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Altarpiece Art History Definition: A Journey Through Sacred Imagery
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, PhD in Art History, specializing in Medieval and Renaissance art. Professor of Art History at the University of California, Berkeley.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, a leading publisher of academic texts in art history and related fields.
Editor: Dr. Arthur Davies, PhD in Art History, specializing in museum curation and digital archiving of art. Curator of European Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Keyword: altarpiece art history definition
Summary: This narrative explores the "altarpiece art history definition," tracing its evolution from early Christian devotional objects to complex Renaissance masterpieces. It utilizes personal anecdotes, case studies of iconic altarpieces, and analysis of artistic techniques and cultural contexts to provide a comprehensive understanding of this significant art form. The narrative highlights the diverse functions of altarpieces, from religious devotion to political statements, and explores their impact on artistic innovation and societal values.
Understanding the Altarpiece Art History Definition
The phrase "altarpiece art history definition" immediately conjures images of richly adorned panels, glittering gold leaf, and intensely emotive figures. But what exactly is an altarpiece? Simply put, an altarpiece, according to the altarpiece art history definition, is a work of art, typically a painting or sculpture, placed on or above an altar in a church or chapel. This seemingly straightforward definition, however, belies the extraordinary complexity and rich history of this art form. My own journey into understanding the altarpiece art history definition began during my undergraduate studies, when I first encountered the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald. The sheer emotional power of the work, the visceral realism of Christ's suffering, and the intricate detail of the polyptych's moving panels completely captivated me. This initial encounter solidified my fascination with the subject, leading to years of research culminating in my doctoral thesis on the symbolic language of Northern Renaissance altarpieces.
The altarpiece art history definition encompasses a vast range of styles, materials, and artistic techniques. From the simple, early Christian wooden panels adorned with symbolic motifs to the monumental, multi-paneled masterpieces of the Renaissance, altarpieces reflect the evolving artistic and theological currents of their time. Early examples, often reflecting Byzantine influences, featured stylized figures and a focus on symbolic representation. As artistic techniques advanced, so did the complexity of altarpieces. The altarpiece art history definition expands to include techniques like tempera, oil painting, and sculpture, often incorporating precious metals, jewels, and ivory.
Case Study 1: The Ghent Altarpiece (Van Eyck)
The Ghent Altarpiece, completed in 1432 by Jan van Eyck, serves as a prime example in any exploration of the altarpiece art history definition. This monumental polyptych showcases the revolutionary realism and detail of early Netherlandish painting. The exquisite rendering of light and texture, the meticulous depiction of fabrics and landscapes, and the profound symbolism woven throughout the panels make it a cornerstone of the altarpiece art history definition, pushing the boundaries of what was previously considered possible in religious art. The altarpiece’s complex iconography, reflecting both theological and political themes, provides a rich tapestry of interpretations, contributing significantly to our understanding of the altarpiece art history definition in its historical context.
Case Study 2: The Isenheim Altarpiece (Grünewald)
As mentioned earlier, the Isenheim Altarpiece holds a special place in my personal journey with the altarpiece art history definition. This haunting and intensely emotive work, created by Matthias Grünewald around 1515, is a testament to the power of art to convey both spiritual and physical suffering. The visceral realism of Christ's crucifixion, the unsettling depictions of disease, and the overall atmosphere of profound pathos deeply impacted its viewers – and still does today. The altarpiece art history definition takes on a new dimension when considering this work, as it demonstrates the altarpiece’s capacity to transcend mere artistic beauty and engage with the very real struggles of human existence. The altarpiece's location in a hospital chapel further underlines its purpose as a source of comfort and hope for the sick and dying.
The Altarpiece Art History Definition: Beyond the Religious
While predominantly associated with religious contexts, the altarpiece art history definition is not solely limited to sacred imagery. Many altarpieces incorporated secular elements, reflecting the patron's wealth, power, or family history. Portraits of donors, scenes of courtly life, and allegorical representations of virtue and vice often appeared alongside religious iconography, blurring the lines between sacred and profane. This fusion of religious and secular themes within the altarpiece art history definition complicates our understanding of the work's function and its place within society.
The Evolution of the Altarpiece Art History Definition Across Styles
The altarpiece art history definition changes as artistic movements evolved. The Renaissance witnessed a shift towards humanism and naturalism, reflected in the increasingly realistic depictions of biblical figures and the emphasis on human emotion. The Baroque period saw the introduction of dramatic lighting, theatrical compositions, and an opulent use of materials, furthering the altarpiece art history definition’s capacity for spectacle and emotional impact. The altarpiece art history definition continued to adapt throughout the centuries, with the Rococo period's emphasis on lightheartedness and elegance, and the Neoclassical period's return to classical ideals. Each style brought unique approaches to the representation of religious themes, constantly shaping the altarpiece art history definition.
