Important Definitions:
"The Gypsy Madonna " by Titian
Titian's "Gypsy Madonna " is a beautiful work of art. The "Gypsy Madonna" was painted in 1510 A.D., during the Italian Renaissance (Gill, 1989). It is housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Gill, 1989). There is a curtain in the right background behind Mary, and leaning against Mary while standing on a table is the child Christ Jesus. There is a "spacial delicacy of a Giorgionesque" landscape in the left background (Gill, 1989). The "rich color harmonies" are similar to those found in other art works of the Italian Renaissance (Gill, 1989). Titian uses the technique of chiaroscuro in painting the "Gypsy Madonna". Titian chose to have Mary's clothing have a Golden, puffy sleeve in the "Gypsy Madonna". Titian's "Man with a Blue Sleeve" which was painted two years later, also shows the main figure with a puffy sleeve. Perhaps the "Gypsy Madonna" was given its name because Titian gives Mary a serene beauty, yet her beauty is somewhat exotic like that of a Gypsy.
Chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro is an artistic technique wherein a strong contrast between light and dark is utilized. |
Georgione influence. Many paintings of the Italian Renaissance were influenced by the artist Georgione (1477-1510 A.D.), who possibly was influenced himself by Leonardo Da Vinci, wherein Georgione used blurred, softened edges in some areas; he used landscape in the background of some paintings; and he sometimes used the twist of a body (contraposto) (Gill, 1989) and (Kaminski, 2000). |
The "father of modern painting". Titian is described as the "father of modern painting" (Gill, 1989) because Titian was a pioneer in technique and compositions and he expressed deeply felt passions and experiences (Gill, 1989). Titian's emphasis on brushstroke in his later paintings had an inpact in the development of European painting (Gill, 1989). |
Renaissance. The word Renaissance means "rebirth". It is a term used for the art of the 15th and 16th centuries. The Renaissance was a time of the rebirth of the intellect and a blossoming of the arts. The center of the intellectual and cultural rebirth of the 15th century was Florence, Italy. However, Venice, Italy was also alive with many very talented artists during the Renaissance. |
References:
Bartz, G. & Konig, E. (2001). Art & Architecture: The Louvre. Oldenburg: Konemann.
Gill, I. (1989). The History and Techniques of the Great Masters. London: Tiger Books International Ltd.
Honour, H. & Fleming, J. (2002). A World History of Art. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
Kaminski, M. (2000). Art & Architecture: Venice. Oldenburg: Konemann.
Kleiner, F., Mamiya, C. & Tansey, R. ( 2001). Gardner's Art Through the Ages, Vol. II. N.Y.: Harcourt College Publishers.
Krausse, Anna C. (1995). The Story of Painting From the Renaissance to the Present. Hong Kong: Konemann.
Wirtz, Rolf C. (2000). Art and Architecture: Florence. Oldenburg: Konemann.
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