The Duke and Duchess of Urbino

The portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino by Piero della Francesco are a diptych i.e.: a painting of two panels connected by a hinge. It can be seen in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence where it is displayed in a glass cabinet so that you can see the paintings on the reverse. Federigo da Montefeltro and his wife Battista Sforza face each other, a motif borrowed from Roman coinage, which was popular at the time. It is thought that these portraits were commissioned following the death of the duchess Battista.
Federigo came to prominence as a leader of mercenaries and through his ill-gotten gains and riches made Urbino a city of wealth and importance. It was there that Piero della Francesca painted the diptych, possibly as a memorial to the duchess.

       The compositional layout was possibly designed to disguise the duke’s facial disfigurement as he had lost an eye and suffered severe damage to his nose during a tournament. His tanned, wart covered face is contrasted with the pale, smooth, deathlike complexion of his wife. She shows a strange high forehead which was the fashion of the time. The details of her jewels, headdress and sleeve show the mastery of Piero’s ability to paint various textures in an authentic manner. The landscape appears to be of another world, almost dreamlike and has qualities seen in the painting of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci which was painted about thirty years later.

          The closed panels reveal paintings showing the duke and duchess in carriages, his drawn by horses and hers by unicorns symbolising her purity. He is wearing the armour of a victorious leader and is crowned in victory with Justice, Wisdom, Valour personified by his side, while Battista is surrounded by the figures of Faith, Hope and Charity. Regardless of the sentiments that the duke wanted to have portrayed to show his strength and power, he is left in an eternal limbo facing his dead wife in an unspoken conversation

The First Essays

Friday morning, and I stood outside the classroom at 9am as students filtered through the corridors. Copybook sand pages in plastic inserts appeared from inside the bags of students that I don't even teach with "M asked me to give this to you or this is from E. By the time I reached my own class I had most of the essays from the sixth years who were away for the day. Even some of the fifth years couldn't wait for their own class and handed them in early, some telling me that they thought that it was the best essay that they had ever written. One fellow told me that he would be very disappointed if he didn't get an A1. I promised to go back over it if he was short marks, but there was no need to as he scored 95%. It took me 8 hours to correct 29 essays. There were three no shows so that means 5 marks lost per day for them. It was great to see how the group discussions worked to the benefit of those students who have little confidence in essay writing. I could see a marked improvement in some of their grades.

The Flipped Classroom, Week 1

Wednesday morning, and the first group of students arrived in the classroom at 9 am with their keyword sheets filled in and ready to go. The plan was on the whiteboard "Find your group and share, swap or steal information on Masaccio and two of his paintings". Each group is named after a renaissance artist and made up of students with different learning styles so as to achieve successful peer teaching.

The students had been given links to videos on The Tribute Money and The Holy Trinity as well as handouts, a PDF of my PowerPoint presentation and some handouts to supplement their textbook. Some had also used the online quiz that I created to go with the videos. The idea was that they could use the resources to fill in a keyword template to bring to class. This was to encourage students to gain as much knowledge on the artist and his work before Wednesday's class so that they everyone could leave with the basis of a good essay to write up over the next two nights. Each would be graded on their own personal work but an average grade from their group essays would produce the winner of the week. 

So, for 15 minutes the room was buzzing with the students working within their groups, I watched and listened with delight at a really animated class discussed, explained and basically taught each other. It was one of the most rewarding days of my teaching career. Don't get me wrong, this was not me taking the easy way out as it cost me at least 12 hours of prep just to provide the resources for two 40 minute classes. But oh, what a joy to see it working. 

At the end of the 15 minutes I began the PowerPoint and my mini lecture. I would say that I did 60% of the talking and the students the rest. And a lot of my talking was asking questions. Almost every one was fully engaged and sharing what they knew including their own observations. One or two were a little quiet and that is my next challenge as I want everyone to feel included and their opinions valued. 

Friday is the day for essay submission, with five marks per day lost for failure to hand it in. One student said that she will be away tomorrow so she handed it in today, while others came to me to make arrangements help them make arrangements to hand them in at eight o clock in the morning before they head off on a school trip. The support has been great and the principal is making herself available to receive them before the bus departs. Whatever about the students, I feel so energised and excited by it all. 