The Altarpiece Art History Definition and its Legacy
The altarpiece art history definition encompasses not just the physical objects themselves but also their cultural and social significance. These works played a crucial role in disseminating religious narratives, shaping public piety, and reinforcing social hierarchies. They served as powerful tools for religious instruction, inspiring awe and devotion among worshippers. Their aesthetic impact and innovative artistic techniques left an indelible mark on the development of Western art. Understanding the altarpiece art history definition is thus crucial for comprehending the broader trajectory of art historical development.
Conclusion
Exploring the "altarpiece art history definition" provides a fascinating journey through the evolution of religious art and its interaction with social and cultural contexts. From the simple panels of early Christianity to the monumental masterpieces of the Renaissance and beyond, altarpieces have consistently served as powerful vehicles for religious expression, artistic innovation, and social commentary. Understanding their multifaceted nature requires careful consideration of their historical, stylistic, and theological contexts. The altarpiece art history definition is, therefore, not simply a descriptive label, but a doorway to a rich and rewarding exploration of Western art and culture.
FAQs
1. What are the different types of altarpieces? Altarpiece types include polyptychs (multiple panels), diptychs (two panels), triptychs (three panels), and retables (altarpieces with a single central panel).
2. What materials were commonly used in altarpiece creation? Common materials include wood panels, tempera paint, oil paint, gold leaf, precious metals, jewels, and sometimes even ivory.
3. How did the altarpiece art history definition change across different artistic periods? Styles varied drastically. Early Christian altarpieces were often simple and symbolic, while Renaissance altarpieces emphasized realism and humanism, and Baroque altarpieces favored drama and spectacle.
4. What is the significance of the predella in an altarpiece? The predella, the small panel or panels at the base of an altarpiece, often depicts scenes from the life of a saint or other relevant narratives.
5. How did the location of an altarpiece influence its design and function? The location – in a grand cathedral or a small chapel – dictated size, material, and accessibility to the viewer.
6. What role did patrons play in shaping the altarpiece art history definition and the final product? Patrons dictated themes, materials, and often influenced the artistic style.
7. How did the altarpiece art history definition reflect changes in theological beliefs? Artistic representations of religious figures and scenes directly reflected evolving theological interpretations and emphasized specific religious doctrines.
8. How can we analyze the symbolism within an altarpiece? Symbolism analysis requires examining iconography (images and their meanings), biblical references, and the context of the commission and location.
9. Where can I see examples of important altarpieces? Major art museums worldwide, including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery in London, house notable examples.
Related Articles:
1. "The Iconography of Northern Renaissance Altarpieces": An in-depth study of the symbolic language and religious imagery prevalent in Northern Renaissance altarpieces.
2. "The Ghent Altarpiece: A Detailed Analysis": A close examination of Jan van Eyck's masterpiece, focusing on its artistic techniques, iconography, and historical context.
3. "The Evolution of Altarpiece Painting in Italy": A chronological survey of the development of altarpiece painting in Italy, from the Byzantine period to the Renaissance.
4. "The Role of Patrons in Commissioning Altarpieces": An exploration of the influence of patrons on the subject matter, style, and execution of altarpieces.
5. "The Isenheim Altarpiece: Art, Medicine, and Faith": A study of the social and cultural context of Grünewald's masterpiece, focusing on its placement in a hospital chapel.
6. "Altarpiece Conservation and Restoration Techniques": An examination of the methods used to preserve and restore damaged altarpieces.
7. "The Altarpiece in the Digital Age": A discussion of how digital technologies are impacting the study, preservation, and accessibility of altarpieces.
8. "Comparing and Contrasting Italian and Northern Renaissance Altarpieces": A comparative study highlighting the stylistic differences between Italian and Northern European altarpieces.
9. "The Altarpiece and the Development of Oil Painting": An examination of how the demand for altarpieces fueled the development and refinement of oil painting techniques.
