Friday, December 10, 2010

A Pop of Color

Accessories. Every girl has to have accessories. Whether it is the perfect pair of shoes, a scarf, a bracelet, or a purse, accessories can make or break a person's outfit. Take these three girls for example: All three have on accessories like a pair of heels, or a jacket, or a bracelet. The
girl in the middle, though stands out more than the rest. Why is that? Her shoes. The pop of color. Today it is considered to be fashionable to have one brightly colored piece in contrast
with the rest of one's outfit. Brightly colored accessories have been around for centuries apparently. Red

is a power color. It is bright and eye catching. In Jan Van Eyck's painting this guy's turban definitely ruins his style. Guys should take this advice: red turbans are not fashionable.
Now, to be fair this is a remarkable painting. It is one of the first in oils which allows for all the detail in the face and in the headdress. The headdress is not however a turban- it is a chaperon. It's like a hood where the sides hang down, but if this is Van Eyck (which many assume it to be) it would make sense that it would be tied up so that it would be easier to paint. Many believe it is Van Eyck because of the inscriptions on the top and bottom of the frame. It says on top in Flemish "As i can" and on the bottom "Jan Van Eyck made me."

Friday, December 3, 2010

Which One?

The Betrayal of Christ

Duccio di Buoningsegna's The Betrayal of Christ depicts the capture of Jesus very clearly. There is no question as to what this particular painting is about. Judas is giving Jesus a kiss on the cheek to signify the guards which one he is and the disciples are running away. Christ is very easily spotted in the picture. Besides the kiss of Judas, Christ is in the center, he has a halo, and his robes are a blackish-blue color that completely contrasts the colors of His captors.