Picture of the Month. December 2017
Background information Journey of the Magi by Benozzo Gonzoli What? Fresco painting on the walls of the Chapel of the Magi, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Florence. How? Water colour painted onto damp plaster. (Fresco meaning fresh) Who? Benozzo Gozzoli (c. 1421 1497) He is best known for a series of murals in the Magi Chapel of the Palazzo Medici-Riccardo depicting festive, vibrant processions with fine attention to detail.the chapel's fresco cycle an interest in nature with its realistic depiction of landscapes and vivid human portraits. Gozzoli is considered one of the most prolific fresco painters of his generation. This style, this work is a perfect example of Renaissance art. The Medicis s, through their patronage of artists, were at the very heart of the Renaissance. When? Around 1459 Why? Gozzoli was commissioned by the extremely rich Cosimo Medici to paint a fresco for his chapel. He had been granted permission by the pope to have his own chapel and wanted it to look very beautiful. This work was not for the public to see because it was in a private chapel. It was an opportunity for the old Cosimo to bask in the wealth he had accumulated. Gozzoli not only put the members of the Medici family into the fresco but also himself. Looking directly out at the viewer.
Using with a class. DEFINITION - a fresco (water colour onto damp plaster.) Gozzoli was painting at a time when there was a real focus on painting accurately people, plants and animals. Link to Still Life. The painting would have been viewed in candlelight so the gold leaf would really have glistened. He painted the kings and the followers as people living at the time the members of the family and famous people who lived in Florence. The countryside was what he saw around him. What can they see? Look at detail first before showing the whole image. Or vice versa. EY/KS1.. I spy something beginning with can you show me something red? Green? Something that is not a person? What are they all doing? Where are they going? Look at detail of the three kings what are the signs they are kings? Where do the kings feature in the Christmas story? Do they like it? Why? What do they like about it? If not why not (PFC). What does it make them think of? Making connections with the fresco. Journeys home or away for Christmas? Longest journey they ve been on Putting yourself and your area in the picture/christmas story (as Gozzoli does) what would they be in the Christmas story? Mary Joseph? Shepherd? Angel? King? Why? P4C eg would you rather be an angel or a king? Where would their nativity be? In Croydon? What landmarks would they use to show. Freeze frame creating a scene from the Christmas story. Try paint/chalks on wet paper to explore fresco List in one minute all the things you can see. Put them in alphabetical order.
December Picture of the Month.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/magi_chapel December Picture of the Month: Journey of the Magi Benozzo Gozzoli.
December Picture of the Month Detail of the three (magi) kings.
Caspar the young king. Believed to be a portrait of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Son of Cosimo.
Balthazar believed to be the portrait of the Byzantine Emperor John VIII
Melchior the oldest king on a donkey showing a little humility in all this richness. Note the log across the stream, the plants and wild animals included in the scene.
December Picture of the Month Detail. The original Where s Wally. Benozzo Gozzoli included himself in the fresco looking directly at the viewer. The writing on his cap says opus Benotii (Benotti s work) Other Medici family members were included in the journey. (artist on the left Cosimo Medici the Patron in the middle and Giuliano Medici on the right.
Jerusalem /Cafaggiolo (Medici Country estate) Gozzoli painted his familiar scenery. Eve Batten December 2017