Stella's Art Blog

            Jan Van Eyck was a Netherlandish painter who immersed himself in studying the techniques of oil painting. He lived from 1390 c to July 1441. During his life, he lived in Belgium and mastered the ways of oil paints. He was mainly focused on religious pictures and portraits of people, but was also known for his use of symbolism. In his painting Arnolfini Portrait , a woman and her husband are seen in their bedroom with a little dog. At first glance, it seems like an average portrait, but if closer inspected, small and incredible details are hidden throughout the piece. An example of this is the mirror on the wall of the room- if looked at closely, the viewer can see the reflection of the husband, wife, and Jan Van Eyck himself.

        Giotto (full name Giotto di Bondone) was a painter. He lived from 1270-1337. He came from Italy, and was known for his religious paintings. In this painting by Giotto, Jesus is seen dead being mourned by his mother Mary and his followers. Angels from above are seen flying down to see him. This piece was created in 1305.  Giotto uses emphasis to make Jesus stand out, as he is the center of attention in the piece. He also uses contrast between the bright gold of the halos and the dark grays of the background. The halos help the people stand out from the background.  After observing this piece closely, I found the angels quite strange. Their heads are disproportionate to their bodies, and their faces are exaggerated and morphed. 

Gargoyles are water spouts, with a trough cut in them so the rainwater falls in and exits through their mouth. The name comes from the French word for gullet, "gargouille". Grotesques are sculptures of mythical creatures for decorative purposes. They have no practical purpose, unlike gargoyles.

I searched mainly for animal-related Celtic designs, because they inspire me a lot!

Roman Mosaics Roman mosaics were built using small colored squares cut from materials such as marble, tile, and glass. These squares ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters in width. A base of fresh mortar was prepared, and squares were then arranged in the desired design. Another layer of mortar was added, then it would be cleaned and polished.  Byzantine Mosaics Byzantine mosaics were built from small colorful chips of glass. They used this for a glittery, slightly translucent look. They often depicted religious figures and were found in holy sites. Islamic Mosaics Islamic mosaics usually depicted patterns and shapes that has religious meanings. According to them, the "repetition of many evokes the nature of God." Pieces of glass are sliced off long canes of glass, then arranged into patterns and designs. 

The Ara Pacis is an altar where blood sacrifices once took place. It was built in honor of the emperor Augustus. It was originally found in the Campus Martius of Rome, but was excavated and restored in the modern day for visitors to see. There was a giant sundial called the Horologium Augusti that stood to the far right of the altar. Relief sculptures are found carved on the outside of the Ara Pacis.