| altarpiece art history definition: How to Read Medieval Art Wendy A. Stein, 2016-10-07 The intensely expressive art of the Middle Ages was created to awe, educate and connect the viewer to heaven. Its power reverberates to this day, even among the secular. But experiencing the full meaning and purpose of medieval art requires an understanding of its narrative content. This volume introduces the subjects and stories most frequently depicted in medieval art, many of them drawn from the Bible and other religious literature. Included among the thirty-eight representative works are brilliant altarpieces, stained-glass windows, intricate tapestries, carved wood sculptures, delicate ivories, and captivating manuscript illuminations, all drawn from the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum, one of the world's most comprehensive collections of medieval art. Iconic masterworks such as the Merode Altarpiece, the Unicorn Tapestries, and the Belles Heures of the duc de Berry are featured along with less familiar work. Descriptions of the individual pieces highlight the context in which they were made, conveying their visual and technical nuances as well as their broader symbolic meaning. With its accessible informative discussions and superb full-color illustrations, How to Read Medieval Art explores the iconographic themes of the period, making them clearly recognizable and opening vistas onto history and literature, faith and devotion. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Living Pictures Noa Turel, 2020-09-25 A significant new interpretation of the emergence of Western pictorial realism When Jan van Eyck (c. 1390–1441) completed the revolutionary Ghent Altarpiece in 1432, it was unprecedented in European visual culture. His novel visual strategies, including lifelike detail, not only helped make painting the defining medium of Western art, they also ushered in new ways of seeing the world. This highly original book explores Van Eyck’s pivotal work, as well as panels by Rogier van der Weyden and their followers, to understand how viewers came to appreciate a world depicted in two dimensions. Through careful examination of primary documents, Noa Turel reveals that paintings were consistently described as au vif: made not “from life” but “into life.” Animation, not representation, drove Van Eyck and his contemporaries. Turel’s interpretation reverses the commonly held belief that these artists were inspired by the era’s burgeoning empiricism, proposing instead that their “living pictures” helped create the conditions for empiricism. Illustrated with exquisite fifteenth-century paintings, this volume asserts these works’ key role in shaping, rather than simply mirroring, the early modern world. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Altarpiece in Renaissance Venice Peter Humfrey, 1993 The painting and carving of altarpieces was one of the most important and characteristic tasks of Italian Renaissance artists. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Encyclopedia of Italian Renaissance & Mannerist Art: Abacco to Lysippus Jane Turner, 2000 The two alphabetically arranged volumes cover all of the major artistic developments in Italy from c.1300 to c.1600, a period that marks the Renaissance of the humanistic spirit of classical antiquity. All three periods of the Renaissance are covered: early, high and late. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Painted Wood Valerie Dorge, F. Carey Howlett, 1998-08-27 The function of the painted wooden object ranges from the practical to the profound. These objects may perform utilitarian tasks, convey artistic whimsy, connote noble aspirations, and embody the highest spiritual expressions. This volume, illustrated in color throughout, presents the proceedings of a conference organized by the Wooden Artifacts Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and held in November 1994 at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia. The book includes 40 articles that explore the history and conservation of a wide range of painted wooden objects, from polychrome sculpture and altarpieces to carousel horses, tobacconist figures, Native American totems, Victorian garden furniture, French cabinets, architectural elements, and horse-drawn carriages. Contributors include Ian C. Bristow, an architect and historic-building consultant in London; Myriam Serck-Dewaide, head of the Sculpture Workshop, Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique, Brussels; and Frances Gruber Safford, associate curator of American decorative arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A broad range of professionals—including art historians, curators, scientists, and conservators—will be interested in this volume and in the multidisciplinary nature of its articles. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning Pamela Sachant, Peggy Blood, Jeffery LeMieux, Rita Tekippe, 2023-11-27 Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning offers a deep insight and comprehension of the world of Art. Contents: What is Art? The Structure of Art Significance of Materials Used in Art Describing Art - Formal Analysis, Types, and Styles of Art Meaning in Art - Socio-Cultural Contexts, Symbolism, and Iconography Connecting Art to Our Lives Form in Architecture Art and Identity Art and Power Art and Ritual Life - Symbolism of Space and Ritual Objects, Mortality, and Immortality Art and Ethics |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Controversy of Renaissance Art Alexander Nagel, 2011-09 Sansovino successively dismantled and reconstituted the categories of art-making. Hardly capable of sustaining a program of reform, the experimental art of this period was succeeded by a new era of cultural codification in the second half of the sixteenth century. -- |
