votive candles - Back of pickup trucks - Taxi cabs - Back of shirts, etc. - Origins of the Lady of Gaudalupe? - Virgin appears to Juan Diego – tell the bishop of Mexico city ot build a church for me – - bishop dosent belive him - appears in represented form on fabric again – goes back to bishop with image – - Native elements here – - this is an image of Mary – closely connected with native Goddess imagery - tremendous overlap between the European and the native - push back in Europe – Murillo – - more than a century after Spanish Missions in Texas Church of the Mission San Francisco de la Esplada, San Antonio Texas, 1745-1756 - different from New Mexican examples - not using Adobe – using stone - same elements - now clearly the most famous example of this – San Antonio de Valero Mission - Alamo - The Alamo - good example – the Spanish were thinking of being here for a long time - They are ornate – but not to the extent we will see in Arizona - The real architectural gems coming a little further from the West - Arizona was shaped by Jesuits in particular Father Kino - The Jseuists and the missions of Arizoan SPANISH MISSIONS OF ARIZONA: - Mission San Xavier del Bac** - colonial America – in size and scale and detail - Tucson, Arizona - Much bigger scale than things we have seen in New Mexico and Texas - Tremendous westwork - Giant bell towers - Separation on the different levels - Tripartite interior - Really Baroque - Takes a little while to get there - Front portal – - Things translated from one culture to the next - Quite frankly – artisans much more primitive than their European counterparts - It takes a while to develop artistic sophistication - When you get inside – yes it is Baroque - Would anything like this ever be seen in Europe? - Colors very bright again - Horror vaccui – loathing of any blank space – intensely decorated interior - Love these over the top ornate structures - Incorporating modern architectural design and planning - Maintains that look and feel of an American Spanish mission - San Xavier del Bac – in Tuscon - So different from what the European experience would have been - in contrast to that European SPANISH MISSIONS IN CALIFORNIA - California the jewel of the SW - No better climate in the world – a wonderful place to live - 1533 contact - 1769 – onward establishment - missions there – not as palablae of presence ias in New Mexico - but there are places where you can still see it - give good examples of how the Spanish were thinking about community - not a lot that survives – just the plan itself - outpost mentality - clothing – make their own food – everything can be made in the context of the mission itself - dependent on only yourself – and not only be dependent and beholden on the world - like SLC in 1850 Church of the Mission of Satna Barbara, California - go back all the way to the 1780s - the positivity of answers - nothing cool being built in East in the 1780s - doesn’t have the same garish style as the Arizona missions - what order is it? Ionic orde r - ironic – greek ionic order being translated into Southwest – every place Europeans go - all figures of Native origin – a little off in proportions and thing – really alive in their execution |
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syncretization
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- Syncretization:
- A+B = entirely different culture in C - Various ways in which this process came about - Conquistadores - People like Cortés and others – with very few personnel |
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Franciscans
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Franciscan:
- members take on vows of poverty - brown habit – rope belt – three knots - Franciscans follow the teachings of Francis - Believed in the beauty of all things - Jesuits –much more of a militantorder MISSIOn Trails: The Spanish Entrada - Fathers Dominquez and Escalante 1776 - Knew this territory back and forth - What lake was a part of their map? - Living in the middle of this – Utah Lake - Understood this whole area – pushing all the way into Utah - SouthWest- presence still there - Still people chasing Spanish Gold - We tend not to think about this area as being very European |
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Roanoke
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The 1585 Roanoke expedition inlcuded an artist, John White, who executed watercolros of the people, flora, and fauna of teh new territory and who became the leader of teh 1587 expedition. White had known Le Moyne ...
VIRGINIA - big estates - big tracts of land - maintains that feel - big wide open space – lots of fields etc - really rich area - beginning in 17th century – will grow richer - absolutely explodes in terms of population - what else starts to explode there? Cash crops - instead of just crops grown for use of farmer – cash crops change the economy - cash crops start to make this area richer and richer - because of the richness – the well to-do nature of this area - even things like architecture are going to look different |
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a limner
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Limner is also the term used to describe unattributed portraits commissioned by colonial America's rising mercantile class as status symbols. The local landowners and merchants who commissioned these portraits posed in their finest clothes, in well-appointed interiors or in landscapes that identified their position, property, good taste, and sophistication.
A late named artist who began in this genre is the Maine landscape artist Charles Codman, who in Eastern Argus (April 1, 1831) is described as an "ornamental and sign painter" or "limner" who practiced "Military, Standard, Fancy, Ornamental, Masonic and Sign Painting".[1] |
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Calvinism
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Art of New England:
- Puritanism and the challenge of a healthy new merchant class - They don’t encourage art work - If you create any images – they need to be religious/ didactic - Everything has a religious backbone - How simplicity, order, propriety – all those things what was the dominant aesthetic - More specifically out of Calvinism - Calvinist church –stripped down and bare - 1588 – when Calvinism reaches the low countries |
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Iconoclasm
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New Amsterdam
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New Amsterdam – The Dutch Influence
- economic center of the new world |
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Chesapeake Bay & the plantation system
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the Five Nations of the Iroquois
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IROQUOIS – FIVE NATIONS – 1650
- exception - Five nations – why are they important? They survive, they persist longer than many along the Eastern seaboard - They unite sooner than the other tribes – they are connected by blood, tradition, language - Seneca – Cayuga – Onondaga – Oneida – Mohawk - Their collaboration and cooperation – become an influence on Constitution. (WHY DO WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT THIS)!!!?!?! - Important on a host of |
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longhouses
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LONG HOUSE
- The Iroquois – Long House – symbol - Looks remarkably like John White’s images in his villages - Envisioned themselves as five nations – as one long house - The Seneca on oen side the Mohawk on the East – everyone in the middle – living together - Other visual cues – common origins – common stories – differentiate from one tribe to the next - Empire state building 30s – we bring in the Mohawk to help us with it – we recruit Mohawk builders – they were used to working up high - 20th century and beyond – vibrant communities |
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Baroque Art
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17th c. Baroque –
- Rubens - Dominait aesthetic - Strong diagonals - Enlivened subject – - Most dramatic end - Palpable – you can feel the tension - Feel the flesh, fabric – adding to the overall e - THEATRICAL - Rubens establishing – Intl. Baroque style - Is this the style that will flourish in the United States? No - Then and now - Not going to have the Baroque excess – Spanish stuff in the Southwest |
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Neo-Classicism
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*** Starts with Benjamin West
Neoclassicism in America - JEFFERSON - Why is Jefferson important? BEST ARCHITECT OF HIS DAY! The Enlightement - English englightenment = John Locke - French enlightenment = Rousseau, Voltaire - You could study the enlightenment for years - Revival of science, math – everyone to become educated – - RATIONAL – LOGIC – SCIENTIFIC – MATHEMATIC - Faith is irrational - Through and through – core principle of the enlightenment – all men are created equal - With enlightenment – if I give you an idea, can anyone reason through it? - Declaration – reasonable and rational The Jefferson Bible? Given to every member of congress up until 1952 – Jefferson believed in the moral principles of the bible He did not believe in the divinity of Christ – cut those parts out of the bible Cutting and pasting He liked the way in which it corrected men’s behaviors – but had a hard time with the divinity stuff Was a believer in science Thinker of men – could figure out any problem |
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The French and Indian War (The 7 Year War)
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The French and Indian War
- Treaty of Paris 17643 - - who wins? Great Britain The Seven Year’s War |
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The Royal Academy of Arts
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Grand Manner Style
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History Painting
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William Penn
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Penn’s Treaty with the Indians When he Founded the RPvoncenc of Penssylvania in North America, 1771
- THE AMERICAN CITY – Philadelphia - Penn was what by religioin? Quaker - What’s the important thing happening? History painitng always somewhere else - HISTORY PAINTING COMES HERE!!! - History painting being caught up – great deeds of great men in the United States |
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Quakers
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Quaker’s
- what is conspicuously absent? - Any decoration - Or any hint of any painting or architecture almost - “Plainness and the Innter Light or “that of God within” - The congregation is in charge - Like a testimony meeting – if you feel the inner light – you are the one called to preach - Very democratic interiors The Religious Society of Friends (also known in some places as Friends Church or Quakers) is a Christian denomination focusing on the priesthood of all believers, which encompasses a range of belief from evangelicalism to liberalism. In recent years some members of the more liberal branch have started to argue that Christian belief, or even any religious belief at all, is not necessary, although this view is not widely held by most Quakers worldwide. The movement began in mid-17th century England, when a group of over 50 itinerant preachers known as the Valiant Sixty (including James Naylor, George Fox, Margaret Fell and Francis Howgill) attempted to restore worship based on what they believed were the practices of the early Church, emphasizing ordinary individuals' personal experiences of Christ. Today, the majority of members are evangelical Christians in sub-Saharan Africa, although there is a minority of more liberal and conservative members in parts of the US and Europe. |
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Know the importance of John Smibert and the ways in which he influenced subsequent American Artists.
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John Smibert,
- at this time – real artists start to come over Bishop Berekely and his Entourage, c. 1729** - ever so subtlety – increasing in capabilities of artists to come - a lot better in person – Yankee Spirit - Scottish born - Joins Academy in England - In the South – becomes associated with guy named Bishop Berkely - Berkely – one of the most important minds of his day - “Westward the course of empire makes his way” famous quote of Berkely - british intellectual – not only was the empire going to shift to the west – culturally and intellectually it was already starting to move - he envisions creating a school – an academy in the new world - John Smibert – encouraged to be in this group – don’t actually make it to the main land – but they will make it to Bermuda - It’s there that the idea kind of flounders - John Smibert eventually makes his way to Boston - Berkeley – entre to a new world - Bishop Berkely and his entourage – what do you see? How have we stepped things up? o More complex comppsitoin – lots of figures o Lighting/chiaroscuro much more interesting o Much better job of textures – clothing o Can sense the textures o Rugs, silks, velvet o Women – templates o Does fall back on some conventions o Eventually ends up in United States – becomes new touchstone for new artists that are to follow o Even the symbolism – the way you manifest yourself John Smibert, Thomas Hancock, 1730 - new culture – culture that is monied - European, sophisticated painter - Tap into colonist here - Capture the likeness of his sitters - Dignifies the sitter John Smibert, Portrait of Daniel, Peter, and Andrew Oliver, 1732 - book indicates learnedness - emblems - Copley – brought up bringing Smibert - Emblems are calculated decisions - Wigs, fabrics and clothing – nice, wealthy - Elaborate velvet overcoats and undershirts - Everything here is important John Smibert, Mrs. Tyng, 1729 - if his men are dignified - his women are - love to be portrayed by women – graceful – good posture - clothes that she is wearing look very refined - he makes her look attractive – Baroque, sumptious way - sumptious quality of the drapery - Bernini like tactic - At the same time – upper torso we have seen it before - Just paint in head – and instantly you have got an elegant loking women - This is what people wanted – to be seen like a lily like beauty - See this form at the end of the 18th century Smibert Pariting of Hector and Andromache, 1750 - deep down what do all artists like to be? - What is the most noble thing you can do as an artist? History painting - History painting wise – perfect subject - Can see why Smibert doesn’t do history painting - Even our best – well below what is being done across the pond - But no competition here John Smibert, Faneuil Hall - called on to do all sorts of things - architecture - cradle of liberty itself - Smibert designs the original one - Opportunities that he probably wouldn’t have had Smibert – first real artist in the United States - he is the beginning - he is going to establish a pattern – Americans are going to - they have the wealth – they are going to expect portraiture like this - we are going to be building upon the foundation that Smibert provided One thing he wanted to do was history painted Even though they are in this new continent – even though doing well with portraiture At root – all want to be history painters Taking cue from what is coming across John Greenwood, The Greenwood-Lee Family, 1747 - self-portrait with family - clearly who is he looking at? - Borrowing from Smibert – copying composition from Smibert - Parenthetical figures – framing devices - Necklines of the women – copying from Smibert - All have the Smibert figure - Frills in plunging neckline – all very similar – obvious borrowing - Copying what comes before Robert Feke, Portrait of Isaac Royall and his Family, 1741**** - known and remembered as the first important painter to be born on American soil - Feke is kind of interesting – born on Long Island –shady history - Apprentice with Smibert - Works in the South a little bit - Interesting and shady background - Even if he studied with Smibert directly - Can still see how Smibert is rubbing off on Feke - Another version of the Bermuda group - Looking at Isaac Royall - Growing fabulously wealthy - The very first building in every colony – not a church – but a bar or a tavern - Tremendous amount of money – Royall is a symbol of that - Tablecloth – looks almost exactly like the Smibert portrait - What is its origin? Not being woven in New England – Persian - Implying te breadth and depth of breeding - Royall – looking pretty good Isaac Royall House, “Ten Hills Farm” Medford, Mass 1733-1737 - servants quarters on one side – main property on other - wealth shown through windows - little cues – lots of windows – on public facing side – implying wealth - meant to look like snow - do we believe in facades? Yes - façade clearly looks quite prestigious - long renaissance windows - along side – all made with brick - 3 stories – ISN”T THAT GETTING EXCITING - subtle (or not-so-subtle) ways of showing wealth Smibert’s presence: - showing his importance - any one with skill can have a drastic and important impact on Robert Feke, Portrait of William Bowdoin, 1748 - very talented - can see why the wealthy of New England really gravitated toward him - not full-length or grand manner portraiture - always seem to have that swagger – that presence about his sitters Feke, Portrait of Isaac Winslowx, 1748 - going to live a dramatic life - life-long patrons of art - Isaac Winslow ^ - Feke does a good job of making him look good - Materials - Textures so important - Now artists getting to the point – they can replicate – can show the distinction between silks and cloths and satins - Undercoat – are the American colonists growing in wealth and prestige? Starting to show |
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Know the importance of John Singleton Copley and the ways in which he and his art reflect his (revolutionary) times.
