Q3 Unit 3: Formal Analysis - Mona Lisa & the Calling of Saint Matthew
Mona Lisa (1503-1517) by Leonardo da Vinci
77 x 53 cm
Oil on polar
The Calling of St Matthew (1599-1900) by Caravaggio
322 x 340 cm
Oil on canvas
[endif]-- One of the most prominent artwork of Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1619), one of the greatest artists and masters of the High Renaissance art in history is the Mona Lisa. The subject matter is mostly believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo who was a wealthy Florentine silk merchant that commissioned the portrait to be made. The painting is produced between 1503 and 1506 during Leonardo’s stay in Florence (ItalianRenaissance.org). The actual number of Mona Lisa pieces that Leonardo has actually produced is still in dispute to this day, although it is certain that there are numerous replicas of the masterpiece, including many that are made from Leonardo’s students. A speciality of this artwork is that regardless of the angle that a person looks at the subject’s eyes, they will always appear to be gazing back. Mona Lisa is painted using oil paint on polar. When carefully scrutinised, a difference in craquelure (network of fine cracks) between the subject’s face and hands can be identified. The size of the Mona Lisa is only 77 cm by 53 cm, and it is exhibited behind a bulletproof glass in a condition controlled enclosure in Louvre, Paris (Puchko).
Italian Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) whose remarkable artwork is the Calling the Saint Matthew is one of the most influential artists of the Baroque era. Created between 1599 and 1600, its subject matter is narrative, as it depicts the moment at which Jesus Christ enters the room to inspire Matthew, a tax collector to follow him (Artble). This masterpiece is originally commissioned for the Contarelli Chapel in the French church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, where it is displayed today.
As for the white and blue hats, the Mona Lisa illustrates a middle-aged woman sitting upright and turned sideways from the spectator in a chair. Her torso and face is somewhat turned facing towards the viewer. Her left arm is casually placed on the armrest of the chair and is slightly grasped by her right hand. The crossed arm position gives the woman a protective and reserved feel, which builds a sense of distance between the subject matter and the viewer. Moreover, the background of the Mona Lisa is painted using the techniques of aerial perspective, as it can be observed from the smoky blues and unclearly defined vanishing point. Thus, the depth of the composition is notably emphasized, as well as the distinct imbalance between the flatlands stretching on the left and the rocky horizon on the right. I believe that the imbalance makes atmosphere of the painting rather surreal.
Caravaggio’s Calling of Saint Matthews on the other hand, depicts a scene where Jesus whose halo is almost invisible, points his finger to one of the tax collectors sitting around the table. Despite looking young and dressed in plain clothing without wearing any shoes, Jesus highly resembles a noble with this posture and escort. Light plays an important role in this painting, as it illuminates the faces of the men who turn to look at Jesus, as if they have come to a minor awareness of righteousness.
Moving on to the green and black hats, the Mona Lisa is a two-dimensional artwork, which has emphasized depth. The subject matter’s face, hands, and clothing are made up of curved, contour and thin lines. The armrest of the chair is formed by horizontal lines. Apart from the chair’s armrest that is a geometric shape, other objects in the painting are organic shapes. The woman has an explicit shape, while the objects in the background come in vague shapes, which I believe add on to the mood of surrealism. Light is uneven and shadows are present in the painting. The overall colours are mixed and tertiary. It portrays a contrast of cool and warm colours, with the background cool from the top, and warm as we look down. The subject’s face, neck and hands have warm colour. Leonardo’s technique of sfumato involves the smooth indistinguishable transition from one colour to another, through means of ultra-subtle tonal gradations (ItalianRenaissance.org). Implied texture can also be seen. The subject is overlapping the background, which seems to be fake. When the Mona Lisa is analysed according to the principles of design, I can see that variety is considerably shown as the colours and the mysterious expression of the subject effectively captures the viewer’s attention. Unity is also portrayed as all parts of the painting form an odd harmony. The woman is the main emphasis of the artwork, as highlighted by the use of light.
From the investigation done from the internet, I have found that curve, flowing and thick lines make up the background, particularly the curved road path and rocky horizon. Implied lines majorly form the ‘sea wave line’ and the blurred islands. The views and landscapes are ‘deafen’ from vibrant light. Leonardo also applies the technique sfumato to illustrate light bouncing off the woman’s skin in certain places while omitting other parts in darker shadows, which I think he does this to make her look oddly ‘artificial’. This also gives the viewer the feeling that her skin is smooth and soft. Besides that, some artists argue that the background is influenced by Chinese art.
In addition, curved, contour, thin and thick lines make up the human figures in the Calling of Saint Matthew, while angular, horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines create the windows, chairs and the light ray. Major parts of the human bodies are organic shapes, while the stripes of their clothes, the windows and table are geometric shapes as they are ‘made-made’. Strong light and shadow are shown, which I believe gives the painting very dramatic feel. Furthermore, the painting consist dominantly of warm colours, bold contrast of red, gold and green. The texture is implied, and various textures can be seen on the clothing. Many objects are overlapping one another, such as Saint Peter is in front of Jesus and the preoccupied tax collector is blocking the other man. I also believe that there is great variety in this painting, and the components are seen as one, narrating the same story. I do not think that it is proportionate, because the five men on the left ‘weighs’ more than the two figures on the right.
In my opinion, the Mona Lisa is very mysterious due to her awkward half-smile, captivating gaze, unreal and lifeless body tone. On the contrary to the tranquil Mona Lisa, the Calling of Saint Matthew is impressively dramatic and descriptive. Both artworks of two great artists possess its mystique and charm for spectators in its unique ways.
Works Cited
Artble. The Calling of Saint Matthew. 2016. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://www.artble.com/artists/caravaggio/paintings/the_calling_of_saint_matthew>.
Foundation, Caravaggio. Caravaggio - The Complete Works. 2016. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://www.caravaggio-foundation.org/>.
Foundation, Samuel H. Kress. The Classical Treatment of the Body. 2016. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://italianrenaissanceresources.com/units/unit-7/essays/classical-treatment-of-the-body/>.
Harris, Beth. A beginner's guide to Renaissance Florence. 2016. Web. 15 February 2016. <https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/beginners-renaissance-florence/a/the-study-of-anatomy>.
ItalianRenaissance.org. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. 22 June 2012. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://www.italianrenaissance.org/a-closer-look-leonardo-da-vincis-mona-lisa/>.
Puchko, Kristy. 14 Things You Didn’t Know About the 'Mona Lisa'. 1 April 2015. Web. 19 February 2016. <http://mentalfloss.com/article/62280/14-things-you-didnt-know-about-mona-lisa>.
Scailliérez, Cécile. Mona Lisa – Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. n.d. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo>.
Wandrey, Eric. The Calling of Saint Matthew. 2013. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=3015>.
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