| altarpiece art history definition: History of Art and Architecture Joann Lacey, 2021-01-23 This is a survey of the history of art and architecture of Western civilizations. The textbook extends from the age of the Renaissance until the end of the 20th Century. The textbook includes illustrations, graphs, and reconstruction images curated from Creative Commons material. The textbook includes original text not protected intellectual property. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Art in Renaissance Italy John T. Paoletti, Gary M. Radke, 2005 'Art in Renaissance Italy' sets the art of that time in its context, exploring why it was created and in particular looking at who commissioned the palaces and cathedrals, the paintings and the sculptures. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Carved Splendor Rainer Kahsnitz, 2006 The color photographs, specially commissioned for this project, are an essential feature of the book. Each altarpiece is illustrated in its entirety, with its wings both opened and closed, and in close-up views of its most important carvings and paintings - details that are not available to the average visitor to these sites.--BOOK JACKET. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Stealing the Mystic Lamb Noah Charney, 2010-10-05 Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece is on any art historian's list of the ten most important paintings ever made. Often referred to by the subject of its central panel, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, it represents the fulcrum between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is also the most frequently stolen artwork of all time. Since its completion in 1432, this twelve-panel oil painting has been looted in three different wars, burned, dismembered, forged, smuggled, illegally sold, censored, hidden, attacked by iconoclasts, hunted by the Nazis and Napoleon, used as a diplomatic tool, ransomed, rescued by Austrian double-agents, and stolen a total of thirteen times. In this fast-paced, real-life thriller, art historian Noah Charney unravels the stories of each of these thefts. In the process, he illuminates the whole fascinating history of art crime, and the psychological, ideological, religious, political, and social motivations that have led many men to covet this one masterpiece above all others. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Grove Encyclopedia of Medieval Art and Architecture Colum Hourihane, 2012 This volume offers unparalleled coverage of all aspects of art and architecture from medieval Western Europe, from the 6th century to the early 16th century. Drawing upon the expansive scholarship in the celebrated 'Grove Dictionary of Art' and adding hundreds of new entries, it offers students, researchers and the general public a reliable, up-to-date, and convenient resource covering this field of major importance in the development of Western history and international art and architecture. |
| altarpiece art history definition: A Realist Theory of Art History Ian Verstegen, 2013 As the theoretical alignments within academia shift, this book introduces a surprising variety of realism to abolish the old positivist-theory dichotomy that has haunted Art History. Demanding frankly the referential detachment of the objects under study, the book proposes a stratified, multi-causal account of art history that addresses postmodern concerns while saving it from its errors of self-refutation. Building from the very basic distinction between intransitive being and transitive knowing, objects can be affirmed as real while our knowledge of them is held to be fallible. Several focused chapters address basic problems while introducing philosophical reflection into art history. These include basic ontological distinctions between society and culture, general and special history, the discontinuity of cultural objects, the importance of definition for special history, scales, facets and fiat objects as forms of historical structure, the nature of evidence and proof, historical truth and controversies. Stressing Critical Realism as the stratified, multi-causal approach needed for productive research today in the academy, this book creates the subject of the ontology of art history and sets aside a theoretical space for metaphysical reflection, thus clarifying the usually muddy distinction between theory, methodology, and historiography in art history. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Business of Art Michelle O'Malley, 2005-01-01 In taking a fresh approach to the study of contracts and commissioning, The Business of Art demonstrates the fundamental quality of negotiation, involving the equal input of both parties, to the gestation of a new work of art. It underlines the contributions made by both parties, working together, to deciding such issues as the approach to the production of a work, the costs involved in its creation, and the details of its subject matter. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Italian Renaissance Altarpiece David Ekserdjian, 2021-06-22 The altarpiece is one of the most distinctive and remarkable art forms of the Renaissance period. It is difficult to imagine an artist of the time--whether painter or sculptor, major or minor--who did not produce at least one. Though many have been displaced or dismembered, a substantial proportion of these works still survive. Despite the volume of material available, no serious attempt has ever been made to examine the whole subject in depth until now. The Italian Renaissance Altarpiece is the first comprehensive study of the genre to examine its content and subject matter in real detail, from the origins of the altarpiece in the 13th century to the time of Caravaggio in the early 1600s. It discusses major developments in the history of these objects throughout Italy, covers the three key categories of Renaissance altarpiece--immagini (icons), historie (narratives), and misteri (mysteries)--and is illustrated with 250 beautiful reproductions of the artworks. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Italian Renaissance Painting According to Genres Jacob Burckhardt, 2005 Jacob Burckhardt (1818-1897) was one of the first great historians of culture and art. In his manuscript on the genres of Italian Renaissance painting-still unpublished in the original German and published here in English for the first time-Burckhardt assayed a transformative approach to the study of art history. Rather than undertaking a biographical or a chronological reading of artistic development, Burckhardt chose to read the source materials and extant works of the Italian Renaissance synchronically, by genre. Probably written between 1885 and 1893, this manuscript takes up twelve different categories of paintings, ranging from the allegorical to the historical, from the biblical to the mythological, from the glorification of saints to the denunciation of sinners. Maurizio Ghelardi's introductory essay analyzes Burckhardt's innovative treatment of his subject, establishing the importance of this text not only within Burckhardt's oeuvre but also within the continuum of art historical research. