Art History 6B Writing Assignment 1
Both Giotto and Rogier depict a scene that was very important in the history of Christianity. Individualistically, these artists each achieve this feat with a certain intensity of naturalism as to almost further persuade and remind the viewer that this event truly occurred. Using different techniques, styles and methods, Giotto and Rogier achieve a certain level realness which adds to the overall emotion and reaction of the viewers.
Through use of overlapping and shadowing, Giotto and Rogier create a three dimensional space on a two dimensional platform. However, Giotto goes about overlapping slightly differently than Rogier. In Rogier’s painting, Jesus is more in the forefront of the photo, not much is overlapping Him, which is somewhat appropriate considering that he is the focal point of this piece. In Giotto’s work, Jesus is being more overlapped which does create an illusion of three dimensions as it does in Rogier’s painting. Along with overlapping, both artists use shadows to convey a more three dimensional space. Many of the characters have shadows on their faces and on their clothing which conveys almost an uneven distribution of light. This can convey that the people in the photo are sitting at an angle, further convincing the viewer that this is not a two dimensional setting. One of the reasons it is so important to create this depth is because in real life we live in a three dimensional world and creating a painting in a two dimensional setting would be less convincing than that of the former.
Giotto accentuates the emotions of sadness and grief on the faces and in the mannerisms of the people surrounding Jesus ‘dead body. He paints the people with eyes that look almost tightened as to convey pain and suffering. Their mouths are slightly ajar as if they are about to cry out or perhaps they already have. The look on Mary’s face is definitely one of sadness, her eyes are squinted which make her look worn...