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JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY
- the important figure!! - Going to undergo profound changes in his art - What is going to happen in colonies? Profound period of change for period in which he lives Self-Portrait 1769 vs. 1780-84 - increases in competency John Singleton Copley, Charles Pelham - no training - he could have made much more progress - has an inherent talent - helps – his father-in-law is the leading penman of his age - what is starting to take place? - Join or die – we have got to unite – we have to stand up for what is important - Benjamin Franklin doesn’t see revolution - We need to come together and support ourselves - Sees empire flowing eventually to the West John Smibrt, Mrs. Tyng John Singleton Coplye, Ann Tyng, 1756 - young artist with very little training - same oen that Smibert painted - coming out of context that Smibert had painted - don’t know if he studies directly with smibert - at this point – still dealing with Smibert knockoffs - same body/bust line - what is changing John Singleton Copley, Mrs. George Watson, 1756 - what is he abel to do? - Moving abit - Distinguished face - Better textures – important thing to remember with Copley – Copley great at textures - Important – recognizable face - Manly face – not a beautiful woman - Already you can see depicting subjects with fidelity we haven’t seen thus far - Even as a young kid- lightyears ahead of competition John Singleton Copley, Mary Macintosh Royall and Elizabeth Royall, 1758 - textures - look at the sheen on these things! - For someone who hasn’t been trained in an academy –remarkable work - Capturing what you see thorugh paint! - Interest in reality – - Trompe l’oil effect *Boy with Squirrel (Henry Pelham) 1765 • True tactile quality of the wood • The glass • Complex observations – crystalizes into the work • Volume, shadow, modeling • Sophisticated painter at a young age • Textures of clothing • Details- corner of desk looks worn • Sophisticated painting • Squirrel – is chained – raw undefined that is now being trained (deeper relationship – slaves) • People in Europe are amazed – there are not academies in the US (he has taught himself – exceeding his trainers), impressed by the Americaness, highlighted and special attention given to every aspect of the work, folded over ear – individualized, unique Becomes number one painter of the era Nathanial Hurd, 1765 • Books promanent • Wealth and knowledge – reflect on sitter • Well made man, by trade he is an engraver • By trade he should not be shown as a well off individual • Nature of America (can make it through your merit) Portrait of Human being showing wealth and craft – American The Stamp Act 1765 • Any piece of paper had to be stamped saying it had been taxed • Journalists, lawyers, etc. (bad idea to do this to them) *Paul Revere 1768-1170 • Rise of the new class • Craft shown – silversmith • Tools of the trade (this image is not found on other side of the Atlantic) • No background forces sitter to foreground • Gaze – middle class – he is looking at you – suggests equality • In deep thought – don’t associate thought with craft • Elevates the individual who in Europe would be lowly • Individualized • Interest in texture • Wearing a linen shift – costume of the working class – brought to the surface, not hidden Paul Revere. Silverware • Utilitarian style, stripped down, democratic • Sons of Liberty Bowl • Also an engraver Magna Charta – British constitution – gives power to the Lords, the key document Copley, The Deplorable State of America • Symbolic • If America opens what her Mother brings her – destruction, chaos Paul Revere, The Bloody Massacre • British slaughtering poor innocent Americans • Soldiers pushed beyond the limits • Doesn’t want to be subtle – wants to remind America as good them as had Faith Robinson Trumball, The Hanging of Absalom 1770 • Coverlet • Context was touching everyone • Absalom – son of King David, Absalom and another bother rebel against their father, David has them hung • Message is David is the King of Britain, doing the hanging – British soldier Copley, Mrs, Ezekiel Goldwait (Elizabeth Lewis) 1771 • She is huge • 14 kids – fruit abundant • Famous for her gardens • Reaches for the fruit, can tell the difference between the fruit through the texture • Shown friendly (Europe portraits have a distance between work and viewer) • She is old • Not wearing a wing • Strong arms • Element of verism – warts and all, republican nature to what he is doing – leading us to that direction of a Republic • Verism – who you are, experiencal nature, show me as I am (not like this anywhere else) Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Winslow (Jemima Debuke), 1773 • No longer idealized • Change in style – Winslow wants this Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin, 1773 • He is looking at her, this is beyond status, relationship, couple • Mrs. Mifflin is creating fabric don’t have to buy it from Britain • Women of her status would not have to do this • Moment of dependence • She is being shown in her context Samuel Adams, 1772 • “Sammy the maltster” • Cousin John Adams • Could see the difficulties • Radical • Being shown – as a thinker, clearly wants to draw your attention, ordnances passed by King George, if you break what you said you were going to do you have to break from you • Stern Tea Party • Outright rebellion • Dress up as native American – can act in a different way Copley family is a loyalist and his family is too Can’t stay in the US – leaves June 10, 1774, can’t be a citizen of the United States (never an American) Henry C. Watson, The Boston Tea Party, 1773 Battle of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) • Shot heard around the world • Breaking point can’t go back now The Revolution 1775-1783 The Gladson Flag, 1775 • Don’t Tread on Me • Coiled up rattlesnakes, important symbol of United State Thomas Paine, Common Sense, January 1776 • We have to separate, do sovereigns really have a divine right to rule us? The Declaration of Independence • Preamble most famous James Berry, The Phoenix of the Resurrection of Freedom, 1776 (-1808) • Laying in state dying – Britainia • Ideas start to spread The Yankee Doodles Intrenchments Near Boston • Scum Copley goes to Rome Copley, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Izard, 1775 • Making the grand tour • American • Shown not in a republic light • They are like everyone else • Picture that proves that you were there The Copley Family, 1777 • Transition to what he was then to what he is now • Children shown how they are – obnoxious, needy (acting and behaving like children) • Child forms • Has to be Rococ like Gainsbourgh *Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778 • Painted in England • Subject – Lord Watson • Location port of Havana • Commission by Lord Watson • Out swimming late – shark comes and bits his foot off • Memorializes a dumb event in his life • Elevating the story – history painting • Done in contemporary costume and events • Pyramid – stable – pinnacle uniquely an African – Watson was an abolitionist • African holding the rope – lifeline and man of action • Look at Watson and shark – Angelic man (light verses dark) • Never seen a shark before • Layering the meaning of this work in stories that people knew (Jonah, St. George) • Not a simple image • Recognizable setting • 3 copies ( Boston, National Gallery, Kansas) JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY – SO IMPORTANT - John Adams - short, fat John Singleton Copley John Adams, after 1783 - as European as grand manner porraiture as anything else you are going to find - who is his best friend and patron? King George III - can’t be a cheerleader for the colonies - not so secretly – want to pick up the thing - the great theme – the great event of their day |
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Know the ways in John Trumbull succeeded and failed to fulfill his wish of illustrating the Revolutionary War and other important events in his nascent nation.
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New Nation ←→Art
- propaganda - coming together - called - tall order for art - we will see – very conscientious of this - good guy vs. bad guy - Two views on the revolution – Thomas Jefferson vs. John Adams - TJ: “Moral battle “battle of Light versus Darkness” - John Adams: “… patched and piebald … We didn’t know what we were doing form one moment to the next. We were dancing on the brink of catastrophe.” - Challenges of painting any war - Thomas Jefferson – want to paint yourself like – - John Adams – concerned with small pox, his children – real version of war - TJ – one we always want to paint - When you are a new nation – need new symbols - Every nation need a flag, a mascot, a seal, a tree (James’ suggestion …) - Jefferson put forth ideas what he thought should be the seal of the United States John Trumbull - Figure that comes to fore – good ol’ John Trumbull - John Trumbull – intriguing figure - Son of the father of Connecticut - He is going to serve under George Washington - He has observed many of the things he is going to paint - Paints things from his own experiences - War – history painting The Death of General Montgomery in the Attack on Quebec , 1786 - studying with West - wanting to create history painting - killed – cannon ball goes right through him - one of the additiona - doesn’t show – great deeds of great men - not a victorious, dramatic event, etc. - is this patched and piebald? Not light vs. dark - a little trick with this one Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 - battle takes place June 17 - Trumbull is a witness of this - Sees everything that happens - What is already the tricky part - Takes place on a different spot The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 1786 - which of the two poles? Light vs. dark or patched & piebald - light vs. dark – Americans wearing white - brink – contrasts with dark hats of British soldiers - does he know Baroque painting style? Yes - striking diagonals - elements of that – wanting to make a dramatic canvas - Sarah: patched and piebald - Not quite so clearcut – who is good who is bad - The first thing – British seem much more in the light and visible than many ofhte American symbol – seem to be more of the focus almost - Early general – dies leading troops - Common British soldier – what is he about to do ? the soldier – trying to bayonet him – what does that imply – that is what you do when you put people out - Another british soldier – stops him - Who is the good guy, who is the bad guy? COMPLICATED - When you are making propaganda? Don’t individualize, give foe mercy - Strange tension that is taking place - What myth are you seeing? No uniforms – assorted weapons – myth of militaman/minutemen - Makes sense when you look at the details - When you first look at it – great American painting – subtleties – make it difficult - Where is he painting? Painting in London - Could that shade and direct how he paints this event? - Part of the depicting the British as not that bad – painting your foes here – typically applies to raw strength - Who wins the battle of bunker’s hill? The British do - But why is it considered a American victory? The British lose SO many men - How did the public react to this? Didn’t know what to think - Hoped it would be a huge success - No success in terms of monetary - Public just doesn’t embrace it - West – no – wants to show you good vs. bad - Different version of war – probably closer to the real things |
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Know the importance of Washington as one of many post revolution symbols.
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The symbols of a new state?