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Limewood Sculptors of Renaissance Germany Michael Baxandall, 1980-01-01 A detail examination of the craftsmanship and lives of German woodcarvers from 1475 to 1525 discusses their artistic styles, techniques of carving, and place in society. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Handy Art History Answer Book Madelynn Dickerson, 2013-06-01 The Art of Discovery. The Discovery of Art. The History of Art! Warhol, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Picasso, Monet, and Rembrandt, Ai WeiWei and Jenny Holzer. What were they thinking when they created their masterworks? While we can't always know an artist's exact thoughts, The Handy Art History Answer Book examines their benefactors, their wealth or poverty, their passions, the politics, and the world events that inspired and influenced them. Explore their techniques and materials, the forms, colors and styles, the movements and schools of thoughts, and discover the varied forms and nature of artistic expression. Tracing art history from cave paintings to contemporary installations, along with Romanticism, Impressionism and the numerous “isms” in-between, The Handy Art History Answer Book guides you through the major art movements, artists, and important art pieces from 35,000 B.C.E. to today. This fascinating book provides an overview of art from its history and basic principles to its evolution, philosophy, and the masters who created groundbreaking works that changed its course forever. Accessible and entertaining, this captivating book answers over 600 questions, such as ... What is beauty? What tools did Paleolithic artists use? Why do Egyptian figures have two left feet? What is the difference between weaving and tapestry? What happened to the Venus de Milo's arms? Why is Emperor Comoodus dressed as Hercules? What are the Classical Greek Orders of Architecture? What do the Yoruba consider beautiful? What was the first Gothic cathedral? How was single-point perspective invented? What makes the Mona Lisa such a great work of art? What is the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco? What is a Zen garden? Why wasn’t photography considered art in the 19th century? How did Cezanne “astonish Paris with apples”? Why did Jackson Pollock splatter paint all over his canvases? Why do Jeff Koons’ balloon animals sell for millions of dollars? Who is Ai Weiwei? The Handy Art History Answer Book covers not only paintings, but every medium imaginable, including sculpture, architecture, pottery, photography, installation art, and even video games. The concise and clearly written text is enhanced by nearly 150 color images illustrating artistic concepts and highlighting important and memorable artworks. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Grove Encyclopedia of Northern Renaissance Art Gordon Campbell, 2009-11-26 The Grove Encyclopedia of Northern Renaissance Art provides unparalleled scope and depth in a field that has inspired and informed Western art for centuries. Drawing on the unsurpassed scholarship on the Renaissance in Northern Europe in The Dictionary of Art, the Encyclopedia deals with all aspects of Northern Renaissance art ranging from artists, architecture, and patrons to the cities and centers of production vital to the flourishing of art in this period. It offers fully updated articles and bibliography as well as more than 500 illustrations, maps, drawings, diagrams, and color plates. Comprehensive and engaging, this resource is an essential and accessible reference for students, researchers, and scholars researching in this important area. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Luxury Arts of the Renaissance Marina Belozerskaya, 2005-10-01 Today we associate the Renaissance with painting, sculpture, and architecture—the “major” arts. Yet contemporaries often held the “minor” arts—gem-studded goldwork, richly embellished armor, splendid tapestries and embroideries, music, and ephemeral multi-media spectacles—in much higher esteem. Isabella d’Este, Marchesa of Mantua, was typical of the Italian nobility: she bequeathed to her children precious stone vases mounted in gold, engraved gems, ivories, and antique bronzes and marbles; her favorite ladies-in-waiting, by contrast, received mere paintings. Renaissance patrons and observers extolled finely wrought luxury artifacts for their exquisite craftsmanship and the symbolic capital of their components; paintings and sculptures in modest materials, although discussed by some literati, were of lesser consequence. This book endeavors to return to the mainstream material long marginalized as a result of historical and ideological biases of the intervening centuries. The author analyzes how luxury arts went from being lofty markers of ascendancy and discernment in the Renaissance to being dismissed as “decorative” or “minor” arts—extravagant trinkets of the rich unworthy of the status of Art. Then, by re-examining the objects themselves and their uses in their day, she shows how sumptuous creations constructed the world and taste of Renaissance women and men. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Principles of Art History Writing David Carrier, 1991 Principles of Art History Writing traces the changes in the way in which writers about art represent the same works. These differ in such deep ways as to raise the question of whether those at the beginning of the process even saw the same things as those at the end did. Carrier uses four case studies to identify and explain changing styles of restoration and the history of interpretation of selected works by Piero, Caravaggio, and van Eyck. -- Back cover |
