Saturday, May 23, 2020

Essay about Autumn Rhythm by Jackson Pollock - 558 Words

Essay Critique on Autumn Rhythm By Jackson Pollock I have chosen to critique the art masterpiece, Autumn Rhythm. Autumn Rhythm is oil on canvas, 8 9 x 17 3. It is my opinion, before you can critique Autumn Rhythm; you must try to understand the artist and his/her background. Artist Jackson Pollock was from a working class family who lived and worked in Wyoming, Arizona, and southern California. He studied at two different art schools; Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles and the Art Students League in New York, he also studied with several other great artists during his time. However the artist experienced some dark days in his life. The artist fought the demon of alcoholism, and came face to face with his addiction.†¦show more content†¦Thus, the masterpiece, Autumn Rhythm, is easier for us to understand why Jackson Pollock became a leading Abstract Expressionist in the early 1950s. Pollock used the technique of action painting or gesturalism. In October of 1950 Pollock produced this non-objected artwork by strange ly pouring and dripping paint on an unscratched canvas that was lying on a flat floor in a barn he used as his studio. With its colors of black, white, and turquoise all forming webs and lines, Autumn Rhythm is a action work of art that causes your eyes to never stop moving over the canvas. The elements that I see in Autumn Rhythm are line becomes shape, which the shape would be called scribbling in toddler talk. Webbing is another description I would use to describe the technique of design. The elements of texture and color are powerful, with the strong black, brown, touches white and turquoise you can almost feel the paints jumping out at you. The elements of value and space in also seen in the way the colors go from dark, light, thick to thin; I get the feeling the lines are moving out of control in motion and want to move off the canvas into the unknown. An uncontrolled and controlled process was one of principles that Jackson Pollock used to acquire balance in Autumn Rhythm. In other words, he did have aShow MoreRelatedAutumn Rhythm, By Robert Rauschenberg, And Marilyn Diptych1243 Words   |  5 Pagesthat makes us all humans. Through the discussion of Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) by Jackson Pollock, I will define Abstract Expression and why this work is part of this movement. Then, through the discussion of Canyon by Robert Rauschenberg, Target with Plaster Casts by Jasper Johns, and Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol, I will explain Assemblage and Pop Art and why each of these works belong to those movements. Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) is Jackson Pollock’s most famous piece that shows action paintingRead MoreArt As A Driving Force For The Abstract Of Art940 Words   |  4 Pagesneed to be representational. Jackson Pollock was an influential American painter who became a driving force for the abstract expression movement. His belief that his art comes from within was an impetrative idea behind his style. His beliefs have a huge impact on how I view art, create art, and inspired me for my final piece. Pollock was born in Cody, Wyoming in 1912. His father, LeRoy Pollock, was a farmer who raised his children in Arizona and Chico, California. Pollock was heavily influenced byRead MoreInterpretive Essay : Art Museum Essay1087 Words   |  5 Pagesunderstanding about abstraction is quite limited. However, after our discussion and lecture about Abstract Expressionism, I found myself drawn to the picture of the Sea Change by Jackson Pollock that presented at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and have learned more about abstraction aspect through his paintings. Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is one of the most famous American abstract expressionist painters from the 1940s and 1950s. He s also known as the Jack the Dripper for his unique style of dripRead MoreJackson Pollock Essay2268 Words   |  10 PagesThe dominant figure that steered the course of the Abstract Expressionist movement was the infamous painter Jackson Pollock. He was born Paul Jackson Pollock in Cody, Wyoming on January 28, 1912. He was the fifth and youngest son and grew up in Arizona and California after his family left him when he was a little over one year old. Pollocks artistic journey began at the Manual Arts School in Los Angeles, California where he joined two of his brothers. From there, he went on to New York to attendRead MoreMy Study Of Landscapes And Landscape Theory1637 Words   |  7 Pagesunpredictability of nature over a landscape. In my previous project I began my study of landscapes by focussing on our everyday surrounding and variances in landscapes being dependant on individuals social and cultural differences. In Landscape Theory, Jackson suggests landscapes are ‘embedded in the practical uses of the physical world’ and that they ‘emerge from specific geographical, social and cultural circumstances’ (DeLue and Elkins, 2008). This led me to assess how I can develop and focus my studyRead MoreArt And Abstract Art : Renaissance Art1113 Words   |  5 Pagesnor action. Yet surrealism obtains subjects based on reality structure unusually. Hannah Höch displays example of surrealism with his work â€Å"The Multi-Millionaire† (Art Forms 11th Edition pg. 413). In addition, Jackson demonstrates Abstract expressionism with his work Pollock Autumn Rhythm† (Art Forms 11th Edition pg. 434). Although abstract expressionism and surrealism share qualities they are different sty les. Question #8, 15 points Earthworks is relevant work concerning society in relation

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Labour Changed the Face of Britain Between the Years of...

