Past and Present of Derutan Ceramics

The School of Athens - fresco by Raffaello San...
Image via Wikipedia

When a person thinks of art and art history, one country seems to dominate the scene for its authority and far-reaching influence: Italy. Italian art has been around for centuries and its influence can be seen in so many genres like architecture, painting, and sculpture. Ceramics aren’t often given much thought as an art form, but are a valuable, interesting art form none the less and the Italians have mastered this art form throughout the ages.

Potters from the Italian town of Deruta mastered craftsmanship required in pottery making and as a result, Deruta has long-been known for its ceramics. Starting in the 13th century, Derutan potters began taking commissions and the demand for Derutan ceramics continued to soar and reached its height in the 15th and 16th centuries. During this time, potters took older methods and breathed new life into them by applying them to new forms. For example, the lustre technique originated in Middle Eastern countries and involved multiple firings and use of precious metals, was applied on vases and plates by Derutan potters resulting in some of the most intricate, finely detailed motifs found in Italian ceramics.

Several unique designs are currently used to mimic the art found on the pottery of the past. A complicated technique known as “spolvero” requires an artist to sprinkle crushed charcoal over paper. The charcoal dust seeps through tiny holes in the paper which transfers an outline onto the pottery. Another signature style of design that originated in Deruta is known as the “Raffaellesco”. Artists practice for hours to gain the experience required to recreate this motif that was inspired by Raphael’s frescos. Raffaellesco adorns many modern forms of art including kitchenware and flooring.

Derutan pottery is mostly made from Derutan clay found in the nearby earth. Most of the works of ceramic art that leave this village are fired and painted by hand within. Artists are required to have both artistic and pottery making skill. As a result, there is no place on earth that produces such fine works of ceramic art at Deruta.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Italian Art Tagged With: , , ,

Many People Head to Italy for Art School

Many people who love art what to actually go to school for it. A good portion of those want to head to Italy for their schooling. Part of the reason behind this is because of the amazing culture in Italy. Another reason for heading to Italy for art school is because of all of the incredible art and artists that have come out of the country throughout time.

No matter what part of Italy you go to, there are a huge number of schools that teach art. In fact, there are quite a few that specialize in art in general, or in specific art area. There are so many types of art that you may need to distinguish for yourself what you want to do, before you start looking at schools.

There are options for painting, sculpting, and other more traditional types of art. There are also options for modern art. If you prefer architecture, you can find some great options in Italy. The architecture of Italy is as amazing as it’s other forms of art. Many people prefer the performing arts. There are many schools in Italy that focus on these, rather than the more still life forms of art.

Whether you are coming to Italy for school, or just to see the sights, it is amazing to think of the beauty that has come from the country. If you are interested in schooling in Italy, you will need to consider a few things. You will have to apply at the school that you are interested in. Whether you move to Italy before doing this or after, you will want to look into the requirements of the school. You will also need to have a visa, if you are coming from outside of Italy. Finding the perfect school may take some time, so make sure to do your research.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Italian Art, Italian Culture, Italian Life Tagged With: , ,

Italian Artists Influenced World Through Renaissance Period

St. Mary Magdalene, end of the 14th cent.(?), ...
Image via Wikipedia
Italy is mostly responsible for the global cultural changes of the Renaissance period, especially with regard to society, fine art and science. Between the early 1400s and 1600s, Italian artists, scientists and philosophers began looking back to the inspirations provided by the ancient Greeks and Romans of the classic age. The styles that erupted were new and exciting, leading to the naming of the period as Renaissance, which means new birth.

The world was pulling itself out of the medieval era and away from the Byzantine- and Romanesque-influenced styles of thinking and creating. Italian artists were moving toward the more modern, fresher and detailed styles of the Renaissance period.

Italy’s art world grew gradually in the Renaissance realm. As the darker, Gothic era of artistry gave way for brighter styles, Italian artists began to inspire the world through their attention to detail, anatomy and enlightenment. There was more focus on secular concepts and subjects. This was coupled with inspirations from classical architecture and art which led to recreation and new ideas in artistry of all types.

Painters, architects, sculptors and scholars migrated to the new styles, cutting through the medieval ideas and breaking into new creations based on Greek and Roman culture and mythology. The art of the Renaissance period attempted to more accurately portray the human form and perspectives. The physical and spiritual worlds were dramatically displayed in Italian Renaissance artwork.

A movement toward true representation, realistic images and exact proportions was at the heart of the Renaissance period. The styles swept through fine art from sculptures to paintings. Poets, scholars, architects and science were also influenced by the period’s changing styles.

