ART 100 - Week 5: Composition
PART 1: ALPHABET OF ART: COMPOSITION
Assignment Instructions: Within the history of world art, find examples of artwork illustrating: a symmetrical composition and an asymmetrical composition. Explain the different techniques and styles of each example.
Example 1: Symmetrical Composition
The School of Athens
- Raphael
1511
Fresco
- Raphael
1511
Fresco
Raphael's painting of The School of Athens is painted on a wall in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican. It is one of four frescos in the building celebrating knowledge and is classified as a High Renaissance painting. Here we witness different gatherings of people from even more diverse backgrounds having deep discussions. We are left to our imagination to fill in the blanks as to what these discussions may entail. Many members of the crowd are famous philosophers. The layout of the fresco has even balance on the right and left with a series of receeding arch ways leading into the background. The composition is assembled much like a stage set.
Example 2: Asymmetrical Composition
The Persistence of Memory
- Salvador Dali
1931
Oil on Canvas
- Salvador Dali
1931
Oil on Canvas
Likely the most famous of Salvador Dali's paintings, The Persistence of Memory depicts clocks that appear to be melting. One hanging from a tree looks like it has been left out to dry. The entire scene has the effect of dream - elements are recognizable, but the events make little sense. Attention is pulled to the left of the image where the activity of the melting clocks is prominent.
PART 2: PAINTING TO MUSIC
For this assignment I listened to Flamenco radio on Pandora (Spanish guitar) and drew to the souds I heard. Some songs were easy listening, others had more of a romantic impression, and others were more upbeat. At times, the music grew intense. I'm guessing those moments are easy to recognize.