March

10, 2020, Council of Trent, List 10

Christof in Germany Kundst site – use virtual gallery for curatoral class. Curate a
show and a catalogue entry


Council of Trent
Caravaggio and Gentileschi

Last day, talked about Council how

Simple
Intelligible
Clear about the event/ subject
Very graphic, emotional especially saints lives

Architecture, e.g. Bernini, emotional theatre stage we participate in. we are part of
that space

Looked at paintings of Caravaggio – make them scene of everyday life, genre scenes
for viewer. Eg. the Martyrdom of St. Matthew looks like a murder. Only thing tells us
it’s martyrdom is angel handling a palm leaf a symbol of martyrdom

Caravaggio changed the rules, made it dramatic, could happen to real people

Caravaggio does this by limiting palette, exceptional use of lighting from above.
Focusing in on person, personal religious experience.

Conversion of St. Paul, excellent composition. Circle of light, internal experience.
Directly across is the image of the crucifixion of St. Peter. External not internal, he
knows what he is experiencing. Big X brings drama, use of lighting, colours

Last day, Caravaggio was a bad boy, dressed up as Bacchus. Roaming the streets
after a tennis match got into a brawl, killed a young man. For that he was sent out of
Rome and fled south. In 1608, he was in brawl in Malta. In 1609, possible attempt on
life in Naples. Infection. All this time, appealing to Pope to get sentence stayed in
Rome so he can return. Looks like will get pardon, but gets fever. Poisoned, body
never recovered, dies at 38 years old.

15. Artemisa Gentileschi, The Allegory of Painting – father was painter, lucky, she
studied in his atelier. In this self portrait, she paints herself as an allegory. Unusual
for her to show herself painting. Huge she was even a painter. Wearing a necklace,
has golden links with mask. The book of iconography said the continuity and
interlocking nature of painting learning from master. Links of necklace represents

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connection to master. masks imitates nature. She is the representation of painting
itself.

She is one of the first women to get diploma in Florentine school of design at 29
years old.

16. Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes – as a teenager one of students raped her.
Father took it to court, she is property of father she can’t go to court. They didn’t
believe women, they tortured her. Put thumbscrews on her fingers like breaking
hands when she didn’t relent she believed her. As a result father/ she won. Sentence
was that he had to marry her. Father protecting daughter arranged her to go to
Florence, went to school. She became an important artist. So many commissions not
finished.

She chose images of strong women. Art historians have said this piece is revenge
against rapist. Not true. Judith was living in city under siege by Assyrians. She
wanted to save people. Crept out and got Holofernes cut his head off after he was
drunk. She is pre curser of virgin mary, defender of her people.

Something familiar in Florence – David was male patron saint of Florence. The
female saint is Judith cutting head of Holofernes. Why she got commissioned
nothing to do with revenge.

She was a follower of Caravaggio. He did a Judith beheading Holofernes. Very
dramatic.

Her’s shows women as more powerful. Maid servant holding him down, strong
forearms. Lighting with dark backgrounds, using only primary colours.

21. Gentileschi Judith and her Maidservant – she is asked to do the theme over and
over, theme very popular. At this time, enemy of church is protestants. Triumph of
the church over adversity. She creates drama, emotion by looking behind, passed on
Caravaggio style.

Mary is willing to make sacrifice like Judith so others can be free


God and Glory: Hapsburg Spain 16th century

Charles 1 of Spain is Charles of 5th of HRM. All these territories belong to HRM.
Northerners pressure created Trent council.

Major wars:

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30 years war: Lots of power struggles going on in Europe. Eventualy resolved with
Peach of Westfalia in 1608.

Before then Spain at war for 80 years. huge effect on power and wealth of Spain.
Spain was the centre of world with Isabel and Ferndinand. Gold used to finance
wars.

Eventually over Hapsburgs mines go dry. Spain goes bankrupt by 1700.

Charles I and Phillip II his son image by Cuado de Antonio Arias Fernandez, 17th C.
Look at genealogy table

Charles I gives title of HRM to brother. Charles I rules Spain. Philip II is son the
Prudent. Mother was Queen Mary I of England.