Between 1945 and 1951 the Labour Government changed the face of Britain. Discuss. Between the years 1945 and 1951 the entire shape of Britains economy, society and government changed. After World War 2, Britain was left in economic and financial depression. Countries such as Japan and Germany, left in utter ruin from the war, ironically, were able to rebuild their economies faster, and better than we could improve ours. It was felt that a great change was required in Britain, and perhaps it was that feeling that led to the fall of the conservatives and the beginning of one of the greatest governments in Englands history. The Atlee government of 45-51 has perhaps been slightly overlooked due to comparisons to the war time leader-†¦show more content†¦Atlees Government, as well as creating change, also focused on other aspects of society he felt the labour party could improve. Acts such as the Education Act of 1944 and the Family Allowance Act of 1945, were only truly implemented under Atlees Government despite being introduced during the war. These two laws focused on the fairness of Childrens lives, compulsory and free education and payments to Mothers who could not afford to support all of their children- better known now as Benefits. These reforms were perhaps not a social revolution, as they did not seem to change things specifically, rather, improve and build on what was already in existence. People of the time, although all the more happy for it, seemed to agree that it was not a revolution. In regards to Labour changing the face of Britain, I think, concerning The Welfare State the very fact it is still the basis , essence of our Countrys policies today, and that no party has abolished nor disputed the need for it, is testament to its significance. Labour brought about change in other areas too, such as the rather urgent and dyer issue of the economy. The key issues Labour were to introduce were Nationalisation and Keynesian economics. Labour felt is was any governments, and so their right to direct and control key aspects of BritainsShow MoreRelatedHistory Grade 10 Exam Review6476 Words   |  26 Pagesprevent Germany from getting more European territory * Winston Churchill: 1940- 1955 * British PM * Asked Canada to send troops for the battle of Hong Kong * Franklin Roosevelt: 1933- 1945 * President of US * Created the New Deal in 1935 * Harry Truman: 1945- 1953 * President of US * Used atomic bomb * Joseph Stalin: 1922- 1952 * Leady of the Soviet Union * Dictator * Louis St. Laurent: 1948- 1957 * Liberal *Read MoreTrade Unions in Malawi13087 Words   |  53 Pageshistory have shaped the growth and development of trade unions. The chapter then looks at the structure of trade unions, how they operate and factors that have influenced the functioning of trade unions since 1994. It also looks at relationships between unions, trade unions and government and trade unions with employers. The role of trade unions beyond bread and butter and trade union involvement in politics are the two sections presented at the end of the chapter. 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But there is little agreement over when the twentieth century c.e. arrived, and there were several points both before the year 2000 (the collapse of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany, the surge of globalization from the mid-1990s) and afterward (9/11, or the global recession of 2008)Read MoreHistory of Social Work18530 Words   |  75 Pagesof Laborers is issued in England, requiring people to remain on their home manors and work for whatever lords want to pay. Begging and Almsgiving is outlawed except for the aged and those unable to work. For the first time, a distinction is made between the worthy poor (the aged, handicapped, widows, and dependant children), and the unworthy poor (able-bodied but unemployed adults). Henry VIII in England broke from the Roman church. State confiscates Church wealth, leaving it without means toRead MoreInstitution as the Fundamental Cause of Long Tern Growth39832 Words   |  160 Pagesuse it in their best interests, and this commitment problem creates an inseparability between eï ¬Æ'ciency and distribution because credible compensating transfers and side-payments cannot be made to oï ¬â‚¬set the distributional consequences of any particular set of economic institutions. 4. The distribution o f political power in society is also endogenous, however. In our framework, it is useful to distinguish between two components of political power, which we refer to as de jure (institutional) and deRead MoreEurope Economic Crisis55278 Words   |  222 Pages(EERP) was launched in December 2008. The objective of the EERP is to restore confidence and bolster demand through a coordinated injection of purchasing power into the economy complemented by strategic investments and measures to shore up business and labour markets. The overall fiscal stimulus, including the effects of automatic stabilisers, amounts to 5% of GDP in the EU. According to the Commission s analysis, unless policies take up the new challenges, potential GDP in the EU could fall to a permanentlyRead MoreThe Rise of China and Future of the West17670 Words   |  71 PagesEast Asia is bright. The region will be the main economic center in the world. China has quadrupled its GDP since 1980. Thanks to foreign investments and a