Visual Expressions in Society

Often credited with being the first painting employing scientific, single-point perspective—discovered by Brunelleschi only a few years earlier—looks like actual space that recedes—at center of fresco we see Holy Trinity—body of Christ, dove, and God the Father—head of dove looks down at Christ—incredible rendering of human body—pulled, tortured, affected by gravity—what happens to muscles of body—evokes sympathy (hollow of abdomen), bleeding—deep faithfulnessscientific observation—on left Mary points towards Christ, holds out hand (way to salvation)—on right St. John—donors on lower level—at bottom exposed tomb—inscription reads ‘As I am now, so you shall be. As you are now, so once was I.’—memento mori—imminence of death—reminder of death, prepare now for salvation—eternal life in Heaven—innovation of new perspective—specific viewpoint for viewer—architecture based on ancient Greek and Roman architecture—Masaccio shows off—not simple tile floor—modeling to show dimension, sculptural relief—proportional accuracy of the bodies—culture of trade in Florence—buy/sell, fractions, space volumes, analytic and rational culture