- Eagle – - Thomas Jefferson submits idea - How does Jefferson couch the battle? - Moses – here is the column of fire – who is being drowned in the red sea? The British - If you paint yourself as Moses being led to the promised land - He really meant light vs. dark - This was the best analogy/symbol he could come up with - What wins out? Eagle - In right hand – olive branch - In left hand – quiver of 13 arrows - We look ofr peace but we will defend ourselves/ideas The U.S Constitution, September 17, 1787 - what does it begin with? - WE THE PEOPLE - You can see how they are starting to think – how they are starting to form their ideas - Some of the symbols will work – some won’t - 3 states didn’t accept it at first George Washington - Imaging a president or formation of a Presidency or How do we make this guy look good? - The only person who could lead a federation - Was he successful as a general? Yes – early on strategy – you let the other guy mess up – if you stay around long enough, you will end up on top - Several manifestations – - “to the memory of the man, first in war, first in peace, an dfirst in the hearts of his countrymen.” - How did we turn him into a symbol? - Readily made into a symbol - His first images – appear - at this moment – he is a m |
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Know the ways in which Washington’s image/portraits reveal more about the ideologies of the artists than about the flesh-and-bones individual.
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The symbols of a new state?
- Eagle – - Thomas Jefferson submits idea - How does Jefferson couch the battle? - Moses – here is the column of fire – who is being drowned in the red sea? The British - If you paint yourself as Moses being led to the promised land - He really meant light vs. dark - This was the best analogy/symbol he could come up with - What wins out? Eagle - In right hand – olive branch - In left hand – quiver of 13 arrows - We look ofr peace but we will defend ourselves/ideas The U.S Constitution, September 17, 1787 - what does it begin with? - WE THE PEOPLE - You can see how they are starting to think – how they are starting to form their ideas - Some of the symbols will work – some won’t - 3 states didn’t accept it at first George Washington - Imaging a president or formation of a Presidency or How do we make this guy look good? - The only person who could lead a federation - Was he successful as a general? Yes – early on strategy – you let the other guy mess up – if you stay around long enough, you will end up on top - Several manifestations – - “to the memory of the man, first in war, first in peace, an dfirst in the hearts of his countrymen.” - How did we turn him into a symbol? - Readily made into a symbol - His first images – appear - at this moment – he is a m Charles Wilson Peale, Lt. George Washington, 1772 - 3 horses shot out beneath him - became known and recognized - what else makes him known and - 6’4’ – John Wayne height - gangly in some ways - has a hard time finding suits that ift him – except for his uniforms - an extremely agile dancer - when Abigail Adams sees him – smitten - comes from Charles Wilson Peale – 1772 - what is he already being painted as? A military man – that is his persona - coming out of the French and Indian war - once he accepts his commission - becomes such a key figure - makes sense that artists literally flow to him - why would it be important to paint the portrait of Washington? - Always recognize – starts with an egg as a head – goes from there Charles W. Polke, George Washington - all coming to Washington John Trumbull, George Washington - even John Trumbull will come to him - Trumbull – always starcroosed - Grand manner portraiture - Painted like a king - Challenge and problem with that is – there is no king - That is the whole point - The challenge always – leveling him - Particularly – when you get to age of republic/democracy - He always – he likes Lyssippian proportions – making figures long and ballet like Jean Antoine Houdon, George Washington, 1788*** - Houdon – from France - Comes over – alliance between France/America - Comes over and wants to depict famous men – no one more famous than Washington - When he turns down the presidency – no one more powerful on earth than Washington - How is Houdon treating/representing Washington? - Very regal – a stance about him that is very wise - Represents leadership - He is tall – he is statuesque - Regal nature to it - Staff – symbol of authority - Makes him look regal - Balance has to take place – - Made from a lifemask – not idealized, etc. - That is what lieerally became the face of Washington - It's a real figure - Very quiet drama – shows his regalness – not baroque – with movement, lines, etc. - Does that to reflect his personality – humble, not showy - What is behind his feet? As you walk around – get full portrait - Big and broad and metallic - Pointed and moves earth - On the other side – the sword - What is the symbolism – pull from the bible - What is the symbolism? What did he pound out - Often represented as Cincinnatus - Who is Cincinnatus? - Gave up power – returned to plow - When Romans needed him again – picked it back up, dropped it again - George Washington – American Cincinnatus - What is this bundle of stuff? – fasces – the literal symbol of the Roman leaders - No American tradition of sculptures –imporitng our sculptures Antonio Canova, Portrait of George Washington, 1816 - What does Canova make ? - Becomes almost a philosopher - Wears a toga - A little bit off the mark William Joseph Williams Adolf Ulrich Wertmüller – german - idealized vs. realistic - very American – toothless – wears wooden/fake teeth - ugly contraptions you can imagine - “got to love the old curmudgeon” Washington’s Death – December 14, 1799 Real apotheosis takes place after he dies Literally right at the end of the century Pictures of death – as symbol/legacy of Washington kept going Overflowing of sympathy – whole nation becomes maudlin/weepy for loss of father Start to see tributes – even more pedestrian/grass roots examples Women – all sorts of varieities Sacred to the Memory of the Illustrious Washington – - watercolor on silk, with embroidery - what are the symbols they are appropriating? - Good old Washington is dead - Look at the tree they used - Any sadder tree than a Weeping Willow? - Overexpressive tree - What other symbols are being readily employed? - Rather than Vanitas symbol – ode to that Grecian urn - Not a God – but a man - Greek symbols – why are they appropriate? - DEMOCRACY - Weeping and lamenting the loss of George Washington George Washington Textiles - sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss – new national symbols - Washington standing in a chariot - Hanging out with – personification of America - Being pulled by jaguars - As close to we come to animals of prey - Favorite of all – who is welcominggreeting – Benjamin Franlkin who is hanging out with a date (Liberty) – a womanizer even then - HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE LIBERTY? Has staff in right hand – on top of staff – distincitive cap – Phrygian cap – if a slave receives one of these caps – means the are free John James Barralet Commemoration of Washingtonix, 1816 - what makes this so enjoyable to look at? - Have they crossed the line? - Is this man more than mere mortal? - Supposed to be first among us – but – artists – raise him to level of God – got to love that - Only in America – we are good at raising mere mortals to levels of God David Erwin, The Apotheosis of Washington - one speech that Washington gives? - Know him more of a figure than a man of words and ideas - Far more figure – right? - Load him with all sorts of other things - He is a cottage industry - Absolutely - Peale will start to pump out portraits of Washington - Anytime they need money – - Particularly when it's a genre painting - Above mantle – where cross used to be – image of George Washington Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze – Washington Crossing the Delaware 1851 - dead over 52 years - you have seen this so many places - Leutze has made Washington into a figure – GREAT HISTORY PAINTING - Here he is crossing the Delaware - Going to make one of his most important victories - Defies gravity Capitol Rotunda - The most important site in a church – rotunda - Who si there – George Washington – looking donw at us - Liberty - Phrygian cap – holding fasces - Is he the pantokrater? God of nation? That is the big question Mt. Rushmore The Prayer at Valley Forge - Arnold Friberg – etc. This generation – mainly deist This idea – Start it up – let it go At worst agnostic Wasn’t probably taken to knee in valley forge It is an image that we love! Sets tone for all that come – picturesque George Washington – he is our patron saint ** Capturing the Americna Character. Who was this new Man? If Washington was this great symbol – who the American was at this time? Who is the new man? People will be coming over and asking this question – one we have to address Gilbert Stuart, George Washington, 1795 - first knock at painting George in 1795 - Washington at this time – very antsy – didn’t like sitting for portraits - What does Gilbert Stuart do differently – how is he progressing? o Painterly qualities – different hues - Rogue – doesn’t know how to pay bills – loves to live lavishly - Born in Rhode Island, American through and through - By 1775 – chewed up all of the American teachers he has had - Go to England – 1775-1787, studies with West for a few years - Follow the rest of it – how often does this guy move? - If you want to be an established painter? Do you want to move this often? - Life of Gilbert Stuart - Probably the best talent we have seen so far - Going to live a wild and extremely exciting life - Probably could make a movie – and keep us all excite - He lived it up! Stuart, George Washington, 1795 - in Philadelphia – if I need money, what do I do? - Paint portraits of Washington – everyone and anyone will buy them Gilbert Stuart, George Washington (the Anthenaeum portrait), 1796 - what are the distinctive elements? - See this on the dollar bill - Based on the anthenaeum portrait - One of the more truthful images – it was said - What is the other very noticeable aspect? - Ufinished - Why is it unfinished? - Face is the only thing that matters - Keeps it with him – every place he goes – being chased from one place to next - Has this as a template – any time he is cornered – just has to paint - There are more than 40 versions of the Anthenaeum portrait – several museums have more than one - Ubiquity – dollar bill Gilbert Stuart, George Washington (The Landwone Portrait), 1796*** - we love the rogue - 7 different types of this portrait - “Need I say more for the art that permits posterity to stand in the presence of Washington … And in this vast household of liberty, makes the remotest descendants familiar with the forms and faces of those who laid down all for their country, that it might be dear to their children.” – William Stoddard - lots to read – - regal setting - standing like an orator – makes him a leader of the people - calling attention to several different things - sword – balanced on other side, the desk – quill, bills he has passed - not just a man of the sword – but also a man of the pen - built into the Greco-Roman furniture – symbols of - Rainbow - Noah symbol – after the flood - Who is our new Noah, Moses, etc. – Washington - Borrowning face from the antheneum portrait - Excellent example of ways in which their making Washington al of these things - Going back to these old types - Going back to the Greco-Roman past - Gilbert Stuart - interesting persona that follows him around - what is the reason behind painting Washington? Money |
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Know the ways in which the Enlightenment affected the art and architecture of the new USA.
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Neoclassicism in America
- JEFFERSON - Why is Jefferson important? BEST ARCHITECT OF HIS DAY! The Enlightement - English englightenment = John Locke - French enlightenment = Rousseau, Voltaire - You could study the enlightenment for years - Revival of science, math – everyone to become educated – - RATIONAL – LOGIC – SCIENTIFIC – MATHEMATIC - Faith is irrational - Through and through – core principle of the enlightenment – all men are created equal - With enlightenment – if I give you an idea, can anyone reason through it? - Declaration – reasonable and rational The Jefferson Bible? Given to every member of congress up until 1952 – Jefferson believed in the moral principles of the bible He did not believe in the divinity of Christ – cut those parts out of the bible Cutting and pasting He liked the way in which it corrected men’s behaviors – but had a hard time with the divinity stuff Was a believer in science Thinker of men – could figure out any problem Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, Study for the plan and first Pavillion - why are we thinking about Greece and Rome? - Roman Republic - Greek ideal of democracy - Appropriate architecture for their ideals of a nation |
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Know the importance and ideology behind Thomas Jefferson, as architect, planner, and writer.