fast transfer of technology, this country has realized in twenty years that Japan and South korea have realized in 45 years. The Chinese GDP ($2,133 Billion in including Taiwan and Hong Kong) could attain $18,000 Billion in 2030. We must answer to three questions: 1-Is the Chinese growth expected to going on? Clearly, we answer Yes. ThanksRead MoreBohlander/Snell-Managing Hr24425 Words   |  98 PagesIdentify the characteristics of a good international compensation plan. objective Explain how domestic and international HRM differ. objective Reconcile the difficulties of home- and host-country performance appraisals. objective Discuss the staffing process for individuals working internationally. objective Explain how labor relations differ around the world. PART 6 Expanding Human Resources Management Horizons 639 Managing Human Resources, 14e, Bohlander/SnellRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 PagesUniversity, UK McAuley et al. provide a highly readable account of ideas, perspectives and practices of organization. By thoroughly explaining, analyzing and exploring organization theory the book increases the understanding of a field that in recent years has become ever more fragmented. Organization theory is central to managing, organizing and reflecting on both formal and informal structures, and in this respect you will find this book timely, interesting and valuable. Peter Holdt Christensen, Associate

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Best Practices and the SDLC Free Essays

It has long been accepted that constant change is fundamental to IT. While most IT managers understand that change is part of the norm, the organizations that employ them often resist it. Successful IT development calls for having a clear blueprint for proper IT direction of an organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Best Practices and the SDLC or any similar topic only for you Order Now By using a System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model and sound best practice methods, an IT manager can define that blueprint and make the best possible IT decisions. According to http://www. bigpedia. comthe SDLC relates to models or methodologies that people use to develop systems, generally computer systems. A number of SDLC models have been created: waterfall, fountain, spiral, build and fix, and rapid prototyping. There is not a definitive correct model, but most models will include the following steps or at least a variation. The first step is the projects planning stage, in this stage the project manager (PM) decides which SDLC model to use. The PM will also survey and gather information in regards to the current team’s skill and experience, any concerns or issues perceived by upper management, such as cost, and a process for following up the work agreement. The next step is the analysis of the system. During the system analysis the PM breaks down the entire project in to small pieces and assigns each department their applicable tasks. This step is where the plan is finalized and the PM begins to move onto the systems design. Understanding the systems design is essential to developing the system. At this step, each department head devises a plan on how their section can help develop the system. In the third step, the architectural design, these individual plans are spliced together to form the completed plan. Also during this step the work of building the system takes place. The PM’s focus shifts from planning the project to managing the development of the project. During the next step, the testing of the system takes place. This will ensure that all the bugs and flaws are removed before the deployment of the system. During the deployment step the system is used for its intended purpose. As with all systems the final step, is the maintenance of the system, which last for as long as the system is used. During this step, routine maintenance is performed to include updates. Either during or after the development of a system, certain methods or techniques are discovered to be better than other nes. In the IT industry, these ideas are sometimes called best practices. In a book titled â€Å"Electronic Government† by Jack Rabin best practices are described as an idea that suggests that there is a technique, method, or process that is more effective at delivering a desired outcome. The idea is that with proper processes, procedures, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems. Best practices can also be defined as the most proficient and effective way of accomplishing a task, based on principles used repeatedly by numerous people. Best practices are a way for a company to create standardization within their operating procedures. A great example of a best practice was displayed by Sprint recently. In August of 2008, Sprint created a guide to the infrastructure management layer to automate and speed the production of resources from within their data centers. By creating this guide, they were able to quickly manage, back up, and produce their data sets associated with each test environment build. As a result, Sprint has improved customer satisfaction, reducing the time it takes to fill requests. Another example of a best practice was in 2004 the Air Force decided that it need it network administrators (admins) to pass quality checks before allowing them to