Lucas Cranach the Elder (Lucas Cranach der Ältere [ˈluːkas ˈkʁanax dɐ ɛlˈtɛʁə], c. 1472 – 16 October 1553) was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving. He was court painter to the Electors of Saxony for most of his career, and is known for his portraits, both of German princes and those of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation, whose cause he embraced with enthusiasm, becoming a close friend of Martin Luther. He also painted religious subjects, first in the Catholic tradition, and later trying to find new ways of conveying Lutheran religious concerns in art. He continued throughout his career to paint nude subjects drawn from mythology and religion. He had a large workshop and many works exist in different versions; his son Lucas Cranach the Younger, and others, continued to create versions of his father's works for decades after his death. Lucas Cranach the Elder has been considered the most successful German artist of his time. * * Wikipdeia. What is seen: - Sumptuous fabrics and garb adornments. - Lots of fabric, pearls, feathers, slashing. - Women are painted looking attentive and demur, or 'serving'the males. - Men are painted higher and looking toward women. - Table is covered with white linen, as are seating??? - Table is laid with silver or pewter ware and finely crafted drinking vessels. - More men than women. Emphasis of painting is on the subjects themselves and not the feast, nor the surrounds. The background which would have been lush and possibly manicured, would have been a beautiful addition but has been roughly added, toned down so that the eye picks up on the people and what the wealth they are carrying on their person. The table also does not replicate the wealth and is very bland, the seating being painted as white rectangles (fabric over haybales if it was in fact real). No, the detail as I have pointed out is in the people. Their dress, style, hair, adornments and whom is gaining the most attention according to shown wealth. The two men being fed are obviously the most affluent, while there are two men who seem to be of equal worth. The woman between them is showing body language of being unsure which way to decide. The man with no seat, no hat and not as much'fabric'is left left standing and alone. What is seen: - Head on a pewter or silver platter. - Sumptuous clothes, fabrics, hair and adornments. - Dark and blocked colour background wall (?) and fabric hangings. - Tale set for three with wooden trenchers and knives. - Pewter or silver platter with fresh fruits; grapes, apples, /nectarines or smaller apples that are dimpled; plus either nuts or dates. - One mug that is possibly ceramic. - White linen table cloth. - No room decoration. Painting is again about cloth, clothes, amount of, adornments, riches, riches and who has more. Such detail is put into the people and whom they are in respect to the subject of the painting. Head of table is most adorned, most fabrics and layers, even fur. Other two at table are just as richly dressed as courtiers and servers. So, it is safe to say that Lucas Cranach the Elder was not interested in the unattached wealth of his subjects, but rather he was only focused on the subjects themselves. For him, the wealth upon a person was his sole focus and the relationships they explored, according to status was what he painted. While it is a wonderful example of how to create garb, it does not help much with the creation of a sumptuous feast atmosphere.
0 Comments
One of my major areas of interest with medieval research is late period feasting.
Not just the food cooked and served, but more specifically the show of wealth through cloth, decorations, animals, food, music and entertainment. While the food served showed wealth and status, so too did the way it was presented, with what and how. Wealth was its own currency in how you presented it, showed it through ownership and opulence. I plan on looking at how this was explored....and exploited....through as many mediums as possible. I want to take into account how the different mediums presented the show of wealth at feasts to the rest of the world. And one day, I would like to take this knowledge and teach with it, as well as replicate it at feast in Lochac. Header Image:
|
AuthorI love to research....anything. So, faced with time on my hands at the end of a University degree and also stepping down as the Baroness of Mordenvale, what have I done to fill my time. Study of course. Period feasts and the decorating of them. A new persona for after I stepped down (bye Tasia). This blog is a summary and more of the research that lead to this point, and what ever I do there after as Tórfa. ArchivesCategories |