| altarpiece art history definition: Heidegger and the Work of Art History Amanda Boetzkes, 2017-07-05 Heidegger and the Work of Art History explores the impact and future possibilities of Heidegger?s philosophy for art history and visual culture in the twenty-first century. Scholars from the fields of art history, visual and material studies, design, philosophy, aesthetics and new media pursue diverse lines of thinking that have departed from Heidegger?s work in order to foster compelling new accounts of works of art and their historicity. This collected book of essays also shows how studies in the history and theory of the visual enrich our understanding of Heidegger?s philosophy. In addition to examining the philosopher's lively collaborations with art historians, and how his longstanding engagement with the visual arts influenced his conceptualization of history, the essays in this volume consider the ontological and ethical implications of our encounters with works of art, the visual techniques that form worlds, how to think about ?things? beyond human-centred relationships, the moods, dispositions, and politics of art?s history, and the terms by which we might rethink aesthetic judgment and the interpretation of the visible world, from the early modern period to the present day. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Business of Art Lee Evan Caplin, 1989 Offers guidance for artists in financial planning, copyright protection, the preparation of a portfolio, and sale of works to art dealers, museums, and other markets. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Northern Renaissance Jeffrey Chipps Smith, 2004-07-28 An up-to-date survey of this dynamic period of artistic innovation. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Historical Painting Techniques, Materials, and Studio Practice Arie Wallert, Erma Hermens, Marja Peek, 1995-08-24 Bridging the fields of conservation, art history, and museum curating, this volume contains the principal papers from an international symposium titled Historical Painting Techniques, Materials, and Studio Practice at the University of Leiden in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from June 26 to 29, 1995. The symposium—designed for art historians, conservators, conservation scientists, and museum curators worldwide—was organized by the Department of Art History at the University of Leiden and the Art History Department of the Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science in Amsterdam. Twenty-five contributors representing museums and conservation institutions throughout the world provide recent research on historical painting techniques, including wall painting and polychrome sculpture. Topics cover the latest art historical research and scientific analyses of original techniques and materials, as well as historical sources, such as medieval treatises and descriptions of painting techniques in historical literature. Chapters include the painting methods of Rembrandt and Vermeer, Dutch 17th-century landscape painting, wall paintings in English churches, Chinese paintings on paper and canvas, and Tibetan thangkas. Color plates and black-and-white photographs illustrate works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. |
| altarpiece art history definition: A Companion to Aesthetics Stephen Davies, Kathleen Marie Higgins, Robert Hopkins, Robert Stecker, David E. Cooper, 2009-04-27 A COMPANION TO AESTHETICS This second edition of A Companion to Aesthetics examines questions that were among the earliest discussed by ancient philosophers, such as the nature of beauty and the relation between morality and art, while also addressing a host of new issues prompted by recent developments in the arts and in philosophy, including coverage of non-Western art traditions and of everyday and environmental aesthetics. The volume also canvases debates regarding the nature of representation, the relation between art and truth, and the criteria for interpretation, which are among the most hotly discussed topics in contemporary philosophy. In this extensively revised and updated edition, 168 alphabetically arranged articles provide comprehensive treatment of the main topics and writers in aesthetics. Major additions include historical overviews from the prehistoric to the present and a section on the individual arts. A Companion to Aesthetics will serve students of philosophy, literary criticism, and cultural studies - as well as the educated general reader - both as a work of reference and, with its many substantial essays, as a guide to the best thinking about the arts from the ancient Greeks to the dawn of the twenty-first century. |
| altarpiece art history definition: A New History of Painting in Italy: Early Christian art; Giotto and his followers Joseph Archer Crowe, 1908 |
| altarpiece art history definition: Painting in Florence and Siena After the Black Death Millard Meiss, 1978 The first extended study of the painting of Florence and Siena in the later 14th century, this book presents a rich interweaving of considerations of connoisseurship, style, iconography, cultural and social background, and historical events. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Miracles on the Border Jorge Durand, Douglas S. Massey, 2020-05-01 This vivid study, richly illustrated with forty color photographs, offers a multilayered analysis of retablos—folk images painted on tin that are offered as votives of thanks for a miracle granted or a favor bestowed—created by Mexican migrants to the United States. Durand and Massey analyze 124 contemporary retablo texts, scrutinizing the shifting subjects and themes that constitute a running record of the migrant's unique experience. The result is a vivid work of synthesis that connects the history of an art form and a people, links two very different cultures, and allows a deeper understanding of a major twentieth-century theme—the drama of transnational migration. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Critical Terms for Art History, Second Edition Robert S. Nelson, Richard Shiff, 2010-03-15 Art has always been contested terrain, whether the object in question is a medieval tapestry or Duchamp's Fountain. But questions about the categories of art and art history acquired increased urgency during the 1970s, when new developments in critical theory and other intellectual projects dramatically transformed the discipline. The first edition of Critical Terms for Art History both mapped and contributed to those transformations, offering a spirited reassessment of the field's methods and terminology. Art history as a field has kept pace with debates over globalization and other social and political issues in recent years, making a second edition of this book not just timely, but crucial. Like its predecessor, this new edition consists of essays that cover a wide variety of loaded terms in the history of art, from sign to meaning, ritual to commodity. Each essay explains and comments on a single term, discussing the issues the term raises and putting the term into practice as an interpretive framework for a specific work of art. For example, Richard