Unit IV Assignment Art Gallery: Principles of Design
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INTERPRETATIONOFARTWORK1.pptxINTERPRETATION OF ARTWORK Mary Katz Columbia Southern University
John Singleton Copley, The Death of Major Peirson, 1783
This presentation describes the visual elements in this artwork in terms the light, lines, color, motion, texture, mass, time, and shape.
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Visual Elements
Lines: The artist uses thin lines that converge at the center of the artwork to paint the picture of the battle field.
Light: Bright and sufficient light has been used to help identify the different objects in the background. Smoke, building structures, flags, guns etcetera can be easily recognized because of the light that reflects from them. Similarly, different people such as kids and women can be identified because of the brightness of their clothes.
Visual Elements
Color: The artist uses bright colors to help differentiate people in the battlefield. The British defense can be easily recognized by the colors of their flag (Red, white and black).
Motion: The painting suggest all sorts of running and fighting (Saunders, 1990). Women and children are seen fleeing the scene while the soldiers are attacking each other.
Visual Elements
Shape: Female shapes are clearly depicted in the painting. Male shapes are also present to demonstrate that only males used to fight in the battlefields (Saunders, 1990).
Texture: The folds in human clothes develop texture in the painting.
Mass: Majority of people are in the foreground thus creating movement and mass.
Time: The bright colors and images suggest that it is during day time.
Paolo Uccello, The Battle of San Romano, c. 1438–40
Visual Elements
Lines- The artist uses thin lines that converge at the center.
Color-white horses and black horses can be seen in the foreground.
Motion- The painting suggest all sorts of running and fighting.
Light- sufficient light has been used to help identify the different objects in the background such as horses and warriors.
Shape- male shapes and animal shapes are clearly depicted.
Texture-the knights armor clothes develop texture.
Mass-the painting has many people and horses which develop mass.
Time- the dark background shows that the battle is at night.
Albrecht Altdorf, The Battle of Alexander at Issus, 1529
Visual Elements
Lines- The artist uses straight lines to draw spears.
Color-the grey color is used to paint clouds.
Motion- There are horses running in the painting.
Light- lack of sufficient lighting makes the minor features hard to identify.
Shape- animal shapes are clearly depicted i.e. the running horses.
Texture-the knights armor clothes develop texture.
Mass-the painting has many people and horses which develop mass.
Time- the blue sky suggests that it is during daytime.
Diego Velázquez, The Surrender of Breda, 1634-1635
Visual Elements
Lines- The artist does not use lines.
Color-the blue color is used to represent the sky.
Motion- There is no motion
Light- the lighting is sufficient and hence making the features easy to recognize.
Shape- male shapes are clearly depicted.
Texture-the knights armor clothes develop texture.
Mass-many people making negotiations suggest mass.
Time- the clouds suggests that it is in the evening.
Peter Paul Rubens, Consequences of War, 1638-1639
Visual Elements
Lines- The artist does not use lines.
Color-color is used sparingly.
Motion- People’s motion suggest deaths as a result of war.
Light- the lighting is sufficient and hence making the features easy to recognize.
Shape- male and female shapes are clearly depicted.
Texture-a lot of people in the foreground suggest texture.
Mass-many people dying in the vicinity suggest mass.
Time- the clouds suggests that it is in the evening.
Harry Dix, War Landscape, ca. 1940-1949, gouache and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.33
Visual Elements
Lines- The artist uses vertical lines to draw trees.
Color-the different colors are used to differentiate different features like buildings, trees.
Motion- There is no motion
Light- the lighting is sufficient and hence making the features easy to recognize.
Shape- the buildings are shaped accordingly.
Texture-the is no texture.
Mass-many features suggest mass.
Time- the dark background suggest that its at night.
References
Bayley, F. W., & Perkins, A. T. (1915). The Life and Works of John Singleton Copley: Founded on the Work of Augustus Thorndike Perkins. Taylor Press.
Saunders, R. H. (1990). Genius and Glory: John Singleton Copley's" The Death of Major Peirson". American Art Journal, 22(3), 5-39.