The Pounce Quiz

I did warn my students that the only place that they would be safe from The Pounce Quiz was in the classroom. That was DEN. Some poor unsuspecting fifth or sixth year would be coming around a corner or out of a classroom when all of a sudden the crazy art teacher would be there with "What colour does Lapis Lazuli make?", or "Who was the mercenary leader of the Florentine army in the Battle of San Romano?" Needless to say students hid, ran out doors and did everything to avoid me at first. But then the reward of chewy sweets broke their resolve and they hovered, followed me and dared me to ask them questions. It became very competitive as the week went on with some students hiding behind others ready to pounce in themselves and answer some of their friends question and claim their prize. Well, the week is over and The Pounce Quiz is gone for a little while, but Paolo Uccello will be remembered and dentists will be busy.

Masaccio - getting started on essay writing

One of my students came to me during the week, frustrated at not being able to improve his grade despite putting a lot of time and effort into his art history essays.  I understand the difficulties that some students continue to have even though I have given handouts, provided keyword sheets and put videos and quizzes on Carol's Art History Facebook page. It grieves many of us art teachers to see our most talented students fail to achieve the higher grades in Leaving cert art because of their inability to perform well in the written section of the test. So, this academic year I have challenged my self to find a way to work within the system and get these students to achieve a high grade in all areas of the test. I'm not saying that I have all the answers but we as a group of fifth and sixth year students and myself have embarked on a journey to find out what works. This is going to be time consuming but if we, over the next year of two, can see its value, then I have a template for future years, which can be tweaked as required and my students will benefit not just in the exams but in adjusting their learning styles.

So let's get started.
This is the plan of action for the week. Below are the student tasks and
an aid to essay writing. My plan is to give a detailed essay help sheet to start with and gradually get the students to the stage where they can plan their own.

Students weekend prep. 
Watch the videos on facebook   http://tinyurl.com/pypx43w
or from the link below(emailed to students)
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/Masaccio.html

Before Wednesday
Fill in the worksheet given.

Wednesday's class
Students will sit in their designated groups of 4 and discuss the paintings, sharing ideas and notes for approximately 15 minutes.
Following that I will show a PowerPoint presentation where students will be expected to contribute through questioning. I will fill in any gaps or points missed.

A further handout will be given with an essay title and a suggestion of how to structure the essay and students will have two nights to do the question. Essays will be handed in on Friday morning.

So that's the plan and here is the handout.

Masaccio

 (1401-1428)

Essay question

Masaccio is considered to be one of the most innovative painters of the early renaissance. Discuss this statement with reference to his creative use of perspective, his ability to tell the story and his treatment of the human figure in two of his works. Illustrate your answers.

Essay structure

The keywords below are not arranged in any particular order. You must choose where you put them in the body of the essay. These are just a suggestion and you may add your own or leave out some. Remember though, a good essay will have lots of well chosen information and good clear points. 

Introduction

Make reference to the early renaissance using some of the prompts from the words below

Keywords

Rebirth, Quattrocento, Italy, learning, creativity, classical Greece and Rome, status of the artist, patrons, cities – centers of wealth.

The background (The artist)

Give a brief introduction to the artist, his achievements, influences and patrons.

Keywords

Short life (27 years), born near Florence, artists guild, perspective, Donatello, Brunelleschi, 

The Tribute Money

Describe in detail the narrative, the composition, the techniques and the innovations.

Keywords

Matthew’s gospel, Tax collector, Jesus, apostles, Peter, coin, fish, Caesar,

frescoes(define), Brancacci family, banker  Santa Maria del Carmine, Masolino, continuous narrative, 3 parts, chiaroscuro, light from the window, mathematically planned composition, one point linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, focal point, facial expressions, gestures, range of colours, flesh, folds of drapery, dramatic impact, poses of figures,cast shadows, foreground , middle ground background, snow-capped mountains, 

The Trinity

Keywords

Santa Maria Novella, fresco, single vanishing point, eye level, classical architectural setting, God the Father, Jesus, cross, Holy Spirit, dove, Mary, St John, donors, Lenzi family, technique of drawing perspective, string, emotion, 

An open letter to my students

Learning outside the classroom

We are constantly learning, gathering information and becoming proficient in so many things. Learning does not only come from books, exercises and lectures but from engaging in watching, hearing and doing outside of the classroom. Sometimes the things that we know well are things that we have taken an interest in and researched ourselves. They often begin as interests or hobbies and soon we can become almost experts. Why is it easier at times to learn about things outside of the classroom than within a forty minute lesson? Here are some of the reasons.