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Neoclassicism in America
- JEFFERSON - Why is Jefferson important? BEST ARCHITECT OF HIS DAY! The Enlightement - English englightenment = John Locke - French enlightenment = Rousseau, Voltaire - You could study the enlightenment for years - Revival of science, math – everyone to become educated – - RATIONAL – LOGIC – SCIENTIFIC – MATHEMATIC - Faith is irrational - Through and through – core principle of the enlightenment – all men are created equal - With enlightenment – if I give you an idea, can anyone reason through it? - Declaration – reasonable and rational The Jefferson Bible? Given to every member of congress up until 1952 – Jefferson believed in the moral principles of the bible He did not believe in the divinity of Christ – cut those parts out of the bible Cutting and pasting He liked the way in which it corrected men’s behaviors – but had a hard time with the divinity stuff Was a believer in science Thinker of men – could figure out any problem Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, Study for the plan and first Pavillion - why are we thinking about Greece and Rome? - Roman Republic - Greek ideal of democracy - Appropriate architecture for their ideals of a nation Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, 1770-1784*** - proportions are right - he has thought this through - he is creating his own thing here - inspired by some things – but radically new - what else do we see in Monticello? - Monticello – more sophisticated than Vernon - The notion – what you see on the outside, exactly what you will see on the inside - Part of the genius of Monticello - How is he incorporating Greek and Roman ideals - Tuscan order - Let’s not get too nitpicky - Where is the Roman element - Rome – Dome - Solididty is importat - Using brick – American material - Splitting takes place on the inside - Outside doesn’t reflect interior - Molding – old aesthetic he is reincorporating - Is the plan symmetrical? Is it ordered/reasoned? - Why does it make sense to have a perfect? Enlightened home? - You create Utopian architecture – - Good architecture – actually edifies and uplifts society - Everything is outlined, ordered, balanced - He wants to make the grand views – but he wants to make everything function as it should - Slaves quarters - Wanted servants to go in and out without ever being seen Thomas Jefferson, The Virginia State Capitol Building - influenced by Maison Carree - firmly rooted – neoclassicism - return and renewed interest in classicism - roman temple - measuring it all out - classical architecture University of Virginia Rotunda/Library, 1870s - as wide as high – Pantheon - Jefferson never seen the Pantheon - Sends William Short – to Rome to map out the Pantheon for him – tell him about it - Based on what William Short tells him – basic design for library - Based on sphere - Why is it a perfect building for a library? - Symbolic importance? - Library – temple of knowledge - Enlightened ideas – elevate architecture, elevate the people who use it - It is like a pantheon of learning - Pantheon – all the Gods - In true enlightened fashion – new pantheon – thinkers and men of new society - Red brick – AMERICAN - Windows – not on Pantheon - White molding – something very American about that - Palladian – long windows - Pediment – pierced by clock - Main source of light – oculus - Not bad for an individual who is also president and writer of the declaration - Overall harmony – everything symmetrical University of Virginia - not just the singular building - whole footprint - open ended desing – buildings could be built on forever in theory - buildings which house professors on second floor, classrooms on 1st floor – each for a different discipline - overall harmony – everything symmetrical JEFFERSON – final note - architecture - classical thinking - designed to be spread – in different areas – - Monticello – home - The Capitol of Virginia – government – state government - Library/campus– knowledge - His vision of the United States - Tells you almost everything you need to know about what Jefferson anticipated for the future Jefferson – centerpoint of architecture for next 20 years Most important is BENJAMIN H> LATROBE |
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Know the tenets of Neoclassicism and how it was manifested in America.
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In which ways were the divergent views on the Revolution of Jefferson and Adams manifested in art?
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Know the importance of Washington D.C., its layout, and its monuments (particularly the Capitol Building) as a shining symbol of a new start-up nation.
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Know the importance, success, and failure of Samuel F.B. Morse.
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Know the importance of Charles Willson Peale and his family. In particular know how they were all invested in the (at the time) complementary worlds of science and art.
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CHARLES WILSON PEALE
Benjamin West Portrait of Charles Wilson Peale, c. 1769 - son of saddle maker - of Plebian birth – because of his abilitites to paint – rises to the surface - in prusiut of talent and training – goes to train with Benjamin West - three generations west trained – such an important teacher - very good portrait of Peale Portrait of William Pitt, 1768 (Peale) - commission – full grand manner portrait of William Pitt - Pitt – proponent of the United States - He was realist – realized that British couldn’t contain/maintain US - Loved by Americans on bot sides of atanlatic - What do you notice about portrait? o In Classical clothing – in Toga o Why is this important? Peale, Revolutionary Soldier - everything he’ got – put into the cause - certain painters who are wishy-washy about rights of colonies – Peale – clearly partisan - after the war – starts to put his talents into creating the new nation - when Washington makes his trip to all the main cities of the new United States - triumphant arch Peale designs for Philadelphia - rigged up a crane system – lowered one of his daughters – dressed up as liberty - as George Washington rode through on chariot – Sophenzia – came down from triumphal arch – put laurel wreath on Washington’s head Charles Willson Peale, The Peale Family - peale – 3 wives and buckets of children - named his kids – after artists - knew his artists and loved them - art is a center point – all connect art – activity of family - his portrait – up – stopped project – now looking at brother James - James – also artists - He has daughters who are artists - What was he painting? 3 women who are holding hands and dancing around – the three graces - elegant pursuit of artist - looking over James’s shoulder - James is drawing the mother who is in red on right - From Charles to his brother – over here and back again - Interesting intersection - Dynamic portraiture - In United States – something that nobody else has - His first wife – very heart of painting itself – she is the core - Gazes swirl around her - Her gaze – right out at us - The swirl, and then pull out - Really intriguing work - Being able to paint what you see - Busts on walls – one is Peale himself, one is West - All sorts of interesting dynamics - Two more things – Peale has been accused of starting with an oval head and then painting otwards - Egg heads - Look for egg head – probably Peale - Adds portraits of dog in 1808 (rest of painting done 1770-1773) American Artists: - not Europe - not as much money supporting the arts - best training/academies, etc. still in Europe - no old masters to look back at - no established tradition How does Peale fit into this context? - painting and family inseperable with Peale - constantly looking to family as subject matter Rachael Weeping Beside Dead Infant Rachel, 1772 - wife Rachael – before she passes away - weeping over a dead infant daughter The Staircase Groupe (Portrait of Raphelle Peale and Titian Peale), 1795 - art and family connected - trompe l’oil effect - actual step – adds to the overall effect - running joke – George Washington would say hi to Raphaelle and Tititan as he walked by - good example of what Peale can do Charles Wilson Peale, Mrs. Charles Wilson Peale (Hannah Moore, 3rd wife), 1816 - what is very American about this? - Copley aesthetic – - Shows all her wrinkles – it is her the way she is - What great “ism” – verism - Keenly interested in - If family is theme number one for Peale THEME NUMBER TWO – Great men of his period Lt. George Washington, 1772 - gravitates to the primary figures of this great and heroic struggle he sees going on around him - early on – figures out it is great to tie yourself to George Washington Benjamin Franklin, - lightning in background - making heroic men out of his circle “America’s First Portraitist” - uses same template over and over again - important thing about CW Peale – opens up the first portrait gallery - the first museum in the United States – 1794 - early date for museums in generalit is not until the enlightement – see idea for museums - several things included in Peale’s museum - most notable – portraits - the portraits that he and his sons were able to make - created this literal pantheon of most important figures of the day - was that all there was in the Peale museum? - By 1802 – moves it to Independence Hall - Peale Museum Ticket – “rational amusement” - Linnaean taxonomy - Taxidermy – The artist and his Museum, 1822*** - wants everyone to see it - wants to get linear perspective just right - he is personally opening the museum to the viewer - high minded rational entertainment - turkey – wanted national bird - taxonomy in back - what is placed at top? The thing that won- the eagle - dinosaur on right hand side - portraits line the top of the wall - MAstedon – dinosaur - Interested in collecting and going out - If you look at the figures – three different attitudes presented here - Three groupings – - Woman – of class/educated – surprised/horrified - According to Peale – the belief was – women had to have a different type of entertinament - Second grouping – father and son – what is the exchange here? Teaching, and learning – not meant to be mere amusement – meant to be uplifting, educational - All the way to the end – figure – represents – what stanse do you typically take – contemplative - Quite but entrenched thinking and contemplation - Obviously this is a unique idea - One that had not existed before on this continent - A magician in him - See it through me type attitude - Sensational showman - Elaborating a little bit - Painted in part by help of Rembrandt Peale - 100,000+ objects – including 269 paintings, 1,894 birds, 2560 quadrpeds (some from Lewis and Clark), 650 fishes, and over 1,000 shells, with 313 books in its library - realizes he has to paint more than portraits in U.S. Extumation of the Mstodon (from JohN Master’s farm) - discovering bones - heroic gesture - history painting for a new age - why is this history painting for a new age? - Paints both live and dead wife - Clearly he is the man in charge – self portrait - See same kind of little figures as in museum portrait - Can see the various tensions here - A new history in the making - On sky – one side – clear beautiful skies, the other – not a lot of volcanoes in upstate new york – cracking - Turbulent nature - Ways in which people were being forced to reconsider who they were and how they fit into things - Scientific mind of these kinds of things Rembrandt Peale, Reocnstruction and Details of the Mastodon - sketching – trying to figure out skleton Self portrait in Character of a Painter, - continues to apint himself - moved on the impresario of his museum - at the end – presents himself as a painter – occupation of a painter - straightforward and veristic - what do you notice about the cranium? - Big head – big brain – head is beaming Rembrandt Peale, Rubens Peale and a Pot of Gernaiums, 1801*** - no academies – but these kids have a leg up - they can learn at home - they have this fostering community around them - how is this continuing on legacy of Peale family? o Focusing on nature – and specific types of plants o Oval shaped head – learning straight from his father o Two different specifms – both engage the viewer - Rubens hindered by the eyesight - Spectacles – working that reflection - Rubens has how many pairs of glasses – two – - Examining and seeing things as specimen - What is also interesting? By second generation – - Start to travel a bit more - Start to understand history of art a bit more - Rubens – taking cue directly from the Dutch and Flemish Baroque period - Particularly – David Teniers, The Five Senses - Updated and Americanized it Porthole portrait of George Washington & Washington before Yorktown - Rembrandt particularly good at painting Washington - Gets really good at painting the portrait - Just ahs to add that head into action scenes - Important in academy - Goes to France – studies with David Rembrandt- - tries his hand at history painting - studies with David Rubens Peale Still Life, 1855 - poor eyesight - market for still lives - often painting these on shiny backgrounds – tin and copper – which gives them sharp, clean glowing presence Rapahelle Peale, 1822 Venus Rising from the Sea – A Deception, 1822*** - what has Raphaelle picked up from Father? - Trompe l’oil – whole idea you have to fool the eye - Better look like the thing itself - Long tradition - What looks real? The sheet – feels like you could pull it back - Curtain – Greek legend - Zeuxis and Parahasios - Tapping into that - Know of greater world around them - Taking a relatively forgotten painting – Valentine Green, Venus Rising from the Sea - WE LIKE THINGS TO LOOK REAL! - We like this whole Puritan aesthetic – We don’t want no nudity - Nudity is not going to work in the United States - Modesty –key aspect of Americanness - No nude – painted behind this curtain - Adds in the other details – just by adding them in - Great little symposium on American paitning James Peale, - brother of Charles - saddle-maker - Charles teaches James how to be an artist - Mostly does miniature painting - Miniature painting – more accessible – more in the reach of Americans - Typically painted on small ivory panels – lustrous look to them - Pretty dynamic - If you are a Peale – expected to effect trompe l’oil still-ife Vegetables with Yellow Blossoms George Washington, 1787 - if you needed money – pump these suckers out James Peale – daughter artists!!! Anna Clayborn Peale – Margaretta Angelica Peale – Sarah Miriam Peale Nature of Peale family – connection they had with art Varying degrees of talent Anna – miniaturist Sarah – lives longest Maragaretta – best All of them considerably understudied Margaretta Angelica Peale Catalogue: A Deception (After Raphaelle Peale) - trompe l’oil - whole idea of deception – - catalogue for Titian Ramsay Peale - lots of buffaloes and native Americans - Long Expeiditon – Wilkes Epspedition One of the longest legacies – oen of first and professional lapodostric (bug collector) Collecting butterflies – largest butterfly collection |
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In which ways was C.W. Peale and others like John James Audubon products of Enlightened thought?
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scientific - see Peale flashcard
John James Audubon Golden Eagle Female Adult, 1833-1834 - Audubon - Enlightened project - Expose on the birds of America - Makes these ENORMOUS WORKS! |
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Know the challenges of working as an artist in the United States.
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American Artists:
- not Europe - not as much money supporting the arts - best training/academies, etc. still in Europe - no old masters to look back at - no established tradition |
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Know the tradition of American Sculpture (or lack thereof).
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William Rush!