operate on Air Force domains. Each Air Force base decided to test their network admins differently. This created a lot of confusion and large amounts of money for each Air Force base because they acted independently. Therefore, the Air Force decided to open a best practice suggestion program, which allowed each Air Force base to submit their procedures for quality checking their network admins. Less than six months after the process started, the best practice tag was awarded to Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Fl. They were allowed to implement their procedures Air Force wide. In the end, Eglin saved the Air Force six million dollars with its best practice procedures. As the term best practice has become more popular, some organizations have begun using best practices to refer to what are in fact rules, causing creativity to hamper. This will never be the case with Google. Google believes that giving their employees freedom to move about the company without middle management following them around has actually prompted creativity. In a interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Google CEO Sergey Brin explained that Google provides free gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner—all prepared by gourmet chefs. They get free medical care, daycare, and there is even a massage chair in the lobby. All of these benefits spur creativity, which has made Google one of the World Wide Web pioneers. Google does not use best practice because they are too rigid and do not allow employees to â€Å"think outside the box†. Some best practices are needed though. This was the case with Microsoft and Netscape. They used a synchronize and stabilize method created by David Yoffie and Michael Cusumano to orchestrate a massive overseeing and managing of source code. This method allowed the two corporations to work efficiently in a parallel. During their research, they found that both companies were doing very similar tasks nightly. By creating a best practice model both companies could use they reduced production time by 15 %. Best practices along with the SDLC can help lay a great foundation for IT development. There are no set rules or guidelines for IT development. However, there is a certain structure that most successful IT projects have in common. The first step to planning a good IT project is the project selection. During this process the PM must analyze if there is a need for the system. Does someone already have a system similar that the team could use or buy? After this step if the justification for the system is still necessary, then the team must move onto the next step, which is the planning of project controls. According to the paper Indentifying Best Practices in Information Technology Project Management, project controls are defined as an estimate, estimating, and budgeting. The estimate considers how many resources are needed to accomplish this project, the act of estimating is combining the results of post project reviews, metrics, consultation, and informed assessment to arrive at time and resource requirements for an activity, and budgeting is the total cost of the project. Following this evaluation, you should assemble the team. It is important to compile a team that will be effective to the specific project. The team must understand the project goals and expectations. The next step is accessing the stakeholder’s involvement in the project. The stakeholder can be anyone from the management of the company to an actual customer. Some stakeholders will want as much control as the PM while other, will be hands off allowing the PM to make all the decisions. These guidelines are not all inclusive but they are a start to developing a successful IT project. Designing a good IT development project takes time and an excellent PM. There are many good models to follow, like the Arkansas best practices model. These models give a small or unorganized company the structure it needs to develop a good plan. If you follows these models along with a good SDLC you will be well on your way to creating a solid project. These two models can lay the foundation you need for a successful blueprint. How to cite Best Practices and the SDLC, Papers

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Explanation of Leonardo da Vincis life and work as an artist Essay Example For Students

Explanation of Leonardo da Vincis life and work as an artist Essay The objective of this essay is to provide an explanation of Leonardo da Vincis life and work as an artist in context with his time spent in Milan. Following an initial introduction to Leonardos formative years in Florence and his apprenticeship to the sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio, 1435-88, I will attempt to explain the significance of his presence in Milan with detailed descriptions of his work there. Giorgio Vasari 1511-74 was also an artist and architect, but is perhaps better known for his book on the lives of well known painters, sculptors and architects published 1550; from Cimbue to his autobiography which was included in a revised edition: Vasaris book offers his personal evaluation of the works of these artists, as well as discussions on the state of the arts. His easy, natural writing style helped to make his book one of the most enduring of art histories. We will write a custom essay on Explanation