Baroque Still Life Painting

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Baroque Still Life Painting

• Game Birds, Table Setting,
• Five Senses, Vanitas

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BAROQUE

• 17th and 18th Centuries,
• Started in Italy and went around Europe
• Baroque Still Life was hugely popular in the
  Netherlands and Flemish society.
• Still Life had symbolic meanings that people at
  the time understood, usually moral lessons.

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Characteristics of Baroque Ptg

• Chiaroscuro
• Painting from Life
• Extreme detail
• Dramatic arrangement and lighting
• Rich colors

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Famous Early Baroque Paintings
Caravaggio, The Conversion of Saul
Artemisia Gentellischi, The Beheading of
Holofernas
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Hunting

• Dead animals from a hunt were a popular subject.
• They are a great way to show off technique
• Look at
• Texture (feathers, tassels, velvet, etc)
• Strong composition.
• Realism
• Details (find the fly)
• Lighting effects (chiaroscuro)

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FRUIT

• Traditional, what we usually think of with Still
  Life.
• Originally symbolic for the good, sweet things in
  life, abundance, or even sexuality or sin.

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LIGHTING

• Look at the way the light affects how we see the
  different forms,
• How does light affect the textures, reflections?
• How does light and shadow affect the mood?

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NOTICE THE COMPOSITION

• Composition refers to the arrangement of elements
  and objects around the picture plane. Your eye
  travels from one point to another around the
  picture in a clockwise path.
• Good composition keeps your eye moving on an
  harmonious path.
• The triangle is a traditionally strong
  composition.

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LOOK!

• CAN YOU FIND THE TRIANGLE COMPOSITION?

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FIND THE BUG!

• INSECTS were often added to a table setting.
• They symbolized the decadence of the good life,
  and warned one of the temptations of too much
  sweetness (can lead to evil.)

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FIVE SENSES

• Symbolism became more profound
• Objects symbolizing the five senses of humans
  were arranged on a table
• Sight
• Sound
• Smell
• Touch
• Taste
• Objects were chosen to symbolize pleasure

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VANITAS

• This type of still life was meant to remind the
  viewer of the fleeting quality of life. Life is
  wonderful, but goes so FAST!
• What do you think each object symbolizes?
• VANITAS is about the swift approach of DEATH!

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• DONT FORGET ABOUT THE COMPOSITION!

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Ways to control eye movement

• Folds of cloth
• Positioning of objects, bodies
• Repetition of colors
• Emphasis from either highlights or shadows.
• Height of objects
• Details, textures, or negative space
• Eyes

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What would a modern Vanitas still lifecontain?

• Plan and assemble a Vanitas Still Life of modern
  design. What objects would you use?