- sculpture tradition? - We have only seen gravestones - Which were done by carpenters - Rush – coming to this with a lot steeper road to go - One of the things we see – there was a tradition William Rush, Peace, 1820 - son of shipbuilder - starts his career as a figurehead carver - on the front of a ship - often times – elaborate hood ornaments - what is sophisticated? - Drapery that - Pretty good - Carved out of wood – destroyed by sea water - Full size figure - Anatomy under there of some kind - There is a talent level here William Rush, Portrait of Benjaimn Franklin, 1800 - anytime you need a sculptor you would call Rush - portraits of the founding fathers - using what materials? Using materials he is used to - this is not marble – wood - not progressing beyond that very much - you can see William Rush, The Schuykill River Chained - River God and River Goddess - Is it still neoclassical? Yes - Neoclassicism still dictates – everything needs to be grandiose - Is it still primitive? - Yeah – quite a primitive nature to these William Rush, George Washington , 1817 - a work that was in the Peale museum - WOOD - Sill dealing with wood - A couple of pieces and then painted over to reveal those - He knows drapery - Still a little wooden Thomas Eakins, William Rush Carvin his Allegorical Figure o ft - Eakins homage to Rush - For Eakins – this figure working by himself, figuring it out on his own - Something very American – becomes role model for all subsequent American artists |
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Who were the Quakers and the Shakers? In which ways did their art and architecture reflect their beliefs?
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The Shakers:
- United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing - Going to compelte a totally autonomous art and architecture Shaker Architecture: “do all your work as though you had a thousand years to live and as you if you knew you must die tomorrow.” Moses Johnson: Meeting House, Catnerbury, NH 1792 Meeting House, Whitewater, Ohio, 1827 What is distinictilyve shaker? - perfectly symmetrical - order is key - two doors (men and women enter in separate doors) Pleasant Hill, Kentucky - Shaker interior - Stillh ave a love of order and symmetry - Love of cleanliness Cantabury, NH - excellence in furniture making - in craft - making beautiful wooden boxes etc. Elder Deming (?) Shaker Round House Barn, 1826, 1866 - Massachusetts - It was said – maybe more legend than fact - Elder Deming - Very functional – - Utility determining structure - That is an idea that the enlightenemtn is kicking around - No better demonstrated - No activity goes to waste - No materials go to waste - Everyone comes together to create communal environment - Minimalistic aesthetic Quaker’s - what is conspicuously absent? - Any decoration - Or any hint of any painting or architecture almost - “Plainness and the Innter Light or “that of God within” - The congregation is in charge - Like a testimony meeting – if you feel the inner light – you are the one called to preach - Very democratic interiors |
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Williamsburg
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VIRGINIA
- big estates - big tracts of land - maintains that feel - big wide open space – lots of fields etc - really rich area - beginning in 17th century – will grow richer - absolutely explodes in terms of population - what else starts to explode there? Cash crops - instead of just crops grown for use of farmer – cash crops change the economy - cash crops start to make this area richer and richer - because of the richness – the well to-do nature of this area - even things like architecture are going to look different “The Old Brick” St. Luke’s Church – near Smithfield, Virginia 1632 - earliest church in America - pretty early 1632!! - What does it appear to be? - Not a huge gigantic cathedral - Model – small English parrish church - More elaborate architecture than we’ve seen in this part of 17th century - So much stuff here – that is ancient really in terms of America - Historic Organ - Does give an idea of painting and craftsmanship - In places like this – great indicators of wealth - Particularly the growing wealth of Virginia - Local artisans Bacon’s Castle, surrey County, 1665 - is there al ot more here than there was up North? YES - more elaborate structures - this – if you were to plop into England – still would have been a manor home - an importance here you don’t see elsewhere - use of more robust materials like brick - European influences – Flemish gables on outside - Flemish turned crenulated fireplaces - Is this a wealthy structure? Yes - This area far wealthier WILLIAMSBURG - This is really going to show up in old colonial Williamsburg - Complex buildings - Roads meant to end in important structures – plan out, map out p |
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Robert Feke
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Robert Feke, Portrait of Isaac Royall and his Family, 1741****
- known and remembered as the first important painter to be born on American soil - Feke is kind of interesting – born on Long Island –shady history - Apprentice with Smibert - Works in the South a little bit - Interesting and shady background - Even if he studied with Smibert directly - Can still see how Smibert is rubbing off on Feke - Another version of the Bermuda group - Looking at Isaac Royall - Growing fabulously wealthy - The very first building in every colony – not a church – but a bar or a tavern - Tremendous amount of money – Royall is a symbol of that - Tablecloth – looks almost exactly like the Smibert portrait - What is its origin? Not being woven in New England – Persian - Implying te breadth and depth of breeding - Royall – looking pretty good |
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The Rococo Style
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François Boucher, Portrait of Marquise de Pompadour, 1759
- what was the style at this time? Rococo Joseph Blackburn, Isaac Winslow and his Family, 1755 - what is happening now? - More elaborate costuming and dresses - Obvious/not subtle symbols of prosperity - Obviously Isaac Winslow doing pretty good - Landscape – crazy fluffy trees (rococo influence) – pastel colors |
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The Grand Tour
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Chiswick House,
- as Englishmen travel through Italy start taking with them – grand tour produces almost knock offs of what they see From Palladio – to England – TO AMERICA !!! !!! These ideas are coming across – channeled in diverse Samuel F. B. Morse - Makes the grand tour - Gets to know Horatio Greenough - Makes his name in Europe - Learns trade |
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The Stamp Act
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The Stamp Act 1765
• Any piece of paper had to be stamped saying it had been taxed • Journalists, lawyers, etc. (bad idea to do this to them) |
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Benjamin Franklin
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Sketch – Benjamin Franklin in a coon skin cap
- holds on to his Americanness - his Americanness is an asset - always going to have one foot in new world – even though he is fully entrenched in the old - how does Benjamin West start? - His first paintings are going to look like - what is starting to take place? - Join or die – we have got to unite – we have to stand up for what is important - Benjamin Franklin doesn’t see revolution - We need to come together and support ourselves - Sees empire flowing eventually to the West Benjamin Franklin, - lightning in background - making heroic men out of his circle |
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The Revolutionary War
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The Boston Tea Party
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Battle of Bunker Hill
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Republican Virtues
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Republicans: emphasis on state government, democracy, power of the Many
Virgina, Model: Greece Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson |
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Verism
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Charles Wilson Peale, Mrs. Charles Wilson Peale (Hannah Moore, 3rd wife), 1816
- what is very American about this? - Copley aesthetic – - Shows all her wrinkles – it is her the way she is - What great “ism” – verism - Keenly interested in - If family is theme number one for Peale |
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King George III
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BENJAMIN WEST
- keystone figure in American art - hunt birds – backwoods story - spends much of his career in Europe – working for King George III – working for the crown - his most crucial role – is as a teacher - all American artists – will eventually find them at West’s doorsteps |
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Cincinnatus
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Jean Antoine Houdon, George Washington, 1788***
- Houdon – from France - Comes over – alliance between France/America - Comes over and wants to depict famous men – no one more famous than Washington - When he turns down the presidency – no one more powerful on earth than Washington - How is Houdon treating/representing Washington? - Very regal – a stance about him that is very wise - Represents leadership - He is tall – he is statuesque - Regal nature to it - Staff – symbol of authority - Makes him look regal - Balance has to take place – - Made from a lifemask – not idealized, etc. - That is what lieerally became the face of Washington - It's a real figure - Very quiet drama – shows his regalness – not baroque – with movement, lines, etc. - Does that to reflect his personality – humble, not showy - What is behind his feet? As you walk around – get full portrait - Big and broad and metallic - Pointed and moves earth - On the other side – the sword - What is the symbolism – pull from the bible - What is the symbolism? What did he pound out - Often represented as Cincinnatus - Who is Cincinnatus? - Gave up power – returned to plow - When Romans needed him again – picked it back up, dropped it again - George Washington – American Cincinnatus - What is this bundle of stuff? – fasces – the literal symbol of the Roman leaders - No American tradition of sculptures –imporitng our sculptures |
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Andrea Palladio and Palladianism
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Peter Harrison, Redwood Library, 1749 – Newport, Rhode Island
- by mid 18th century – growing profieciency in architecture - Peter Harrison –ship captain - Oldest public library - Genteleman architect Harrison – genteman architect Learning architecture through books Not surprisingly – goes to Palladio – foundation of architecture from Renaissance onwards Almost every architect we will talk about – in some ways influenced by Paladdo Palladio – Venetian Palladio, Villa Rotunda, begun 1550 – Vicenza, Italy - SYMMETRY - Greece and Rome - Capitols – Greece - Pediment - Ionic capitols - Greek temple fronts - Dome – Roman - Epitome of neoclassicism - Increasingly important in the United States - Roman temple front - He knows his classical examples – playing with, assimilating Chiswick House, - as Englishmen travel through Italy start taking with them – grand tour produces almost knock offs of what they see From Palladio – to England – TO AMERICA !!! !!! These ideas are coming across – channeled in diverse Peter Harrison, Redwood Library - Made of wood - Copying this from Palladio’s I Quattro LIbri dell’Architettura - Adapting what Palladio was doing and bringing it to the United States Peter Harrison, King’s Chapel, Boston 1750 - understands the basics - neoclassical architecture – in a church - what is interesting aspect? - Never finished – looks incomplete - An attempt but still not fully conversed in architeture - Inside better than outside - What materials? Wood – cheap and quick - Working cheap and quick – something very American about this concept |
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the Pantheon
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Thomas Jefferson, The Virginia State Capitol Building
- influenced by Maison Carree - firmly rooted – neoclassicism - return and renewed interest in classicism - roman temple - measuring it all out - classical architecture University of Virginia Rotunda/Library, 1870s - as wide as high – Pantheon - Jefferson never seen the Pantheon - Sends William Short – to Rome to map out the Pantheon for him – tell him about it - Based on what William Short tells him – basic design for library - Based on sphere - Why is it a perfect building for a library? - Symbolic importance? - Library – temple of knowledge - Enlightened ideas – elevate architecture, elevate the people who use it - It is like a pantheon of learning - Pantheon – all the Gods - In true enlightened fashion – new pantheon – thinkers and men of new society - Red brick – AMERICAN - Windows – not on Pantheon - White molding – something very American about that - Palladian – long windows - Pediment – pierced by clock - Main source of light – oculus - Not bad for an individual who is also president and writer of the declaration - Overall harmony – everything symmetrical Winning design – to surgeon - Dr. William Thornton, 1792*** - not a trained architect – a gentleman architect - also a paper architet - good about coming up with designs - limitations – - so much better than any of his competitors – what makes it better than the others? - Dome! - Dome taken from the Pantheon - A lot more simple - Stark neoclassicism - Reserved – not going over the top - Fitting of its purpose - With enlightened architecture – purpose has to be reflected in what it is/what it looks like - What is the main purpose of the capitol building? Has to bring the house and the senate together - Bicameral government - Great gathering spot - Pantheon that holds the whole thing together - Right on in many ways - This is the root of what the capitol looks like today - Thornton’s design wins - The architects – those who know how to do it - Latrobe is brought in in 1800 - How to make Thorn’s design work - Thornton the one that comes in – has all the knowledge of vaulting - Is he able to make it work? - Basic idea – permeate - What kind of capitols did he build? Tobacco Leave Capitol - Uniquely American - Does it loo - Corncob capitol - Being carved by Italians – no tradition of American sculpture ROMAN REPUBLIC - ARCHITECTURE OF ROME |
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War of 1812
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War of 1812
- Napoleonic wars - Spills out to this part of world - What are casualities of this? - What is going to be burnt to the ground – the capitol, the white house - Who saves the day with the white house? - Dolly Madison! - What is result of war of 1812? - We win – but were ground down - Renewed interest in symbol building after War of 1812 Symbols: - star spangled banner - Francis Scott Key – seeing the bombardment - Reentrench symbols of United States - Rebuild capitol – rebuild white house - When they rebuild capitol – bring in goldfinch to help - Take several generations of architects to finish - By 1846 – this is what it looks like |
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Federalism
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FEDERALISTS VS. REPUBLICANS
- Two party system Federalists – centralized governmet, preservation of aristocracy, power of the few, distrust of the press. Model: Roman Republic Washington, Adams, Hamilton Later formation – whigs Republicans: emphasis on state government, democracy, power of the Many Virgina, Model: Greece Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson Which dominates end of 18th/19th? REPUBLICANS! (Jeffersonian Democrats) for much of the early part of the 19th/20th century – house of representatives – not calm, chaotic |
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The French Academy and Salon
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William Rush
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William Rush!
