Term Two Week Four

Well, with 'Examine a Theory' behind us we can consolidate other aspects of our High Renaissance learning by refocussing on portraiture.

Our interests here lie only with Leonardo and Raphael - who both capture the character and personality of their models.
Remember the Early (or is that LOW, Andrea) Renaissance stuff-
all stiff and sideways , profiles like big nose?
With the new interest in Humanism, Art reflected the general celebration in the importance of the individual.
In class we'll work through the key images, many of which we started to cover at the end of Term One - check back through this blog at Leonardo's amazing paintings.

Our top 4 works this week are:

The Doni Portraits, another double whammy - trendy dude, Agnolo and the not so lovely Maddalena.

CSI detectives, which earlier works would you compare this pair to?

Coming in at Number Three - the gorgeous Donna Velata and all the gossip about Rahael's love life with Marhgerita Luti, the baker's daughter.

Next, at Number Two - the dapper Baldassare Castiglione, a one time mentor for Raphael and author of The Coutier.

And top of the pops this week, our particularly papal portraits:

Julius II ( aka warrior pope) and Leo X (the 'fat, lecherous pig' - nice).

Interestingly, Raphael painted lots about himself too. Not so much Leonardo, who only seems to have made one significant drawing.

Enjoy the work and prepare yourself for the madness that is Mannerism, coming your way next week.