There is interference from Spain to England try to assignate Elizabeth I. Spanish
armada sent entire fleet to try to take over England. England had light ships could
out maneuver and destroy ships

Phillip II lots to contend with. Absolute faith. He builds the Escorial, a final resting
place for his father Charles I. It’s about 45 miles northwest of Madrid. Monastery.
Houses the library, cloiser of monks, a school for monks, palace for king, and
reliquary. Phillip has a special room, he had 7500 holy relics, one of which was little
girl who had mystic visions. She becomes a saint. She is a prisoner.

Escorial 1563, is austere because Phillip II was austere. Almost always wore black.
Get boiled meat in Spanish court. French have lavish dinners. Inside, architecture
isn’t overwhelming, all the walls painted white. Only doorways are carved that are
left in rough wood, not guilded. Houses art collection that are all on nice white walls.
Different feel than Italy and France.

80 years of war with Netherland, 30 years with Europe

Pieter Brueghel the Elder, the Triumph of Death, c. 1562 - with constant warfare,
religious unrest, peasant wars, plague hard to be happy. Skeletons that are
triumphing in this painting. Mortals don’t have a chance. Some die in religious war,
or some tortured, image of Hell on earth. Try to depict feeling of that moment in
Northern Europe.

Philip II

1. El Greco, burial of Count Orgaz, 1586 – he was Greek working for Philip II. He
went to Naples to Toledo. In Toledo he created this work. Toledo was the
capital of Spain, under Philip II moved capital to Madrid. Toledo remained
religious centre of Spain. This was commissioned by monk Andreas Nunoz,
he was pastor of Santo Tome in Toledo. The subject was the buriel was Count

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 Orgaz. Actual burial happened in 1323, 250 years later was commissioned.
Why did they commission this piece 250 years later? Why this, why now?
Shows people dressed in contemporary clothing witnessing Orgaz placed in
burial. St. Stephen and St. Augustine places him. This is an Augustine chapel.
Count Orgaz did many good works – built chapel, monastery for St.
Augustine. Because of this the 2 saints come down. the idea of catholic faith –
through good works you go to Heaven.

Half of it is the worldly realm. 2nd half is supernatural realm, bodies
elongated, sit on clouds. Soul of Orgaz is being carrying up to Heaven.

Why now? When Count Orgaz died, stipulation that if he do charity the
townspeople maintain church through taxes. People said no more. Priest
takes to court and he wins. Townspeople paid back taxes and taxes. With
money he did this painting. He put important people portraits in painting to
keep them happy. This appeased them


6. Juan Sanchez Cotan, Quince, Cabbage, Melon and Cucumber, 1602 – Phillip III
entrusts administration of empire to chief minister duke of Lerna, and to creatos.
Temporary peace with Netherlands.

This is the major artist of Phillip III. This is a still life, a new genre. This isn’t
about eating food. Cotan went to monastery, a carthusian one. Carthusians were
vegetarians and never left their cells. Denial of worldly pleasures. Painted in his
cell. This image isn’t about sustenance, it’s about mathematics and harmony

This is a parabola but also comes forward. Thinking about mathematical
contemplation of fruits in a larder. Some foods will be suspended, if they touch
they rot.

Not only about austerity of math, also about math. The distance between objects
double. Like musical chords create a harmony.

He didn’t have vegetables in cell. He might have had cabbage used it as reference
for other paintings.

Most of his works not in museums, they are in the carthusian monastery

2. Jose de Ribera, Martydom of Saint Philip, 1639 –

Philip IV greatest time of art and culture for Spain. Gave most power to nephew.
More involvement in 30 years war. Most administration taken up by apostodores.
Gave him time to be art connosieur. Get his ambassadors and artists to travel for
him to acquire art. Prado is filled with this art.

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It is through Ribera that the Caravaggio style go to Spain. Goes to Rome then Naples
commissioned by the the vicereoys who have short term positions in Naples. They
will go back to spain and bring back Ribera paintings.

Like Caravaggio’s subjects almost obscured from us, dark shadows, contemporary
clothing suggest real person suffering, suffering on face.

3. Francesco de Zurbaran, St. Peter Nolasco (sainted 1628) vision of the
Crucified St. Peter 1629 – learns from Ribera, absorb Caravaggio style.
Zuberan mostly painted for monasteries that commissioned 22 paintings
from him, not sure all done. Most in situ.

He also painted for the New World. Doing missions in Americas.

