Caravaggio and Gentileschi

Question 1

What is Caravaggio full name and what is he named after

Answer 1

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Named Caravaggio after his native town near Milan.

Question 2

Who was Caravaggio’s Patron

Answer 2

Cardinal del Monte

Question 3

what is patronage

Answer 3

Patronage refers to the support people with positions of power provided to artists

Question 4

what does it mean to idealise a subject?

Answer 4

To think of or represent the subject as being perfect

Question 5

what is naturalism

Answer 5

When a painting looks like our world, an accurate depection

Question 6

What is earthy realism

Answer 6

to copy nature accuratly weather we think it ugly or beautiful

Question 7

What is the term to describe Caravagio’s extreme contrasts of light and shade?

Answer 7

Tenebrism

Question 8

Describe Tenebrism

Answer 8

to ‘spotlight’ his scenes with extreme contrasts of light ans shade. Extreme form of Chisroscuro

Question 9

What is the picture plane?

Answer 9

Front of the canvus

Question 10

Describe Caravaggio’s composition

Answer 10

Arranged in a shallow spacee close to the picture plane. The viewer is cast into the depts of the picture

Question 11

Describe Caravaggio’s process (any sketches beforehand?)

Answer 11

Its believed he didnt make preparatory sketches. He worked directly onto a dark background

Question 12

Describe Caravaggio’s technique

Answer 12

Smooth and carefully blended brushstrokes to not disturb the naturalism.

Question 13

Explain the term Caravaggisti

Answer 13

Artists who painted in Caravaggio’s distinctive artstyle

Question 14

Who was saint Matthew?

Answer 14

Matthew was a tax colector before Jesus called him asd asked him to join as a apostle.

Question 15

What is the context behind “The calling of St. Matthew”?

Answer 15

comissioned by Cardinal Matteo (matthew) for paintings based on his namestake. Caravaggio’s first major church comission.

Question 16

What is a trilogy in the context of art?

Answer 16

A group of three related paintings.

Question 17

In “The calling of St. Matthew” how is jesus and his apostle contrasted with the other figures in the story?

Answer 17

Jesus + Apostle: placed on right hand side. Poorly dressed. Thin halo on jesus’ head

Question 18

What innovative device does Caravaggio use in “The calling of St. Matthew”

Answer 18

He potrays the event in the life of christ in the setting 17th century Roman street to add to the drama and bring the story closer to the people of rome.

Question 19

How does Carravaggio use light in a symbolic way in “The calling of St. Matthew”?

Answer 19

The light strikes diagonally, hitting Jesus’ face and hand which carries his call to st Matthew.This extreme light is called Tenebrism

Question 20

What is the comoposition of “The calling of St. Matthew”?

Answer 20

The figures stand in the foreground close to the front of the canvus. There is no middle ground, only a dimly lit background making us feel up close and part of the scene.

Question 21

What is the colour like in “The calling of St. Matthew”?

Answer 21

Limited to the rich reds and golds of the well dressed figures at the table.

Question 22

Who was Artemisia Gentileschi?

Answer 22

Major italian Barque painter and the only woman follower of caravaggio.

Question 23

What inspired Gentileschi?

What happened in her life to define her style?

Answer 23

Her father was a well known painter and she was assulted at a young age, seen in her works where in a violent scene a strong heroine is present

Question 24

What is a scene by Gentileschi that depices scenes of violence with a strong heroine?

Answer 24

Judith beheading Holofernes (1610)
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florance

Question 25

How did Caravaggio inspire Gentileschi’s Judith beheading Holofernes (1610)?

Answer 25

His painting of the same subject possibly inspired or challanged Gentileschi

Question 26

Describe the theme in Judith beheading Holofernes (1610)

Answer 26

Most dramatic moment. Gentileschi did not shy away from adding the gory detail of blood

Question 27

Describe the composition in Judith beheading Holofernes (1610)?

Answer 27

All of the action takes place in the foreground. The strong axis through the centre of the painting with an implied line forces us to watch as the knife is plunged. The X shaped arrangement forces out eyes to watch.

Question 28

Describe the colour in Judith beheading Holofernes (1610).

Answer 28

The hot reds in thr blood, contrast against the pale white of the sheets. The white foreshadowsn the deadly corpse that Holofernes will become.

Question 29

Whats the subject matter of Susanna and the Elders?

Answer 29

Comes from a old testment of the bible. Suanna us spyed apon by two men. They theaten to accuse her of adultury. Susanna’s body twists in discomfort.