•        We learn about things that interest us.
•       We learn better if we are in control of our learning.
•        We learn better if we know something about the subject beforehand.
•        We learn better if we choose the time and place to learn.
•        And most importantly, we learn better if we can use our best and most effective style of learning.

The Seven Learning Styles

                             Visual: You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.

                              Aural:  You prefer using sound and music.

                             Verbal:  You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.

                             Physical:  You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.

                             Logical:  You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.

                             Social:  You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.

                             Solitary: You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

Everything you learn becomes a building block for learning something else.

So if you watch a video or listen to a podcast before you study a subject then when you come to class you will remember the new information better. You will have information and opinions to share and you will enjoy the subject better.

My own learning journey

I had the luxury of teaching myself art history almost twenty years ago by travelling to galleries in Ireland, the UK and Europe. I made sketches, took notes while looking at the paintings and only after I had watched videos, did I read about the artists and their works in books. That is my style of learning and I believe that many of you are also visual learners. So for this reason I want to give you every chance to learn the way that suits you best. Here is a list of the resources available to you. If you can think of anything else that will make your learning easier, please let me know and I will try to help.

Resources

·        DVD player and DVD’s available to borrow during study periods

·        Emailed links to youtube art videos

·        Carol’s Art History facebook page (public)

·        10 question quizzes on line through Dasurvey

·        Handouts with extra information

·        Keywords for essays

·        An extensive library on artists and their works

·        Computer prep time for online research

Remember that learning about art and artists is not just a school subject. You will travel and you will come across paintings, sculptures and buildings that you study now and you will get a buzz out of knowing something about them. Also there is something wonderful about finally seeing these art works in real life.

C. Wade

Who took their eye off The Night Watch

If ever there was a painting that was cursed with bad luck it has to be Rembrandt's Night Watch. I remember walking into the Rjiks Museum in Amsterdam with butterflies in my stomach, because this was one of those iconic works that had to be seen. My first reaction when I saw it was that something was terribly wrong. There was something dreadfully unsettling about the painting and I didn't know what it was, but I had an overwhelming urge to move it as you would a piece of furniture that just doesn't work where it is.

And then it struck me, the composition was all wrong. How could Rembrandt, one of the most masterful painters in the world make such an awful mistake. I stood there desperately disappointed, my eyes trying to put right what was wrong. I wanted to move the main figures away from the centre but even that wouldn't be enough. In an adjoining room there was an exhibition showing the history of The Night Watch which told of the damage that it had suffered since it was first painted.

In the 18th century, the painting was cut down in size when it was moved from the Kloveniersdoelen  in order to fit into the Amsterdam Town Hall, thus interfering with the composition that Rembrandt had given it. Two people on the left of the work were removed in the trimming and the whole balance of the work was lost. A copy by Gerrit Lundens hangs in the National Gallery London shows the origional size and composition of The Night Watch.

 A 17th century copy of the painting by Gerrit Lundens

And if that wasn't enough in 1975 a man walked in to the Rjiks Museum and stood in front of the painting acting very strangely. When the guards asked him to leave he took out a bread knife and slashed the painting a dozen times. But he wasn't the first to slash it because in 1911 a discharged Dutch navy cook took his revenge out on it, also with a knife. After four years of  restoration following it's second knife attack the painting was returned to the museum under a permanent guard but The Night Watch was still not safe. In 1990 another man walked into the Museum and threw acid on it but fortunately the guards were able to spray water on it in time to save it from damage.

The Night Watch is a survivor, although mayby a seriously injured one. Can it ever be enjoyed as it was meant to? I believe it can if you can get up close enough to appreciate the wonderful brushwork and details that Rembrandt painted. But be careful because its watched very closely by a guard who stands beside it, waiting, just waiting......