Shiff discusses Originality in Vija Celmins's To Fix the Image in Memory, a work made of eleven pairs of stones, each consisting of one original stone and one painted bronze replica. In addition to the twenty-two original essays, this edition includes nine new ones—performance, style, memory/monument, body, beauty, ugliness, identity, visual culture/visual studies, and social history of art—as well as new introductory material. All help expand the book's scope while retaining its central goal of stimulating discussion of theoretical issues in art history and making that discussion accessible to both beginning students and senior scholars. Contributors: Mark Antliff, Nina Athanassoglou-Kallmyer, Stephen Bann, Homi K. Bhabha, Suzanne Preston Blier, Michael Camille, David Carrier, Craig Clunas, Whitney Davis, Jas Elsner, Ivan Gaskell, Ann Gibson, Charles Harrison, James D. Herbert, Amelia Jones, Wolfgang Kemp, Joseph Leo Koerner, Patricia Leighten, Paul Mattick Jr., Richard Meyer, W. J. T. Mitchell, Robert S. Nelson, Margaret Olin, William Pietz, Alex Potts, Donald Preziosi, Lisbet Rausing, Richard Shiff, Terry Smith, Kristine Stiles, David Summers, Paul Wood, James E. Young |
| altarpiece art history definition: Thinking About Art Penny Huntsman, 2015-11-04 Thinking about Art explores some of the greatest works of art and architecture in the world through the prism of themes, instead of chronology, to offer intriguing juxtapositions of art and history. The book ranges across time and topics, from the Parthenon to the present day and from patronage to ethnicity, to reveal art history in new and varied lights. With over 200 colour illustrations and a wealth of formal and contextual analysis, Thinking about Art is a companion guide for art lovers, students and the general reader, and is also the first A-level Art History textbook, written by a skilled and experienced teacher of art history, Penny Huntsman. The book is accompanied by a companion website at www.wiley.com/go/thinkingaboutart. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms Michael Clarke, 2010-07-08 Searchable database of over 1,900 terms used in the wide variety of visual media that makes up the art world. |
| altarpiece art history definition: A Cultural History of Objects in the Renaissance James Symonds, 2022-08-31 A Cultural History of Objects in the Renaissance covers the period 1400 to 1600. The Renaissance was a cultural movement, a time of re-awakening when classical knowledge was rediscovered, leading to an efflorescence in philosophy, art, and literature. The period fostered an emerging sense of individualism across European cultures. This sense was expressed through a fascination with materiality and the natural world, and a growing attachment to things. The 6 volume set of the Cultural History of Objects examines how objects have been created, used, interpreted and set loose in the world over the last 2500 years. Over this time, the West has developed particular attitudes to the material world, at the centre of which is the idea of the object. The themes covered in each volume are objecthood; technology; economic objects; everyday objects; art; architecture; bodily objects; object worlds. James Symonds is Professor at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Volume 3 in the Cultural History of Objects set. General Editors: Dan Hicks and William Whyte |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Shaping of Art History: Meditations on a Discipline , |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Spirit of Secular Art Robert Nelson, 2007 THE SPIRIT OF SECULAR ART explains the spiritual prestige of art. Various theorists have discussed how art has an aura or indefinable magic. This book explains how, when and why it gained its spiritual properties. The idea that all art is somehow spiritual (even though not religious) is often assumed; this book, while narrating the historical trajectory of art in the most accessible language, reveals how the mysteries of religious practice are abstracted and saved through all stages of secularisation in European culture. THE SPIRIT OF SECULAR ART presents a coherent theory defining the sacred basis of Western aesthetics. It evocatively describes the afterlife of the holy from Ancient Greece to the present, and outlines how the mysterious institution of art can be explained in material terms. Unlike other books in the genre, THE SPIRIT OF SECULAR ART radically deconstructs traditional art history in terms of 'prestige' and the value of the non-material. The book functions as: an alternative critical history of art, integrated with the histories of literature and belief; a philosophical essay on the fundamental values of art and religion; and a critique of the spiritual conceits of contemporary aesthetics and art appreciation. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Isenheim Altarpiece Georg Scheja, 1969 |
| altarpiece art history definition: Art in Renaissance Italy, 1350-1500 Evelyn S. Welch, 2000 Focuses primarliy on the social and historical context in which art was made and used--Bibliographic essay (p. 326). |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Renaissance Nude Thomas Kren, Jill Burke, Stephen J. Campbell, 2018-11-20 A gloriously illustrated examination of the origins and development of the nude as an artistic subject in Renaissance Europe Reflecting an era when Europe looked to both the classical past and a global future, this volume explores the emergence and acceptance of the nude as an artistic subject. It engages with the numerous and complex connotations of the human body in more than 250 artworks by the greatest masters of the Renaissance. Paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, and book illustrations reveal private, sometimes shocking, preoccupations as well as surprising public beliefs—the Age of Humanism from an entirely new perspective. This book presents works by Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, and Martin Schongauer in the north and Donatello, Raphael, and Giorgione in the south; it also introduces names that deserve to be known better. A publication this rich in scholarship could only be produced by a variety of expert scholars; the sixteen contributors are preeminent in their fields and wide-ranging in their knowledge and curiosity. The structure of the volume—essays alternating with shorter texts on individual artworks—permits studies both broad and granular. From the religious to the magical and the poetic to the erotic, encompassing male and female, infancy, youth, and old age, The Renaissance Nude examines in a profound way what it is to be human. |
