One of the themes in History of Art Paper 1: Identity
- notes on each artwork learnt divided into visual analysis, subject matter, context and quotes that could be used to argue for/against
- also including possible essay questions that could come up
Identity Revision – Specified Artists
Ghent altarpiece, Jan Van analysis/subject Close view:
Eyck, 1432 matter ● Mary and Angel Gabriel and in between is the view of
Jerusalem
● Dove = Holy Spirit
● Lilies typical symbols of annunciation, and they
represent Mary’s purity and virginity
● Out of scale size, if they were to stand up, they would not
have fitted in the room
● The patrons are painted next to two saint Johns - legacy
that they donated for the church
Open view:
● God at the centre of the polyptych - holding a sceptre and
wearing a crown = King of Kings, The Almighty
○ Cross and the Crown of Thorns to reinforce the
symbol of Christ – as they were what he wore
when he was crucified
● Mary on the side of him mother of Jesus
● The Lamb of God being sacrificed symbolises Christ’s
sacrifice for men’s redemption and how he had dealt with
earthly pain
● The light coming down on the new Jerusalem, salvation
and that everyone is welcome
○ Paints the lower panels with having thin golden
beams of light to emanate from the dove, which
symbolises the Holy Spirit, to illuminate the scene
in celestial, supernatural light
○ Made Heaven look realistic accessible to the
people – God is reaching out to the imperfect
world – forgiving and willing to love
● Single-hair brush = hyperealistic
○ For each person, there was individual faces, which
means that they all had different faces and not were
all similar
○ Flowers in the lower panel, there are some
recognisable species
○ Small details, like hair or flower petals, were
painted by single hair paintbrushes to make them
more realistic
● Puts himself in the painting along with his brother
● At the top next to the angels are Adam and Eve, who are
not idealised, to show the Fall of Humanity from Genesis
The altarpiece is showing the important biblical stories
because most of the people who came to see it, would most
likely be illiterate
Detail of the incidental
Context ●Northern Renaissance
●Ghent, Belgium
●Book of Revelations
● Oil paint – allows for van Eyck to layer and therefore
create depth – also known as the one to be pioneering oil
painting
○ An advancement in art as it was the idealisation of
the medieval tradition to an exacting observation of
nature and human representation.
quotes/critical 1. "His portraits suggest both intimacy and distance; generally
text speaking, they are descriptive rather than interpretative." -
, Panofsky
2. "Every detail contributes to its religious meaning as an
exposition of the doctrine." - Honor and Flemmin
Arnolfini Portrait, Jan Van analysis/subject ● Double Portrait - the Arnolfini Couple
Eyck, 1434 matter ○ They are holding hands highlighting that they are
equal
○ They are wearing winter clothes in spring (the
oranges) to show off their wealth
○ They could be married or a legal transaction or a
postcard to their family in Italy
● The dog = fidelity
● Shoes at the forefront = loyalty
● The single lit candle = death or that God (Holy Spirit) is in
the room
● Orange = wealth and their business
● 12 passions of Christ on the mirror at the back
● Mirror that shows two people at the door, possibly Jan Van
Eyck (?)
● Inscription on the wall saying that Jan Van Eyck was there
● Blue paint = expensive and therefore showing off their
wealth
Context ● First genre painting
● From Bruges
● Northern Renaissance
quotes/critical 1. "…the composition is strong, and the subjects themselves
text seem warm blooded and muscular."
2. "His portraits suggest both intimacy and distance; generally
speaking they are descriptive rather than interpretative." -
Panofsky
I am a Man, Greyson analysis/subject ● Bronze - inspired by the Benin Plaques, cultural
Perry, 2016 matter appropriation
● Inspired by Peter Pan - due to the fact that was Alex’s
favourite character
○ It would be played by both genders in pantomimes
○ Never grew up and so therefore experienced
puberty and that was the hardest stage for
transgender
● Trunk = journey of transitioning
● Poetry book - full of poems from when he was still Jazz
● A sword in hand = power and masculinity
● In a stance where they are shouting = celebrating their
transition
Context Commissioned by Channel 4 and the National Portrait Gallery
quotes/critical 1. “rising from a troubled past and being re-born in a brand
text new identity." - Bryony Latham
2. "appears to embody the essence of each person"- All
Man/Who are you?
Object in a Foreground, analysis/subject ● Transferred images
Greyson, 2014 matter ○ Money
○ Luxury goods
○ Chancellor of the exchequer - George Osborne
○ Newspaper
● Phallic shape - representing the Gherkin Building in the
city of London, where all the finance and businessmen
work at
● Always with the Animal Spirit - showing the inside of how
a man thinks
● The embodiment of the men and how they think
Context ● Commissioned by Channel 4, All Men and the NPG
● 2008 economic crash and the chancellor was in charge of
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