Peter Noalsco is the founder of the Mercidarians. This is the story of his founding.
Founders of the faith. We’ve got John of the Cross, Ignatius Loyola, Saint Avila also.

Peter was a monk of a different order and wanted to go to Rome. Placed in 13th
century to see tomb of St. Peter, and Peter appears to him as crucified in glowing
light. St. Peter said don’t waste time, he said you spend time freeing Christian
soldiers from Moors. He founds order of the Mercedarians. They trade themselves to
free Christian soldiers, and then the Mercedarians raise money to buy monk back.

4. Francisco de Zurbaran, Saint Serapion, 1628 - was a mercedarian from
Ireland. Helped out Spain gave himself up. They didn’t raise enough so he
was killed. There is a cross, bound to a post. He was beatified in 1625 – his
stepping stone to be a saint, when you do history on you if you only do good
things, miracles become a saint. They commissioned image because he was in
the news.

Uses different forms:
Uses realism, trompe o’eil piece of paper
Uses naturalism – interest in natural and social world, what he was willing to
do morally
Uses tenebrism – use of high contrast dark and light

Very emotional even how big the drapery, heightened experience. So young

5. Velazquez, the Water Seller of Seville, 1623 – most important artist of Philip
IV. Velazquez lived in Sevile. He was a good painter and he absorbed
Caravaggio’s style. Like Caravaggio, scenes of everyday life. This man well
known water seller. This painting is going to get attention of Philip IV. Jugs
like still life in painting. Real interest in still life. Often have rebuses in them
(tricks/ puzzles) that intrigued the viewer.

Possible meanings:

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Ageing of man, 3 stages of man’s development
Passing of knowledge
Thirst of knowledge
Could be study on concept of thirst – glass with fig
Recognize the man, made water seller very noble. Home spun, rugged cloth, but has
clean white shirt, man of dignity
Virtuosity of Velazquez – look at large goya, matte glaze, coil built. Compare to
carafe with high gloss glaze, see how light travels. Light penetrates glass. Texture on
painting. Quite incredible.
Sense of volume, how to show vase with patterning, ellipses perfect, splotch of
water dripping down, light goes through droplets.

6. Diego Velazquez – Portrait of Philip IV of Spain, 1644 – Velazquez becomes
the court painter. Philip shown in full regalia unsual because he wore black.
Official state photo. Looks like silver thread, only white and grey paint to
make effect of clothing, lace collar. Loose painter. Spend more time on head,
more refined, don’t want to detract from face. The illusion is incredible.

Philip IV wrote letter to Pope he’s close to him, defenders of faith, asks V to get holy
antiquities from Rome. Pope asked V to do a painting to prove it.

V painted Juan Pareja, his assistant. Being a showman, he takes it to the Pantheon,
hangs it into the portico. People see it and say they were impressed. Pope attention,
so Pope said ok. Pareja was a slave, V gave him his freedom

He does portrait of Pope Innocent X, ca 1650. He gets paintings from Pope to take to
Spain.

Philip IV delighted gave him official position of Court. Made him an aponsentador
(official court official). Had apartment in court. No one have access to King except V.
He was in charge of King’s wardrobe, banquets, accommodation, art collection and
installation. He became close to the King and wore keys to rooms. Given this
position over senior court officials. They were unhappy.

7. Diego V, Las Meninas, 1656 – the chambermaids/ maids of honour. Young
woman is only child infant Marguerita of Philip and Margaret of Austria.
Governnesses, school teachers. Boy is V son, Nicholas. He is part of the
anterage. Niabto, queen’s chamberlain in charge of tapestry will become an
aponstentaor. Image of V shown painting a giant painting.

Michel Foucault – what is the subject of painting. Is it Marguerita, the maids of
honour, Velazquez and painting itself. There is a mirror in background, reflected in
mirror is Philip IV and Marianna, is the subject of painting. The painting never
complete unless it has an audience, viewer. Only complete when they stand in front
of painting reflected on mirror, then they are the subject of the painting he is
painting in the painting.

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King was so pleased. V wanted to be Knight of Santiago, need noble blood he wanted
his son to inherit his positions and wealth but he could not prove that he’s pure
Spanish 5 generation. Probably jewish blood. King so pleased with painting got
dispensation from Pope, wrote him to make him Knight. He was made 2 years later.

The king painted cross of Santiago on V chest rumor. V actually did it 2 years later.