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From 13rd Century To 14th Century

4 min read
From 13rd Century To 14th Century

The 13th and 14th centuries were a time of great transition in the world of art. Gothic art gave way to Renaissance art, and artists began to experiment with new techniques and materials. This period saw the rise of great masters like Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo, who would go on to change the course of art history.

Madonna and Child

Italian, active by 1278–died 1318 Siena / The Met

    This lyrical work inaugurates the grand tradition in Italian art of envisioning the sacred figures of the Madonna and Child in terms appropriated from real life.
    The Christ Child gently pushes away the veil of his mother, whose sorrowful expression reflects her foreknowledge of his crucifixion.
    The beautifully modeled drapery enhances their three-dimensional, physical presence and the parapet connects the fictive, sacred world of the painting with the temporal one of the viewer.
    The bottom edge of the original frame is marked by candle burns.

Crucifix

The Cloisters / The Met

    The Crucifix is meant to be seen from both front and back.
    The Crucifix is from Romanesque Spain.
    The Crucifix is attributed to the later convent of Santa Clara at Astudillo, near Palencia, but the source is not reliable.

The Adoration of the Magi

Italian, Florentine, 1266/76–1337 / The Met

    This picture - at once austere and tender - belongs to a series of seven showing the life of Christ.
    The masterly depiction of the stable, which is viewed from slightly below, and the columnar solidity of the figures are typical of Giotto, the founder of European painting.

Enameled and Gilded Bottle

Islamic Art / The Met

    This bottle is remarkable because it is large and delicate.
    Few such large or painterly examples of enameled glass are known.
    The polychrome phoenix on the neck soars above the central scene of mounted warriors wielding maces, swords, and bows.

Standing Figure with Jeweled Headdress

Islamic Art / The Met

    The ornamented headdress, arms, and rich vestments of this figure suggest that it most likely represents a sovereign's personal guard, viziers or amir.
    Probably meant to decorate the reception hall of a ruler's court, be it the Seljuk sultan or one of his local vassals or successors, figures like this one would parallel and enhance actual ceremonies in the very setting in which they took place.
    Recent analyses have proven that a traditionally-made gypsum plaster is consistently employed on these figures and on archaeological stuccoes.

Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes

Islamic Art / The Met

    This intricate feat of pottery emulates a metal object.
    The openwork - featuring Harpies (mythical birdwomen), Sphinxes, quadrupeds (four-footed mammals), and scrolls - was first painted with touches of black and cobalt blue.
    The Persian verses around the rim were written by the poet Rukn al-Din Qummi, and an anonymous love poem near the base includes the date of production.

Tabernacle Polyptych with the Madonna and Child and Scenes from the Life of Christ

Robert Lehman Collection / The Met

    The use of folding shrines in private devotion requires the participation of their owners, who must open the wings in order to contemplate the images.
    Here, the form is essentially French, but the weightier proportions and architectural elements are more characteristic of northern Spain.
    The form is essentially French, but the weightier proportions and architectural elements are more characteristic of northern Spain.

Standing Figure with Feathered Headdress

From 14th Century To 15th Century

From 14th Century To 15th Century

During the 14th and 15th centuries, artists in Europe began to break away from the traditional Gothic style. They began to experiment with new techniques and styles, resulting in a period of great creativity and innovation in the arts. Some of the most famous artworks from this period include the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and the sculptures of Donatello. Box with Romance Scenes     This coffret illustrated with scenes from Arthurian and other courtly literature of the M
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From 1819 To 1826

From 1819 To 1826

The 19th century was a time of great change in the world of art. Artists began to experiment with new styles and media, and the art world was forever changed as a result. Some of the most famous artists of the time include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso. The Falls of Niagara     The painting is of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.     The painting is based on a vignette of the falls from a map of North America published by Henry S. Tanner in 1822. Heroic Landscape w
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From 1787 To 1800

From 1787 To 1800

The 18th century was a time of great change in the world of art. New styles and genres emerged, and artists began to experiment with new techniques and materials. The art of the 18th century reflected the changing times, and the growing interest in the natural world and the human form. Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby     The Irish actress Elizabeth Farren made her London debut in 1777 and soon became one of the most popular comic performers of the day.  
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