- sculpture tradition? - We have only seen gravestones - Which were done by carpenters - Rush – coming to this with a lot steeper road to go - One of the things we see – there was a tradition William Rush, Peace, 1820 - son of shipbuilder - starts his career as a figurehead carver - on the front of a ship - often times – elaborate hood ornaments - what is sophisticated? - Drapery that - Pretty good - Carved out of wood – destroyed by sea water - Full size figure - Anatomy under there of some kind - There is a talent level here William Rush, Portrait of Benjaimn Franklin, 1800 - anytime you need a sculptor you would call Rush - portraits of the founding fathers - using what materials? Using materials he is used to - this is not marble – wood - not progressing beyond that very much - you can see William Rush, The Schuykill River Chained - River God and River Goddess - Is it still neoclassical? Yes - Neoclassicism still dictates – everything needs to be grandiose - Is it still primitive? - Yeah – quite a primitive nature to these William Rush, George Washington , 1817 - a work that was in the Peale museum - WOOD - Sill dealing with wood - A couple of pieces and then painted over to reveal those - He knows drapery - Still a little wooden |
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figureheads
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American Academy of Fine Art
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American Academy of Fine Art
- Founded in 1802 - By Dr. David Hosack - Staphan van Rensselaer, Rufus King, george Clinton, Aaron Burr, and Robert Livingston $25.00 - Made up by business man - Short lived |
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National Academy of Design
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National Academy of Design
- vibrant community - architecture and community vibrant - Honor Role: William merritt Chase; Curch; Eakins; etc |
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The Philadelphia Academy of Art
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The Philadelphia Acadmey of Art
- in contrast to elitist New York School - for the artists by the artists - founded 1805 - “an academy to the encouragement o fthe fine arts - first honorary member: Benjamin West - Rembrandt Peale, C.W. Peale, William Rush, George Clymer |
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Holy Ghost Panel, Great Gallery
450 Unknown |
- pictogram
- why name? mormons named it - anthropomorhpic forms - translucent figure in center - excellent example of fremont style |
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Chaco Canyon (Pueblo Bonita)
c.1000 unknown |
Of these three cultures, the Anaszi have left the most impresive architectural remains. They mostly lived in small scattered farming communities, but were associated in someway with thel arger multihousehold complexes, some of which were built into vast natural indentations in teh canyon walls. Chaco Canyon, in northwestern New mexica was the most ambitious of these complees. Flourisihing between 900 and 1150 CE it contained thirteen "towns" and several great kivas or ceremonial buildings. The largest of these "tonws" were built on the canyon floor, at the base of the cliffs. Thousands of elaborately carved or decorated items made of turqouise, macaw bones, clay, and copper have been found at the site - suggesting that it functioned as a significant trading center. Anther indication of the importance as a focus of eitehr trade or religon or both is the elaborate network of more than 250 miles of roads that extend outward in all directions. Fagan argues taht the various settlements in the canyon housed fewer people than earlier thought (current estimates for the period 1075-1114) are somewher ebetween 2,00 and 10,000) and taht these "towns" funcioned more as ceremonial sites and as storage centers for food, where people came togetehr to trade, worship, and participate in teh redistribution of resources in times of need. The construction ...
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Serpent Mound
1070 Unknown |
- one of the more famous sites
- mounds -almost 8 feet high - name = serpent - pictures made for higher beings - as part of an offering - not just meant to be - constructed around 1066 - Bayeux Tapestry, Haley's Comet - each turn and truist - aligned with coment - and aligned tih moon - sophisticated calendar - have to understad when to plant |
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Jacques le Moyne
Rene de Laudonniere . .. visit Ribault’s Column 1564 |
Jacques le Moyne, Rene de Lauronnier and the Indian Chief Athore, son of the Timucuan king Satouriona, visit Ribaults’s column, 1564***
- setting aside as French land - started worship this column - documentary – conditioned, etc. - congenial pose – but spear over the body - greeted by Rene’s pointed spear - natives really white - liked to show the tattooing of Native Americans - tattooing was always seen as a sign of the barbaric – until 10 to 15 years ago - refined facial features - in essence are they very far away from their French counterparts? Not really - similar in terms of facial features – in terms of costume very different - whole purpose – to lure people to the United States – lure them into the land of Virginia |
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John White
The Village of Secoton 1585 |
Gov. Rev. John White, Alonquin Village of Secoton
- image of Native American that will really persist over the next several years - Eastern United States – looking specifically at images that are being looked at in Theodore De Bry’s text - Lure people from old world to the new world - De Bry – using for the first time eye witnesses - John White – associated with Roanoke - White’s work – most enduring legacy from Roanoake - What is White’s image? Nad how is it tailored to lure people from France to the new world? - Familiar to the people – but also new and exotic - Order – familiar - Exotic – natives themselves - White’s work – - Still visit these things in the British museum - Are there things here that will make sense to London and Paris? - More sophisticated architecture - Sophisticated housing – complex – not castles – nonetheless, in many ways – equal to what most Londoners are living in - Sense of community – more friendly - Whole idea – all Native Americans nomadic, barbaric – is challenged in an image like this - White’s images – start as watercolors – later translated into etchings - Wonderful in telling the whole story - New ways of the culture - Harvesting the sea – all sorts of things - Showing complexity and difference - John White – best artist we have seen so far - Watercolors –reveal his delight in seeing all these new creatures, this new world - Differences in Etching: o More permanence in etching – fence, a fortress – o Enemy looks more impressive – harder to conquer o Setting – landscape – forest, woods – natural resources o Already associating Native Americans with the lands/landscape o Rough raw endemic nature o More activity in fire circle – bigger, more active o Looks more intimidating o Important to know more about enemy than they know about you |
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San Estevan, Acoma Pueblo
c. 1629 Unknown |
San Estaban, Acoma Pueblo, 1629-1642 ***
- pueblo that is built on these 100 foot high cliffs - Longest inhabited in N. America - Two bell towers – façade important - Importantance on the westtwork - Hardpressed to find ways it is European - What akes it seem utterly foreign? o Its materials: made out of adobe o Mud and grass – straw - Organic structures - Built up - Looks like it is growing out of earth itself - Beams – vigas - If these things touch the ground at any point day and night – drop them go back to Mt. Taylor, bring them all the way in – sacred – old pueblo ideas - Need to remember overwhelming spirituality of many of those coming over - School – graveyard – church - Christianiziign and education – two went hand in hand - Every handful of sand – brought up to valley floor by women of Acoma Pueblo - All this work – creating a dignified church - Were lessening impact of this if we think of them being forced to do this – which in this case they weren’t - In 1680 – the Pueblo revolt |
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Unknown
Powhatan’s Mantle 1656 |
Powhatan’s Mantle,***
- many of these objects found in European collections - Pohatan, King of Virginia’s habit all embroidered with shells, or Roanoke - Solid provenance – can take it all the way back to 1656 - Elaborate mantle to be worn by the chief - 63” x 92” - can it teach us anything? - Tied to most powerful individual in this whole region - Detailed handwork - Not art for art’s sake – always serve a purpose - Even if it is the embellishment of the figure – always telling a story - Where is the didacticism? - Human figures with animal figures? - Closer connection/understanding of nature - Or Shaman – taking on attributes |
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The Freake Limner Painter
Mrs. Freake and Baby Mary c. 1671 |
The Freake-Gibbs Limner,
John Freake - not stereotypical figure that we associate with this period - trying to show off wealth –but not be ostentatious - John Freake – a wealthy trader - Long hair – sign of Wealth - Meant to be seen - Right length to show – he was contiousness of his clothing - Brown coat – not a black coat - Showing this nuanced version - - Mrs. Freake and Baby Mary, 1674*** - trying to delineate – - creates sheen - are these materials native to the Northeast? By no means - have to reveal – not concealing anymore my wealth - the chair – most expensive kind of chair you could have bought - is she the symbol of growing materialism? Yes - all these things – coming from England –from all parts of Medieval world - garnets coming from India – pearls coming from the Pacific - pulling in all the things that are being brought - vast cultural and shipping commercial growth - prosperity – you have got children – your legacy will continue - why is then the baby is still represented? - This is not how a baby really looks - Not cting like a child – acting like an adult – protestant ethics - Baby mary – painted in eight years after originally painted - Salvation gospel – really starting to play here – by showing wealth – showing material growth of selves and culture – - Endowed from heaven |
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Frere Luc
France Bringing the Faith to the Indians of New France 1675 |
- how does this project an image of colonization?
