Fiona Bruce is a woman that presented numerous important television programs for BBC corporation in the UK. She also has a reputation for a more honest type of journalism that attempts to get to the truth. This gives her a more believable image, in addition to her obvious passion for DaVinci's work.
• Which painting do you like most by Leonardo's why? How was it made? What do
you see first, second, third? Why? What is this painting about?
Although I do not really care for the Mona Lisa aesthetically, there is something about the paintings that intrigues me. I would never buy a print or praise its beauty, but the mystery of the woman's face is what captures me. She is not beautiful, there is no color that draws your attention, yet her face grabs you and never willingly allows you to look away. This was done by paintings layers upon layers that each incorporated a different element. Some layers would be for shadow and other for more pigment. However the pigment was very scattered, never concentrated in a specific area (hence the lack of vibrant color). The face is what I notice first, without a doubt with its lightness in the center of shadow and mysterious gaze. Next is the subtle halo that is around the woman's head. Something about it makes you feel a sense of ecclesiastic presence. Next is the background/landscape. It is completely dull and blurred, yet through this and its darkness, the woman becomes the focus without anything to drag the eye away from the face of the Mona Lisa. This painting was meant to be the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, Lisa Gherardini.
• Why did this storyteller chose to use expert interviews to tell parts of her
story? Which Interviews were the most effective and why?
Using experts gives the story a more grounded and intellectual feel. It also provides a sense of credibility to a story that some may scoff at. I liked the interview with Syson. He provided an interesting insight into why DaVinci had SO many unfinished paintings with his "flakey-ness." It is a different view that has not been documented quite as often.
• Ask a New Question for others to discuss next week
Do you agree with the main theme of the video (That DaVinci was/is the best painter that has lived)? Is his work even comparable to that of the Impressionists with each style being vastly different from the other?
First off, I think your blog post is very well written. The way you analyzed the Mona Lisa is great. I agree with what you are saying as well. The painting is, in what seems to be both of our opinions, not extremely aesthetically pleasing, but instead it is immensely mysterious and interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the questions you asked, I would say that no, DaVinci isn't the best painter that has lived. I think it is far too difficult to give that title to any single painter simply because there are so many different reasons one could be the greatest painter. They all have individual styles and visions. One person might find DaVinci's work to be ugly and Jackson Pollock's work to be the most beautiful thing they've ever seen. It is really too hard to decide. I think this goes along with your second question. It isn't exactly fair to compare DaVinci to an impressionist artist because they have almost nothing in common. They are vastly different styles and comparing the two is impossible. I think maybe one could argue that DaVinci is the best painter of his style, but definitely not of all the artists that have lived.