Why are you drawn to write about these works of art? What will your essay say about their significance?
Augustus of Prima Porta is one of the most famous portraits to represent its period. Caesar Augustus is the first Roman emperor. David by Donatello(since I haven’t been able to learn this in the module) has a similar posture and is interesting to see how sculpture evolved in the art history.
Title: Augustus of Prima Porta
Artist: Unknown
Period Style: Imperial Era
Title: David
Artist: Donatello
Period Style: Italian Renaissance
Stylistic Characteristics:
List three stylistic characteristics that relate to this artwork.
Political propaganda
Idealized and prefect
Has connection with Mythology
Stylistic Characteristics:
List three stylistic characteristics that relate to this artwork.
one of the greatest sculptural works of the early Renaissance
Cultural Context:
List three cultural characteristics that relate to this artwork.
The first glance of Augustus of Primaporta can notice that it is idealized which it took reference from ancient greeks. Augustus stands in contrapposto stances which is a pose in which one leg is a step forward and the other leg is relaxed.
Cultural Context:
List three cultural characteristics that relate to this artwork.
David is shown at a triumphal moment within the biblical storyline of his battle with the Philistine, Goliath. According to the account, after David struck Goliath with the stone from his slingshot, he cut off his head with Goliath’s sword. The aftermath of this event as David stands in a contemplative pose with one foot atop his enemy’s severed head. David wears nothing but boots and a shepherd’s hat with laurel leaves on top of it, which may allude to his victory or to his role as a poet and musician
Thematic Connection: What significant connection(s) between the two works of art can you make? Even though they are from different period-styles, how do they illustrate a particular artistic or cultural theme?
Both Idealized and prefect and connection with Mythology
Outside Research Sources for This Essay: Practice using MLA or Chicago format here.
1.Ambler, Jessica Leay. “Introduction to Ancient Roman Art (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/beginners-guide-rome/a/introduction-to-ancient-roman-art.
2.Brouwers, Josho. “Augustus of Prima Porta.” Josho Brouwers, https://www.joshobrouwers.com/articles/augustus-prima-porta/.
3.“David.” David by Donatello, https://www.thehistoryofart.org/donatello/david/.
Feedback from class:
Interesting topic! Here is my feedback:
Thematic Connection:
You have made a clear connection. But I think you can develop a stronger connection. Do the sculptures have similar symbolism or were they used in a similar way? You will just need to develop your ideas into a clear thesis statement. Your thesis statement should point to one key similarity. Make sure your thesis is clearly stated in the introduction of your essay and carried out in the essay. A strong thesis is one that can’t be said about other artworks in our class.
Stylistic Analysis:
Your task for the stylistic section will be to analyze the artwork by explaining how they are examples of the period styles. So make sure you are clearly explaining how the art has Early Italian Renaissance stylistic features and Roman Imperial features. More specific period style characteristics are needed. For example a contrapposto stance is a stylistic feature.
For topic 1 you wrote political propaganda, however this is part of the function and can be discussed with the cultural context.
Cultural Context:
For this part of proposal under topic 1 you wrote stylistic features. For topic 2 you wrote the subject matter. For the style section you will explain the subject matter, and stylistically analyze the art.
Cultural Context refers to – What was going on during the time this was created? – This is geographically/ culturally/ socially/ religiously. In other words – How does the artwork reflect the time period?
For example:
Where was the Rome Empire, and how does the artwork reflect the Roman Imperial period? How is the Roman Imperial Era characterized?
It would be important to discuss the Pax Romana and how the sculpture relates to this period of history.
For the Renaissance topic –
One way to build on the Renaissance period would be to explain the philosophical concept of humanism and how the sculpture reflects this concept.
Where was the sculpture located and how did it function? What did it symbolize to Florence?
You can use the document on the Cultural Context Content in the Proposal assignment thread to build on this section.
You will need at least 3 aspects of the cultural context for both periods.