of Leonardo da Vincis life and work as an artist specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now His reflections on Leonardos life include insight specifically relating to his unusual character and the intellectual merit of his lifes work. Using this evidence I hope to provide valid observations on Leonardos significance as a father of the High Renaissance. Leonardo who was christened Lionardo, the name to which Vasari refers was born near the small town of Vinci on 15th April 1452. The town was situated in the Florentine province of Italy, where his father, Ser Piero was a notary. According to Vasari, Leonardo was somewhat of a child prodigy in his studies, but he showed little commitment to one single area, constantly finding new interests in other subjects: Thus in arithmetic, during the few months that he studied it, he made such progress that he frequently confounded his master by continually raising doubts and difficulties. He devoted some time to music à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Yet though he studied so many different things, he never neglected design and working in relief, those being the things which appealed to his fancy more than any other. Being very conscious of his sons talents, Ser Piero moved to Florence with Leonardo and his wife not Leonardos mother, as he was illegitimate and never took his fathers name to utilise them professionally. Being a friend of the artist and sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio 1435-88, Ser Piero convinced him to recruit Leonardo as an apprentice by the promise shown in his work. Verrocchio strongly encouraged da Vinci, and his admiration of his students talents convinced Verrocchio to allow Leonardo to participate in the creation of his own paintings and sculptures. According to Vasari, Leonardo was highly skilled in many fields of design, he prepared many architectural plans and elevations, and he was the first, though so young, to propose a navigable canal of the Arno River from Pisa to Florence. Vasari talks at length on the subject of Leonardos early drawing skills, delving with some depth into the aptitude of his draughtsmanship, often indicating that his works were executed like a master, which he became officially in 1478. Drawing may have been a craft in which he gleaned experience directly from Verrocchio, whos own biography by Vasari states: His drawings were made with great patience and knowledge, among which are heads of women, with graceful manner and hair arrangements that, because of their exceeding beauty, Lionardo da Vinci always imitated. Although in 1472 he entered the San Luca guild of painters in Florence, which would indicate that he had attained a degree of professional independence, he remained with Andrea del Verrocchi o until 1480. Of his earliest works, one that he painted as an assistant is the angel holding clothes, kneeling on the left of Verrocchios picture The Baptism of Christ c. 1472-1475. Verrocchio, as indicated by Vasari, was so impressed by the implications of his pupils genius that would never afterwards touch colours, chagrined that a child should know more than he. Since Leonardos earliest large-scale work The Adoration of the Magi begun 1481 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" unfinished, he had gained a reputation for leaving works incomplete, perhaps fittingly in the nature of this, his first commission an altarpiece for the chapel of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Florentine town hall, was never executed. Conveniently, Vasari attempts to provide an explanation for this force of habit: His knowledge of art, indeed, prevented him from finishing many things which he had begun, for he felt that his hand would be unable to realise the perfect creations of his imagination, as his mind formed such difficult, subtle and marvellous conceptions that his hands, skilful as they were, could never have expressed them. As to the truth of this statement, this is difficult to prove, but clarification could be seen in the great number and range of Leonardos studies and designs that never progressed further than the initial planning stages, due to his constant need to illustrate his new and innovative concepts. The Adoration of the Magi was an early illustration of Leonardos genius in technical innovation, even if it was unintentional. Despite the piece not being completed, the drawing and base painting serve to demonstrate the success of Leonardos technique of drawing straight onto the board without first having to demarcate outlines by using a collection of cartoons preparatory sketches as was the technique for painting in buon-fresco or in tempera. .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 , .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .postImageUrl , .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 , .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:hover , .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:visited , .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:active { border:0!important; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:active , .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6 .