- foreign – painted in New France - mmore for Euroepans than the natives - native – half-clothed - nudity vs. clothing – important idea seen over and over again - skin color – becoming lighter and lighter - enlightenment – physically manifested in figure - woman – personification of France - look at lines – going in this circle – process - she has technology - he has primitive huts – now crowned with crosses |
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Thomas Smith
Self-Portrait c1680 |
Thomas Smith, Self-Portrait, c. 1680****
- one of the best pieces to come out of the 17th century - what do we know about Thomas Smith? Not an artist by trade – he is a sailor, Captain Thomas Smith - spent his life in trading – ont the high seas - quite good at painting - gentleman painter - important step up from limner tradition - symbols of Wealth - painting himself into history – tremendous wealth – pushed into several markets - Thomas Smith was involved in one of those – monumentalized in distance - One more important detail – momento mori – skull - Words coming out of skull – it itself is speaking - “Why, why should I the World be minding therein a world of evils finding then farewell world: farewell thy jarres thy joies thy toies thy wiles thy warrs truth sounds retreat; I am not sorye the eternall drawes to him my heart by faith (which can thy force subvert) to crowne me (after grace) with glory - quite melancholy - not beaming with optimism - very sober but very introspective gaze - these ideas being done – with greater skill and even clarity in the Dutch Republic – but this does really show quite a bit of innovation – even thousands of miles away |
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Unknown
Parson Capen House, MA 1683 |
Parson Capen House, Topsfiled, Massachusetts, 1683
- tiny window panes - pretty big home - simple - British influence - Windows expensive – small and not that many - Chimney – heating, cooking – all the practical things in terms of domestic architecture - Might not be much to look at – look at how much it does reveal - Is it totally perfunctory? The first permanent homes built by the settlers of New England were of timber post and beam construction, with horizontal planks for the exterior. Most were a story and a half, with a loft accessible by steep stairs or a ladder. The main floor contained eitehr a single large room or two separate rooms, one for general activities adn the otehr doubling as a "parlor" and master bedroom. Visitors would enter directly into one of these rooms from teh outside. Smaller rooms were often added at the rear and the slope of the roof extended over them toward the ground, creatin what came to be referred to as a "saltbox" ouse. An example of a larger two-and-a-half story structure from the late 17th century is the Parson Capen house built in Topsfield, MA in 1583 byt he community for the Reverend Joseph Capen. An imposing, abeit plain, builidng for its time, it stood on the town common as a statement of the power of the clergy wihtin the community. Such houses were the products of carpenter-craftsment rather than trained architects and were simple in form, with a steeply pitched roof and little exterior decration - limited here to teh deep overhangs of the second story and roof and the pendants beneath them. The design was reminiscent of many mdeival mercahnts' houses in England." |
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Justus Kuhn
Henry Darnell III as a Child 1710 |
Justus Englehardt Kühn, Henry Darnall III, 1710
- problem – local artisans - outsource your art - with wealth comes art - Germanic artist – Swiss artist - Like so many others – can’t make it in Europe but he realizes that he can make it in America – in Virginia - Here that he receives commissions - Wealthy plantation owner sons - This guy is no Hans Holbein - Some attempt in defnining textures – ultimately not so successful - Is successful in what it tells us - What does it tell us? - Slave/owner relationship between boys – longingly looking - Collar around neck – symbol of status - Subservient to Darnell – body language, etc. - Behind a wall – separated physically – and lower - He is not in the palace – he is outside - Literally in shadow of Darnell - Child – looks like a miniature adult - Stands strong and erect – he is dressed to the nines - Holding a bow and arrow - Slave is holding a bird - What does the bow and arrow and bird symbolize? Leisure. - Leisure – direct signifier of wealth - Organized, French landscape - Envisioned, imaginary landscape - But doesn't it make Darnell look great? ☺ |
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John Smibert
Bishop Berkeley and his Entourage 1729 |
John Smibert,
- at this time – real artists start to come over Bishop Berekely and his Entourage, c. 1729** - ever so subtlety – increasing in capabilities of artists to come - a lot better in person – Yankee Spirit - Scottish born - Joins Academy in England - In the South – becomes associated with guy named Bishop Berkely - Berkely – one of the most important minds of his day - “Westward the course of empire makes his way” famous quote of Berkely - british intellectual – not only was the empire going to shift to the west – culturally and intellectually it was already starting to move - he envisions creating a school – an academy in the new world - John Smibert – encouraged to be in this group – don’t actually make it to the main land – but they will make it to Bermuda - It’s there that the idea kind of flounders - John Smibert eventually makes his way to Boston - Berkeley – entre to a new world - Bishop Berkely and his entourage – what do you see? How have we stepped things up? o More complex comppsitoin – lots of figures o Lighting/chiaroscuro much more interesting o Much better job of textures – clothing o Can sense the textures o Rugs, silks, velvet o Women – templates o Does fall back on some conventions o Eventually ends up in United States – becomes new touchstone for new artists that are to follow o Even the symbolism – the way you manifest yourself |
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Peter Harrison
The Redwood Library 1749 |
Peter Harrison, Redwood Library, 1749 – Newport, Rhode Island
- by mid 18th century – growing profieciency in architecture - Peter Harrison –ship captain - Oldest public library - Genteleman architect Harrison – genteman architect Learning architecture through books Not surprisingly – goes to Palladio – foundation of architecture from Renaissance onwards Almost every architect we will talk about – in some ways influenced by Paladdo Palladio – Venetian Palladio, Villa Rotunda, begun 1550 – Vicenza, Italy - SYMMETRY - Greece and Rome - Capitols – Greece - Pediment - Ionic capitols - Greek temple fronts - Dome – Roman - Epitome of neoclassicism - Increasingly important in the United States - Roman temple front - He knows his classical examples – playing with, assimilating Chiswick House, - as Englishmen travel through Italy start taking with them – grand tour produces almost knock offs of what they see From Palladio – to England – TO AMERICA !!! !!! These ideas are coming across – channeled in diverse Peter Harrison, Redwood Library - Made of wood - Copying this from Palladio’s I Quattro LIbri dell’Architettura - Adapting what Palladio was doing and bringing it to the United States Peter Harrison, King’s Chapel, Boston 1750 - understands the basics - neoclassical architecture – in a church - what is interesting aspect? - Never finished – looks incomplete - An attempt but still not fully conversed in architeture - Inside better than outside - What materials? Wood – cheap and quick - Working cheap and quick – something very American about this concept |
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John S. Copley
Boy with Squirrel, (Henry Pelham). 1765 |
*Boy with Squirrel (Henry Pelham) 1765
• True tactile quality of the wood • The glass • Complex observations – crystalizes into the work • Volume, shadow, modeling • Sophisticated painter at a young age • Textures of clothing • Details- corner of desk looks worn • Sophisticated painting • Squirrel – is chained – raw undefined that is now being trained (deeper relationship – slaves) • People in Europe are amazed – there are not academies in the US (he has taught himself – exceeding his trainers), impressed by the Americaness, highlighted and special attention given to every aspect of the work, folded over ear – individualized, unique Becomes number one painter of the era |
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John S. Copley
Paul Revere 1768 |
*Paul Revere 1768-1170
• Rise of the new class • Craft shown – silversmith • Tools of the trade (this image is not found on other side of the Atlantic) • No background forces sitter to foreground • Gaze – middle class – he is looking at you – suggests equality • In deep thought – don’t associate thought with craft • Elevates the individual who in Europe would be lowly • Individualized • Interest in texture • Wearing a linen shift – costume of the working class – brought to the surface, not hidden Paul Revere. Silverware • Utilitarian style, stripped down, democratic • Sons of Liberty Bowl • Also an engraver Magna Charta – British constitution – gives power to the Lords, the key document Copley, The Deplorable State of America • Symbolic • If America opens what her Mother brings her – destruction, chaos Paul Revere, The Bloody Massacre • British slaughtering poor innocent Americans • Soldiers pushed beyond the limits • Doesn’t want to be subtle – wants to remind America as good them as had |
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Benjamin West
The Death of General Wolfe 1770 |
Benjamin West, The Death of General Wolffe, 1770
- a little more – does push envelope a little more - when George III saw this – didn’t know quite what to do - what made it so controversial? - Not in Classical dress/ time - Old Roman generals - Being the American – who can buck - Both controversial and cutting edge - Everyone is circling around – in the middle of battle - Time has stood still – for the death of this great man - In awe and reverence - Simlar to representations of Christ as he was dying – Pieta, etc. - Looks to the heavens - More than just a death – an apotheosis - Some figures really there – some are not - Iroquois fighter – clear embellishment - What is the importance of that figure? - Gives a geographic marker – - Clearly wants to indicate it is a new world subject - This is going to change everything - This is going to be drastic - Aloof – contemplating what is happening – stoic warrior - Native Americans – playing different roles - Hand supporting head – old roman way of showing thought/thinking - Ancient staturay – employed in a new way - So many ways of being read - West realized – secondary marker - Commissioned certain individuals ot make etching copy - How many places can the painting itself be? Two spots - Mezzotint – it can go anywhere!! - Where do many of them show up? In the United States - How much did they make? From sell of image alone – thousands and thousands of pounds - West – 20 – 30,000 pounds - Pretty clear haul - Copyright issues that come into the fore - West important figure in many different ways - Local boy done good |
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John S. Copley
Watson and the Shark 1778 |
*Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778
• Painted in England • Subject – Lord Watson • Location port of Havana • Commission by Lord Watson • Out swimming late – shark comes and bits his foot off • Memorializes a dumb event in his life • Elevating the story – history painting • Done in contemporary costume and events • Pyramid – stable – pinnacle uniquely an African – Watson was an abolitionist • African holding the rope – lifeline and man of action • Look at Watson and shark – Angelic man (light verses dark) • Never seen a shark before • Layering the meaning of this work in stories that people knew (Jonah, St. George) • Not a simple image • Recognizable setting • 3 copies ( Boston, National Gallery, Kansas) |
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Thomas Jefferson
Monticello 1770-1783 |
Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, Study for the plan and first Pavillion
- why are we thinking about Greece and Rome? - Roman Republic - Greek ideal of democracy - Appropriate architecture for their ideals of a nation Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, 1770-1784*** - proportions are right - he has thought this through - he is creating his own thing here - inspired by some things – but radically new - what else do we see in Monticello? - Monticello – more sophisticated than Vernon - The notion – what you see on the outside, exactly what you will see on the inside - Part of the genius of Monticello - How is he incorporating Greek and Roman ideals - Tuscan order - Let’s not get too nitpicky - Where is the Roman element - Rome – Dome - Solididty is importat - Using brick – American material - Splitting takes place on the inside - Outside doesn’t reflect interior - Molding – old aesthetic he is reincorporating - Is the plan symmetrical? Is it ordered/reasoned? - Why does it make sense to have a perfect? Enlightened home? - You create Utopian architecture – - Good architecture – actually edifies and uplifts society - Everything is outlined, ordered, balanced - He wants to make the grand views – but he wants to make everything function as it should - Slaves quarters - Wanted servants to go in and out without ever being seen |
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Mission San Xavier del Bac
1783-1797 |
Mission San Xavier del Bac**
- colonial America – in size and scale and detail - Tucson, Arizona - Much bigger scale than things we have seen in New Mexico and Texas - Tremendous westwork - Giant bell towers - Separation on the different levels - Tripartite interior - Really Baroque - Takes a little while to get there - Front portal – - Things translated from one culture to the next - Quite frankly – artisans much more primitive than their European counterparts - It takes a while to develop artistic sophistication - When you get inside – yes it is Baroque - Would anything like this ever be seen in Europe? - Colors very bright again - Horror vaccui – loathing of any blank space – intensely decorated interior - Love these over the top ornate structures - Incorporating modern architectural design and planning - Maintains that look and feel of an American Spanish mission - San Xavier del Bac – in Tuscon - So different from what the European experience would have been - in contrast to that European |
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John Trumbull
The Death of General Warren . . .Battle of Bunker Hill 1786 |
The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 1786
- which of the two poles? Light vs. dark or patched & piebald - light vs. dark – Americans wearing white - brink – contrasts with dark hats of British soldiers - does he know Baroque painting style? Yes - striking diagonals - elements of that – wanting to make a dramatic canvas - Sarah: patched and piebald - Not quite so clearcut – who is good who is bad - The first thing – British seem much more in the light and visible than many ofhte American symbol – seem to be more of the focus almost - Early general – dies leading troops - Common British soldier – what is he about to do ? the soldier – trying to bayonet him – what does that imply – that is what you do when you put people out - Another british soldier – stops him - Who is the good guy, who is the bad guy? COMPLICATED - When you are making propaganda? Don’t individualize, give foe mercy - Strange tension that is taking place - What myth are you seeing? No uniforms – assorted weapons – myth of militaman/minutemen - Makes sense when you look at the details - When you first look at it – great American painting – subtleties – make it difficult - Where is he painting? Painting in London - Could that shade and direct how he paints this event? - Part of the depicting the British as not that bad – painting your foes here – typically applies to raw strength - Who wins the battle of bunker’s hill? The British do - But why is it considered a American victory? The British lose SO many men - How did the public react to this? Didn’t know what to think - Hoped it would be a huge success - No success in terms of monetary - Public just doesn’t embrace it - West – no – wants to show you good vs. bad - Different version of war – probably closer to the real things |