| altarpiece art history definition: Renaissance Gothic Ethan Matt Kavaler, 2012-01-01 This compelling book offers a new paradigm for the periodization of the arts, one that counters a prevailing Italianate bias among historians of northern Europe of this era. The years after 1500 brought the construction of several iconic Late Gothic monuments, including the transept facades of Beauvais cathedral in northern France, much of King's College in Cambridge, England, and the parish church at Annaberg in Saxony. Most designers and patrons preferred this elite Gothic style, which was considered fashionable and highly refined, to alternative Italianate styles. Ethan Matt Kavaler connects Gothic architecture to related developments in painting and other media, and considers the consequences of the breakdown of the Gothic system in the early 16th century. Late Gothic architecture is recognized for its sensuous and abundant ornament. Its visually rich surfaces signify wealth and magnificence, and its flamboyant geometric designs portray a system of perfect and essential forms that convey spiritual authority, while often serving as signs of personal or corporate identity. Renaissance Gothic presents a groundbreaking and detailed study of the Gothic architecture of the late 15th and 16th centuries across Europe. |
| altarpiece art history definition: The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière Catherine Coleman Brawer, Kathleen Murphy Skolnik, 2014 Deluxe presentation of the murals (in glass and marble mosaic, ceramic tile, terracotta, metal, and oil on canvas) of Art Deco artist, Hildreth Meière (1892-1961). |
Altarpiece - Wikipedia
An altarpiece is a painting or sculpture, including relief, of religious subject matter made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. [2]
Altarpiece | Art, Religion & History | Britannica
Altarpiece, work of art that decorates the space above and behind the altar in a Christian church. Painting, relief, and sculpture in the round have all been used in altarpieces, either alone or in …
Renaissance Altarpieces - World History Encyclopedia
Nov 26, 2021 · During the Renaissance (1400-1600) just about any artist of worth found themselves commissioned at some point in their careers to produce an altarpiece. Some of the …
Smarthistory – The Medieval and Renaissance Altarpiece
The altarpiece guided the faithful to a state of mind conducive to prayer, promoted communication with the saints, and served as a mnemonic device for meditation, and could even assist in …
Altarpiece - definition of altarpiece by The Free Dictionary
Define altarpiece. altarpiece synonyms, altarpiece pronunciation, altarpiece translation, English dictionary definition of altarpiece. n. A piece of artwork, such as a painting or carving, that is …
ALTARPIECE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of ALTARPIECE is a work of art that decorates the space above and behind an altar.
Altarpiece Art: Types of Altarpieces, Triptych, Polyptych, Diptych
The altarpiece was one of the highpoints of Christian art during the Late Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Northern Renaissance, and Counter-Reformation periods. This type of religious …
What does altarpiece mean? - Definitions.net
An altarpiece is a work of art, typically a painting, sculpture, or relief, that is placed on, behind, or above the altar in a Christian church. Its imagery is usually religious in nature, intended to …
Guide to altarpieces | Learn about Art | National Gallery, London
Get to know altarpieces at the National Gallery. Explore the elements of an altarpiece and discover the history behind these devotional objects. Uncover the different elements of an …
The Altarpiece: Beauty, Faith, and Teaching at the Heart of the …
Among the most emblematic artistic expressions of traditional Catholicism is the altarpiece, a majestic structure that adorns the altars of churches and cathedrals, conveying the greatness …
Altarpiece - Wikipedia
An altarpiece is a painting or sculpture, including relief, of religious subject matter made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. [2]
Altarpiece | Art, Religion & History | Britannica
Altarpiece, work of art that decorates the space above and behind the altar in a Christian church. Painting, relief, and sculpture in the round have all been used in altarpieces, either alone or in …
Renaissance Altarpieces - World History Encyclopedia
Nov 26, 2021 · During the Renaissance (1400-1600) just about any artist of worth found themselves commissioned at some point in their careers to produce an altarpiece. Some of the …
Smarthistory – The Medieval and Renaissance Altarpiece
The altarpiece guided the faithful to a state of mind conducive to prayer, promoted communication with the saints, and served as a mnemonic device for meditation, and could even assist in …
Altarpiece - definition of altarpiece by The Free Dictionary
Define altarpiece. altarpiece synonyms, altarpiece pronunciation, altarpiece translation, English dictionary definition of altarpiece. n. A piece of artwork, such as a painting or carving, that is …
ALTARPIECE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of ALTARPIECE is a work of art that decorates the space above and behind an altar.
Altarpiece Art: Types of Altarpieces, Triptych, Polyptych, Diptych
The altarpiece was one of the highpoints of Christian art during the Late Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Northern Renaissance, and Counter-Reformation periods. This type of religious …
What does altarpiece mean? - Definitions.net
An altarpiece is a work of art, typically a painting, sculpture, or relief, that is placed on, behind, or above the altar in a Christian church. Its imagery is usually religious in nature, intended to …
Guide to altarpieces | Learn about Art | National Gallery, London
Get to know altarpieces at the National Gallery. Explore the elements of an altarpiece and discover the history behind these devotional objects. Uncover the different elements of an …
The Altarpiece: Beauty, Faith, and Teaching at the Heart of the …
Among the most emblematic artistic expressions of traditional Catholicism is the altarpiece, a majestic structure that adorns the altars of churches and cathedrals, conveying the greatness …