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua3c1c695be6208187e22f32bd7bfbab6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Who Has Seen the Wind: Meaning of Life EssayNoticeable also is the way Leonardo has used even the base coat of oil paint to establish modelling on the figures and a inferred sense of depth had also been worked into the perspective of the piece. If Leonardo had finished this painting, in terms of sheer technical merit and my own opinion, it would have been his finest. Soon after he left Verrocchios workshop he left to forge a career in Milan. It should be understood that due to the political state of Italy at the time, the nation was subdivided into independently governed states. Milan was the capital city of the most northerly of these, also of note were Florence and Venice which were the richest and Rome which was the central state ruled by the Papacy of the Vatican City. In its isolation, Milan was on the border with France and on occasion found itself at war so that the ruling body of the state at this time the Sforza family would remain in power. This explains why Leonardo left the state, in quite a hurry one would imagine, when France overthrew Ludovico Sforza called il moro- the moor because of his dark-colouring, 1452-1508 in 1499. The states would also battle amongst themselves sometimes for political supremacy or a wealth of other reasons. Leonardos presence in Milan appeared to rely on the attribution of power in the state. Vasari fails to acknowledge the true complication of affairs that took place before Leonardos arrival. He merely states that Ludovicos brother, Giovanni Galeazzo 1444-76 had died and Ludovico had risen to power. More to the point the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan serves to clarify the situation that determined both Ludovicos rise and fall this serves as only one side of the story though: Galeazzo Maria à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ was assassinated in 1476 by a group of conspirators. The inheritance of the duchy passed on to his son Gian Galeazzo 1469-1494, who à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ was put under the guardianship of his mother, Bona of Savoy. But à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Ludovico à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ managed to oust his sister-in-law and assumed power, becoming in actual fact the new duke of Milan but only by position. It is also revealed that Gian Galeazzo plotted in the original French attempt at take-over by Charles VII, before his untimely death in 1494 soon after Ludovicos official coronation no less. Consequently when Leonardo had arrived in Milan c. 482, Ludovico was not recognised as the official duke, which in my opinion must have at least marginally affected his position as the court artist. It is possible though that Ludovicos admiration of Leonardo and his work would have contributed to his hope to work for the future Duke. Vasari actually states that Leonardo found his place in Ludovicos court primarily through his musical abilities: Lionardo took his own instrument a lyre, made by himself in silver, and shaped like a horses head, a curious and novel idea to render the harmonies more loud and sonorous, so that he surpasse d all the musicians who had assembled there. Besides this he was the best reciter of improvised rhymes of his time. A recent biography, which appears to be concerned with the great range of Leonardos talents, has a more accepted explanation of his application. He had written the duke an astonishing letter in which he stated that he could build portable bridges; that he knew the techniques of constructing bombardments and of making cannons; that he could build ships as well as armoured vehicles, catapults, and other war machines; and that he could execute sculpture in marble, bronze, and clay. Considering the situation of Milan as described before, it is not surprising to see why such a curriculum vitae would interest Ludovico. As indicated by the Encyclopaedia Britannica: He was listed in the register of the royal household as pictor et ingeniarius ducalis painter and engineer of the duke. Leonardos Milanese period is cited by the Britannica as being the unfolding of his genius, no less as an artist despite his many other int erests and responsibilities. Leonardos use of oils is credit to the quality of his work, and although by no means the first of the Italian painters to use the medium, his work created new methods that defined its use in the years to follow. The most individual of these would be sfumato: Leonardo à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ found a new expression for nature experienced, in reproducing the forms he perceived as if through a veil of mist. The utilisation of sfumato from the Italian to tone down made objects appear to fade, even dissolve into the background creating depth with the use of tonal effects. Another method that was also used partly by the other artists of the high renaissance although not definitively until the mannerist movement was chiaroscuro, which came from the Italian for light and shade. This provided an even greater sense of relief and a sculptural quality to paintings by using an exaggerated depiction of light and dark tones emphasising the shape of a form. I have chosen two works from this period, which by personal opinion, I consider to be the finest in his undertaking and most expressive of his paintings. .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 , .