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J.A. Houdon
George Washington 1788 |
Jean Antoine Houdon, George Washington, 1788***
- Houdon – from France - Comes over – alliance between France/America - Comes over and wants to depict famous men – no one more famous than Washington - When he turns down the presidency – no one more powerful on earth than Washington - How is Houdon treating/representing Washington? - Very regal – a stance about him that is very wise - Represents leadership - He is tall – he is statuesque - Regal nature to it - Staff – symbol of authority - Makes him look regal - Balance has to take place – - Made from a lifemask – not idealized, etc. - That is what lieerally became the face of Washington - It's a real figure - Very quiet drama – shows his regalness – not baroque – with movement, lines, etc. - Does that to reflect his personality – humble, not showy - What is behind his feet? As you walk around – get full portrait - Big and broad and metallic - Pointed and moves earth - On the other side – the sword - What is the symbolism – pull from the bible - What is the symbolism? What did he pound out - Often represented as Cincinnatus - Who is Cincinnatus? - Gave up power – returned to plow - When Romans needed him again – picked it back up, dropped it again - George Washington – American Cincinnatus - What is this bundle of stuff? – fasces – the literal symbol of the Roman leaders - No American tradition of sculptures –imporitng our sculptures |
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Thomas Jefferson
The Virginia State Capitol Building 1785-1789 |
Thomas Jefferson, The Virginia State Capitol Building
- influenced by Maison Carree - firmly rooted – neoclassicism - return and renewed interest in classicism - roman temple - measuring it all out - classical architecture |
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William Thornton
Design for the U.S. Capitol Building 1793 |
Dr. William Thornton, 1792***
- not a trained architect – a gentleman architect - also a paper architet - good about coming up with designs - limitations – - so much better than any of his competitors – what makes it better than the others? - Dome! - Dome taken from the Pantheon - A lot more simple - Stark neoclassicism - Reserved – not going over the top - Fitting of its purpose - With enlightened architecture – purpose has to be reflected in what it is/what it looks like - What is the main purpose of the capitol building? Has to bring the house and the senate together - Bicameral government - Great gathering spot - Pantheon that holds the whole thing together - Right on in many ways - This is the root of what the capitol looks like today - Thornton’s design wins - The architects – those who know how to do it - Latrobe is brought in in 1800 - How to make Thorn’s design work - Thornton the one that comes in – has all the knowledge of vaulting - Is he able to make it work? - Basic idea – permeate - What kind of capitols did he build? Tobacco Leave Capitol - Uniquely American - Does it loo - Corncob capitol - Being carved by Italians – no tradition of American sculpture James Hoban, Design for the White House, 1792 - other structures that have to live up to elevated design of architecture |
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Gilbert Stuart
George Washington (The Lansdowne Portrait) 1796 |
Stuart, George Washington, 1795
- in Philadelphia – if I need money, what do I do? - Paint portraits of Washington – everyone and anyone will buy them Gilbert Stuart, George Washington (the Anthenaeum portrait), 1796 - what are the distinctive elements? - See this on the dollar bill - Based on the anthenaeum portrait - One of the more truthful images – it was said - What is the other very noticeable aspect? - Ufinished - Why is it unfinished? - Face is the only thing that matters - Keeps it with him – every place he goes – being chased from one place to next - Has this as a template – any time he is cornered – just has to paint - There are more than 40 versions of the Anthenaeum portrait – several museums have more than one - Ubiquity – dollar bill Gilbert Stuart, George Washington (The Landwone Portrait), 1796*** - we love the rogue - 7 different types of this portrait - “Need I say more for the art that permits posterity to stand in the presence of Washington … And in this vast household of liberty, makes the remotest descendants familiar with the forms and faces of those who laid down all for their country, that it might be dear to their children.” – William Stoddard - lots to read – - regal setting - standing like an orator – makes him a leader of the people - calling attention to several different things - sword – balanced on other side, the desk – quill, bills he has passed - not just a man of the sword – but also a man of the pen - built into the Greco-Roman furniture – symbols of - Rainbow - Noah symbol – after the flood - Who is our new Noah, Moses, etc. – Washington - Borrowning face from the antheneum portrait - Excellent example of ways in which their making Washington al of these things - Going back to these old types - Going back to the Greco-Roman past - Gilbert Stuart - interesting persona that follows him around - what is the reason behind painting Washington? Money |
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John Vanderlyn
The Murder of Jane McCrae 1803-1804 |
John Vanderlyn
- key aspect - very first American to go to the Academy - due to financial assistance of Aaron Burr Marius amid the Ruins of Carthage, - how do you know it is coming out of Toga? - Neo-classicism - At the French Academy – neoclassicism was the style ! - Ecole des Beaux-arts – and the annual Salons o Standardizaiotn of style and determination of Taste o Based on Classical and Renaissance Models (oft plasters) o Emphasis on Rpaheal and Poussin o Eventually Peter Paul Rubens too o Poussinistes (intellect) vs. Rubenistes (emotion and color) o Cream of the crop – come out as history painter o Some of them rise to the occasion - Some of them would make that their specialty - History painting – always the premier - Makes Paris, not London – the center of the art world The Murder of Jane McCrae, 1803-1804 - example of new French teaching style? - The forms – muscles – can tell he has been studying the human body - Study the casts – plaster casts – great examples coming from Greece and Rome - Understands twists and how anatomy works - Native Americans – incredibly musculutare – look like Classical figures - Nudity – kind of acceptable - There is a certain amount of unity - Also with jane McCrae – kind of taboo back in the states - Megalagraphic - Figures are large – pushed right up to surface - Why accepted in academic setting? - Europeans love the exotic – and early than the United States embraced Native Americans - Well known example of the classical - Laocoon influence - Why else would this do so well? - Intellect and emotion - This highlights the emotion |
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Rembrandt Peale
Rubens Peale and a Pot of Geraniums 1801 |
Rembrandt Peale, Rubens Peale and a Pot of Gernaiums, 1801***
- no academies – but these kids have a leg up - they can learn at home - they have this fostering community around them - how is this continuing on legacy of Peale family? o Focusing on nature – and specific types of plants o Oval shaped head – learning straight from his father o Two different specifms – both engage the viewer - Rubens hindered by the eyesight - Spectacles – working that reflection - Rubens has how many pairs of glasses – two – - Examining and seeing things as specimen - What is also interesting? By second generation – - Start to travel a bit more - Start to understand history of art a bit more - Rubens – taking cue directly from the Dutch and Flemish Baroque period - Particularly – David Teniers, The Five Senses - Updated and Americanized it |
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Benjamin Latrobe
Baltimore Cathedral 1806 |
LATROBE
- not born in United States - born in England, studies with neoclassical architects – makes his way to United States –s tudies with Jefferson - Latrobe’s personal work – greater sophistication of American architecture Latrobe, Bank of Pennsylvania - what style? Neoclassicism - panics every 10 years - if a bank can at least look solid and timeless – that is pretty good – half the battle - very perilous moment for banks - timeless on outside – innovative on inside - any thoughts? Why? - Suspicious of cobbles - Openness – important - Fire proof - In time in which entire cities going up in flames – fire proof important Latrobe, Cathedral of the Assumption, 1806 - two models for them - one is a Gothic structure – the other is the one that aas made - CATHOLIC - NEOCLASSICAL - Pervading style of time - Odd looking towers – those were added much later, and not to Latrobe’s orginal design - What is the most dominant feature? - THE DOME! - Most imporessive part of structure – dome - Vaulting on the vestibule - Main area – crossing – enormous dome!! - Just look at how high we’ve elevated American architecture - Keeping with it – how everything else must be elevated too - Different class of builder than carpenters seen in last - Very catholic – not at all - Stripped down aesthetic - Aesthetic that works veryw ell with neoclassicism - Apse area – choir area – probably according to Latrobe’s original desing |
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John Trumbull
The Declaration of Independence. . . 1820 |
John Trumbull, The Declaration of Independence, 1820***
- founding fathers represented here who are still alive - John Adams most notably – he sees it - Seminal moments according to Trumbull - How is it both great and flat? - Great? Looks importants - What do you say a lot of? - Lambasted as the shin painting – a lot of men’s shins - That nickname stuck |
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Charles Wilson Peale
The Artist and his Museum 1822 |
The artist and his Museum, 1822***
- wants everyone to see it - wants to get linear perspective just right - he is personally opening the museum to the viewer - high minded rational entertainment - turkey – wanted national bird - taxonomy in back - what is placed at top? The thing that won- the eagle - dinosaur on right hand side - portraits line the top of the wall - MAstedon – dinosaur - Interested in collecting and going out - If you look at the figures – three different attitudes presented here - Three groupings – - Woman – of class/educated – surprised/horrified - According to Peale – the belief was – women had to have a different type of entertinament - Second grouping – father and son – what is the exchange here? Teaching, and learning – not meant to be mere amusement – meant to be uplifting, educational - All the way to the end – figure – represents – what stanse do you typically take – contemplative - Quite but entrenched thinking and contemplation - Obviously this is a unique idea - One that had not existed before on this continent - A magician in him - See it through me type attitude - Sensational showman - Elaborating a little bit - Painted in part by help of Rembrandt Peale - 100,000+ objects – including 269 paintings, 1,894 birds, 2560 quadrpeds (some from Lewis and Clark), 650 fishes, and over 1,000 shells, with 313 books in its library - realizes he has to paint more than portraits in U.S. |
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Raphaelle Peale
Venus Rising from the Sea - A Deception 1822 |
Venus Rising from the Sea – A Deception, 1822***
- what has Raphaelle picked up from Father? - Trompe l’oil – whole idea you have to fool the eye - Better look like the thing itself - Long tradition - What looks real? The sheet – feels like you could pull it back - Curtain – Greek legend - Zeuxis and Parahasios - Tapping into that - Know of greater world around them - Taking a relatively forgotten painting – Valentine Green, Venus Rising from the Sea - WE LIKE THINGS TO LOOK REAL! - We like this whole Puritan aesthetic – We don’t want no nudity - Nudity is not going to work in the United States - Modesty –key aspect of Americanness - No nude – painted behind this curtain - Adds in the other details – just by adding them in - Great little symposium on American paitning |
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Samuel F. B. Morse
The House of Representatives 1822 |
Samuel Finley Breese Morse, Self Portrait, ¾
- Morse code! Early oin – he’s got talent “My price is file dollars for a miniature on ivory, and I have engaged three or four at that price. My price for profiles is one dollar, and one everyobdoy is willing to engage me at that price.” Studies with Washington Allston – Moonlit Landscape, 1819 – a romantic Already knows he has talent Precocious kid with a bright mind “I cannot be happy unless I am pursuing the intellectual branch of art. Potraits have not it; landscape has some of it; but history has it wholly.” Academic ideas - stratified idea of what art should be Samuel F. B. Morse The Old House of Representatives. 1822** - is this history painting? - More of an architecture painting ( michelle) - Kind of dull in many ways - There in recess or something – they are on break – not forming any important laws - Not a technically a history painting – genre painting more - Sexy subject matter? No - People really small - Usually in history painting – people are the focus - Megalographic - Figure itself – driving the activity/energy/etc. - One of the paintings in which he tries to make his name - Believes before initial exposure – this is a painting that will make his career - Does that happen? WORKS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECITON After constitution –w hat happens politically? FEDERALISTS VS. REPUBLICANS - Two party system Federalists – centralized governmet, preservation of aristocracy, power of the few, distrust of the press. Model: Roman Republic Washington, Adams, Hamilton Later formation – whigs Republicans: emphasis on state government, democracy, power of the Many Virgina, Model: Greece Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson Which dominates end of 18th/19th? REPUBLICANS! (Jeffersonian Democrats) for much of the early part of the 19th/20th century – house of representatives – not calm, chaotic The Old House of Representatives, 1822 - federalist agenda? - Architecture trumps everything else – people small - STRUCTURE LARGE – BIGGER THAN THE LITTLE LEGISLATORS FEDERALIST AGENDA - Banality of momonet - Lighting of candles - Indian – Native American issues – small hints of them - Small hints but nothing else - Painted this but - Can see already – from that one moment - Downward spiral in some ways - Dejected – knowing he nees more training - Goes to Europe - No more West as open door - Makes the grand tour - Gets to know Horatio Greenough - Makes his name in Europe - Learns trade Second place he goes – second great painting – hook he thinks he will hang his career Morse, The Louvre, 1831-133 - not just any old random moments - everything he painted had a reason behind it - deeper motives - what would you guess the motives of this painting to be? - Showing his abilities and knowledge – no room like this in Louvre - Audience – Americans - See an artist who is capable - No market for art in the United States - How would a work like this help that second problem? - What does America not have? - Museums, history - Makes Americans think about this - Also a self-portrait – - Portrait of good friend Cooper (leatherstocking fame) - Representing himself in this context –what is he saying? - Not a regular, ordinary self-portrait - Ties into message and meaning of work - Shows himself as teacher - Other people appreciate him – so others should too - Woman – muse rather than actual figure - Has to create a market – has to elevate American audiences - We still have this mentatlity – need to elevate taste & culture Can’t make a living as a painter Going to be creative – thin of other avenues What did he think about portraiture? Not what he wants to be At this moment – divests himself of art – and invests himself in the telegram Later in his life? What stands out most? – great beard, bedeckled with medals F.B. Morse – Portrait of a Young Man - photography one of the first ot start up a studio first to describe process to Americans melds these two fields does it better than anybody else |
