Giorgione

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Giorgione

• 1477/78? -1510

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Self-Portrait of Giorgione
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The Ordeal of Moses

• This comes from books of the Old Testament not
  accepted as part of the Bible
• Turkish and Oriental figures can be seen in the
  background
• Venice was in close contact with the East at this
  time
• Moses picks the hot coals and puts them in his
  mouth, leaving him with a speech impediment
• Despite the brutal nature of its subject the
  picture is calm, almost static.

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The Adoration of the Magi

• Details of this picture show that it is clearly
  derived from Bellinis Transfiguration
• The distant mountains have a blue mistiness quite
  different from Bellinis hard, bright colour
• Giorgione copied the sfumato used by Leonardo
• There are undertones of melancholy typical of
  Giorgiones very distinctive works

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The Castlefranco Madonna

• This can definitely be attributed to Giorgione
• It is an early piece, Giorgione would have only
  been in his 20s
• It is hesitant in some details, but startlingly
  original in conception
• Never before had an altarpiece been set against
  such a landscape
• Cut off from human contact, the Madonna almost
  seems at one with the landscape

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The Virgin and Child

• It is notable for the atmosphere of domestic calm
  and intimacy
• The Madonna sits massively in the centre, her
  strongly triangular form contrasting with the
  rectangular opening of the window frame
• The simply blocks of colour form a dramatic
  contrast

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Sunset Landscape

• This is typical of the small-format pictures
  Giorgione executed for private patrons.
• Figures in the landscape where of little
  importance
• A dreamy, poetic mood is the real essence of, and
  reason for the painting
• This poesia, without obvious theme, either
  Christian or pagan, is one of his earliest.

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The Tempest

• This is one of his most famous and typical works
• The content cannot be clearly defined
• The two sides, each with their human figures, are
  united by the precarious bridge in the middle.
• The observers eye is led past the figures,
  following the river deep into the picture to meet
  the thundery sky

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Close-up of Tempest
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The Three Philosophers

• 1508 oil on canvas
• The seated figure is thought by some to be a
  self-portrait
• This painting has caused much debate and
  controversy over its significance and identity of
  its three figures

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Portrait of an Old Woman

• This is an unusual picture for Giorgione
• At first glance it seems an exercise in realism
  of a kind not common in Venice
• Although undated it probably belongs to the last
  2 years of his life
• The old woman points to herself
• The piece of paper she clutches Col tempo means
  with time

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Sleeping Venus
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