You will write about four works of art: Equestrian Portrait of an Emperor and three additional works of art that you select. The three works of art you select need to be from Lessons 5, 6, 7, or 8.
In moving through this course, one of the significant trends we have explored is how artists use art history in their work to infuse their creations with meaning and association. Consider the Equestrian Portrait of an Emperor and discuss its connection to a Roman precursor, the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. Then examine how echoing a Roman depiction of an emperor suited the purposes of Carolingian art and gave meaning to the Carolingian work. Select three other works of art that look backwards through art history and use earlier art to enhance the meaning of later art. Make sure to clearly identify a work of art from the course material that the later artist references to give meaning to that artist’s creation. Consider style and formal elements, iconography, media/material/technique, and patronage in your analysis.
The 4 pieces of art for ESSAY:
1: Equestrian Portrait of an Emperor
2: Robert Campin, Mérode Altarpiece (15th-Century Northern Europe, c. 1425-28) oil on panel
3: Mary Cassatt, Mother and Child (Impressionism, 1890) oil on canvas
4: Lee Krasner, The Seasons (Abstract Expressionism- Action/Gestural, 1957) oil and house paint on canvas