Art Unit 3 Critical Essay

Essay by shksprsysUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, February 2005

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Masaccio, The Tribute Money, c. 1427

Masaccio's, The Tribute Money, is his variation on a story from the Bible, Matthew (17:24-27) about Christ instructing all people to pay taxes.

http://www.abcgallery.com/M/masaccio/masaccio7.html

This painting makes full use of its canvas, by showing several different happenings all at the same time. The artist, while posing the paintings characters in very classical poses/stances, brings new light to the world of the Early Renaissance, by using light and shadow to create realism and humanity to their bodies themselves and their interaction with one another. The painting shuns decorative antiquity, and embraces a three-dimensional style.

Masaccio, The Holy Trinity, c. 1426-7

Masaccio's, The Holy Trinity, reflects one of the most important principles to the Christian faith; the death of Christ.www.abcgallery.com/M/masaccio/masaccio5.html

This painting again, depicts the "real" human body, again using light and shadow to achieve this effect. The painting is also very symmetrical in the mathematical sense, having an articulated opposition on both sides.

The color in the robe of God, holding up the cross is half red, and half black. Conversely, the robes of The Virgin and that of John are in opposites; one is black while the other is red. The numbers of open areas in the beams above Christ are equal in number as well. Also, Christ is centered in the middle of the painting, with the vanishing point behind him, giving the painting the illusion depth.

Piero della Francesca, Resurrection c. 1458

Piero della Francesca's, Resurrection is the artist's vision of the resurrection of Christ.

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/P/piero/resurrex.jpg.html

There are two definite and separate sides to this painting; the sleeping guards below while the resurrected Christ above. The realism displayed in the body of Christ is-

-remarkable. The depiction shows Christ with his right leg positioned on the marble column, allowing...