National Gallery Assignment

       
Duccio di Buoninsegna's medieval painting, The Annunciation (1311), depicts the Old Testament scene of the Virgin Mary as she is told that she will bear the son of God. Mary is shown on the right side of the painting with a book of scripture in her hand. The Angel Gabriel is facing her on the left side of the painting in mid-stride, her right arm outstretched toward  the virgin. A vase of lilies rests on the ground between the women and represents Mary's virginity. Descending in Mary's direction from the top of the painting is a dove, which symbolizes the Holy Ghost. The subjects are portrayed in some sort of synagogue, temple, or other building with a number of arches. 

In a Renaissance painting entitled Ansidei Madonna (1505), the artist, Raphael Sanzio, also paints a scene of Mary. It is after Christ is born however, with the baby Jesus and Mary on a throne. Nicholas of Bari stands to the right of the thrown with a staff while he reads a book. To the left of the throne is John the Baptist, who gazes up and points to Christ. The throne sits in front of a large archway that opens up to a landscape scene in the distance. 

Although the paintings depict similar subject matter, the Renaissance painting is indeed more aesthetically sophisticated. It is geometrically balanced with the two subjects on either side of the throne, creating visually pleasing thirds. It is clear that the artists of this era were getting a better grasp for three-dimensionality and perspective than those of the Medieval era. The architecture depicted in the Renaissance painting looks quite realistic, while the pillars and arches in the Medieval painting seem disproportionate and incorrectly drawn in regards to perspective. The human anatomy is much more life-like in the Renaissance painting. Careful details are used to show the muscles in the subjects' legs and arms and also the the bone structure of the face. These lines in the face help to create much emotion and life in the subjects, while the Medieval painting depicts the faces of the subjects with little emotion or individuality. The Medieval painting frames Mary under a gray colored arch while the rest of the arches in the building are painted burnt orange. The artist uses this color to create emphasis on Mary and to draw the eye of the viewer toward her. 

Capture the Countryside

The week in the Lake District was overwhelmingly scenic to me. The green of the grass was brighter than anything I have ever seen. As cliche as this may sound, I really felt like I had an almost spiritual experience being there surrounded by such vivid scenery. I feel that my photographs can't even begin to capture the lush beauty of the Northern  British countryside, but perhaps they can give you a tiny glimpse of what i saw.

These photographs portrayed to me how nature and man can coincide. I feel like the man-made structures and the natural landscape really compliment each other and need each other to produce the aesthetically pleasing quality.

I loved finding places that really captured how nature is taking over the man-made world. Fountains Abbey was a perfect example of this. I think it is fascinating to think about how this structure invaded the natural landscape and now the role has reversed and mosses, grass, and flowers are now thriving on top of manufactured stone.

Some of my favorite pictures were of the ponds in Fountains Abbey and on the Preston Temple grounds. The wind created an awesome ripple effect on the water where the swan floats. I really like the reflections in the last picture and the vivid colors of the lily pads.

I kept my eye out for serpentine lines in my photographs to create a more organic feel to my landscapes. The two pictures with the Haha walls were taken on a morning run in the Lake District. I took the picture of the tree roots at Fountains Abbey and loved the entangled look of it. 

     

Sat Sri Akal

If I were blindfolded, unknowingly led to the Southall, and turned loose in the center of the town, I would have guessed that I was in the heart of India. I was very much the minority in such a foreign place. It was a completely new cultural experience, with unique clothing, strong religious ties, and even interesting smells.

We visited two Hindu temples and one Sikh temple. I enjoyed being able to take part in their worship at the Sikh temple and being able to observe the religion so closely. We had to cover our heads with scarves while in the temple to show respect . 

It impressed me how open the Sikhs were to having visitors and assuring us that they would feed us in any of their temples around the world. It certainly wasn’t on my “Top 10 List of Amazing Meals” but the gesture was very kind. I really liked what one Sikh man told us: “Whatever faith you are in, you should be the best that you can be."

These porcelain statues of gods and goddesses adorned the insides of the Hindu temples. These temples had a very different feel compared to the Sikh temple. Their décor was much more gaudy and the noise level was much higher.

I bought my own Henna kit from a shop on the streets and tried to throw together an artsy Indian design on my hand. It turned out much darker than expected and looked a lot more like a jet-black sharpie gone wild than an intricate Henna decoration. 

My Canterbury Tale

Touring the Canterbury Cathedral was a great experience for me. I was in awe of the intricate architecture forms, the religious significance, the stunning stained glass windows, and the magnificence of the building as a whole.

I was very appreciative to have a tour guide that was so knowledgeable of Canterbury's history and who seemed very passionate about it his job. It got me excited to learn and explore the history of church. No, he was not posing for this picture, it was purely candid. Natural GQ model right there.

We began our tour in the nave and made our way through the transepts, the chapter house, the choir, and even down to the crypt. 

Meetings were held in the chapter house to discuss secular matters. The ceiling is wagon vaulted and made from Irish oak trees.

Monks used the used the cloister to take evening strolls or to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors while copy manuscripts but still have protection from the wind. In 1936, an Anglo-Saxon sundial that was dated to over 1000 years old.was found in this cloister.

Monks generally used the choir eight times a day. It's rib vaulting, pointed arches, and absence of walls give it a Gothic architectural feel.

This stained glass represents the Six Ages of Man, from birth to death. I learned that if light is shining through stained glass and projects color onto the ground, the glass is probably a modern replica, not medieval glass.

Monks used the used the cloister to take evening strolls or to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors while copy manuscripts but still have protection from the wind.

A Day in Dover

For our first day trip as a group, we traveled to Dover to see Dover Castle and the famous White Cliffs.

William the Conqueror built a number of castles after the Norman Invasion, including Dover Castle.

Henry II, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, largely expanded the castle in the late 12th Century. The castle was built as a defense against domestic violence and foreign invasion, but also served as a status symbol showing power and wealth.

I loved the leaves that were taking over the stone wall in front of the castle and the amazing view of the town and water below.

We drove to a beach to get a better view of the White Cliffs. The beach was unlike any other beach I have ever been to. The sand was made up of huge pebbles and seashells and the water was a beautiful bright turquoise.

"The tide is full, the moon lies fair

Upon the straits; on the French coast the light

Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,

Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay."

-Matthew Arnold, Dover Beach

The pier also provided some nice shots with the White Cliffs in the background.