Renaissance Perspective


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The Art of Observation

What stood out to me throughout all of the modules this week was not just the immense knowledge or innovation that was required of artists of the Middle Ages, it was not the dedication to the learned skills or the sense of responsibility to follow that which God had called them to. What I came to realize was that all of these aspects of making art were really not that different than any scientific endeavour. Whether the artist was addressing matters within a sacramental world view, about humanity and it’s relationship to the divine, or about creating and perfecting the materials and tools used to create these works, the bigger picture was that the process was really about asking questions, about seeking out answers through observation, experimentation and the sharing of knowledge. In the context of previous weeks where we questioned the relationship between art and science and truth, one could argue that at this time there was ver little difference between these things. Beyond just the
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Plaque with the Holy Women at the Sepulchre

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The  Plaque with the Holy Women at the Sepulchre is a plaque carved in ivory that was most likely served as part of a cover to a liturgical manuscript. It depicts the scene of three holy women coming to the tomb of Jesus after his crucifixion to anoint his body only to be greeted by an angel that tells them he is no longer there. He has risen from the dead. The piece, measuring 7 1/2 by 4 1/4  by 5/16 inches, is from northern Italy during the early 10th century. It is currently in collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  When we consider this plaque as the cover of a liturgical manuscript, something that would have been handled it seems fitting that the material used be ivory. Ivory was often used because it invited touch. It was also used to represent flesh, often for crucifixes, because of it’s flesh-like qualities. As this materiality pertains to the story depicted in the  Plaque with the Holy Women at the Sepulchre it serves to further symbolize the body, the dea
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