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .postImageUrl , .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 , .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:hover , .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:visited , .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:active { border:0!important; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:active , .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43 .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7b79cbcaae1023171fbdeec54c72ca43:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Using the Science of Life As A Weapon Persuasive EssayThe Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani Lady with an Ermine was painted around 1490 midway through his employment to Ludovico; indeed it is sometimes believed that the Lady was his mistress. This painting uses chiaroscuro to a great effect with modelling used around the side of the head, neck and upper chest and around the arms, clearly illustrating the depth of the figure. Notice how obscured the background is, thus making the use of sfumato impossible on the figure, except for where the torso of the ermine is cast in shadow by the Ladys hand and arm. Her clothing and jewellery appear very sophisticated and luxuriant incorporating crisp details in the fabric. The ermine itself, which was prized for its valuable fur, also acts as a designation of wealth. Dominican monks of the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery commissioned possibly the most notable painting by Leonardo in Milan, The Last Supper painted using an experimentary use of media from 1495-8. A great work in its magnitude, the composition has become the epitome of Last Supper paintings, despite its well-known fragility it still remains following attempts at restoration since 1726. It is constantly falling apart since Leonardo attempted to work in oil and tempera on plaster. Vasari wrote of the work: Lionardo has seized the moment when the Apostles are anxious to discover who would betray their Master. All their faces are expressive of love, fear, wrath or grief at not being able to grasp the meaning of Christ, in contrast to the obstinacy, hatred and treason of Judas, while the whole work, down to the smallest details, displays incredible diligence, even the texture of the tablecloth being clearly visible so that actual cambric would not look more real. Vasari also professes to Leonardos diligence in working on this project, although according to an eyewitness report from one Matteo Bandello narrated in Novella, 1497 the artist would at times paint in the refectory from sunrise to darkness, never laying down the brush to eat or drink. Then, days would lapse in which Leonardo would not touch a brush but would either contemplate what he had painted or labour at the Corte Vecchia on the monumental clay model for the Sforza equestrian monument, and then, when the fancy took him à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ he would take a brush and give a few touches to one of the figures; and then suddenly he would leave and go elsewhere. The painting itself has little evidence of its former glory left, although the use of both chiaroscuro and sfumato are still visible in the scenery and between the figures, and this grants the vision a certain elegance of form and composition. The arrangement of the apostle figures in groups of three is often commented upon due to the number acting as a recurring theme in the painting; often the number three was used to designate the importance of the Holy Trinity. The robes are very much in the tradition of scholarly togas; there is still even a suggestion of lurid colour still left in the cloth. It was soon after he had completed this work that Leonardo withdrew from Milan as the Duke had done to escape the French who had overrun the state, French archers also destroyed the clay equestrian colossus that Leonardo had made by using it for target practice. Leonardo only returned to Milan in 1506 under the guardianship of the ruling French governor, Charles dAmboise, and still only visited whilst undertaking commissions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Leonardos lack of popularity in his own time, as a named artist is surprising. He was a victim of the cultural marginality of the Milanese court à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ as well as of his own commitment to technical and scientific projects rather than to literature, and the scarcity of works circulating under his name. To some extent this is largely true, but obviously becoming famous was not a great ambition of Leonardos. As is mentioned, there was a lack of works paintings that would have had a circulation around important circles: By 1503, Leonardo had forged a reputation for jilting his patrons with unfinished projects. This would surely have been the case, but what cant truly be answered is, did this make Leonardo responsible for his own lack of popularity? It never seemed to be that way to Vasari anyhow, who wrote with a very sympathetic style about Leonardo, making eloquent excuses where Leonardo could be found blameworthy. It is probably true to say that Leonardo was highly respected as a founding father of the high period of the renaissance, and all in all lea d a comfortable life worthy of his standing.