Many masters developed their talents and skills through this period. Some of the most masterful Italian artists of the time included da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli. Others who created cultural-affecting art in Italy were Masaccio, Donatello and Raphael.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Italian Art, Italian Culture, Italian Fine arts Tagged With: , ,

What is Art?

Roma | Piazza di Spagna | Barcaccia | HDR
Image by Any.colour.you.like via Flickr
Art is generally used to express something of skill, which creates an aesthetic outcome, but there is not a common definition to describe art. There are no clear lines that differentiate a handmade statue and a beautiful painting that is mass-produced. Some scholars believe that art have need of a creative drive and thought, but this tends to raise more questions then answers. The definition of art is hard to agree upon because there is a vast amount of forms, genres, and types.
Art is not localized to one era or country. It is a global movement with a collection of disciplines. Fine, liberal, visual, decorative, applied, design, crafts, performing are all forms of art each with its own rules. Many categories are narrowed down based on the materials used such as drawing and painting, glass and metal art, photography, wood and porcelain. The list does not stop there. Art has subcategories to include different genres like narrative, landscape, and still life. In addition to the art forms that have been around for centuries, new types of art have appeared in the 20th century ranging from conceptualism, earthworks, collage, video, and graffiti.
The awareness of the culture and period from which the art was created adds more questions than answers in accurately defining art. Comparing prehistoric wall paintings or African art to styles such as Expressionism, Surrealism, and Dada would be like comparing a tiger to a fish. Cultural distinction act as a border to different types of art and religion plays a major role in the artistic styles of the East and the West.
Whatever meaning of art that is arrived upon, it is limited to our own culture. Art is multifaceted in terms of forms and types and its cultural and historical ancestry. A straightforward definition has proven highly indefinable.

Art is generally used to express something of skill, which creates an aesthetic outcome, but there is not a common definition to describe art. There are no clear lines that differentiate a handmade statue and a beautiful painting that is mass-produced. Some scholars believe that art have need of a creative drive and thought, but this tends to raise more questions then answers. The definition of art is hard to agree upon because there is a vast amount of forms, genres, and types.
Art is not localized to one era or country. It is a global movement with a collection of disciplines. Fine, liberal, visual, decorative, applied, design, crafts, performing are all forms of art each with its own rules. Many categories are narrowed down based on the materials used such as drawing and painting, glass and metal art, photography, wood and porcelain. The list does not stop there. Art has subcategories to include different genres like narrative, landscape, and still life. In addition to the art forms that have been around for centuries, new types of art have appeared in the 20th century ranging from conceptualism, earthworks, collage, video, and graffiti.
The awareness of the culture and period from which the art was created adds more questions than answers in accurately defining art. Comparing prehistoric wall paintings or African art to styles such as Expressionism, Surrealism, and Dada would be like comparing a tiger to a fish. Cultural distinction act as a border to different types of art and religion plays a major role in the artistic styles of the East and the West.
Whatever meaning of art that is arrived upon, it is limited to our own culture. Art is multifaceted in terms of forms and types and its cultural and historical ancestry. A straightforward definition has proven highly indefinable.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Italian Art, Italian Fine arts Tagged With: , ,

Fresco is here to stay

Last Judgement - painted by Michelangelo and h...
Image via Wikipedia

The world today is so fast paced that time passes at a blur, so over stimulating that even a car ride can contain simultaneous imagery, and so commercialized that every month has a “holiday”. These times are hectic and a person doesn’t have to look far to see the effects of society’s pace. Even in the art world the effects can be seen. Instead of glorious, hand-painted portraits and intricate sculptures, people today are surrounded by frenzied works of energetic colors and lines. It’s amazing that the labor-intensive art of Fresco has passed into this century at all.

The art of fresco has been around for thousands of years; the earliest dates 30,000 years ago. While its demand for fresco has experienced peaks and valleys, the art form was never more revered than during the Italian Renaissance. The most notable fresco, Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel, was painted during this time, but it was not a singular work of art. Italy is home to a plethora of frescos, many dating from the 12th through the 15th centuries. From Florence to Pompeii, the lasting beauty of fresco is seen in on the walls of chapels and villas throughout Italy.

Fresco is not merely an artist picking up a brush and brushing a few strokes, it’s a multi-step process that’s quite involved. At every step, the utmost care must be taken to ensure the quality of the entire piece. Mortar is prepared, painted with premixed, exact pigments, smoothed and transferred—and that’s not all the steps. Each step takes intricate preplanning and accuracy; one mistake at any point can ruin an entire piece. Artists spend years, even decades, mastering this technique before finished work will be deemed acceptable. Fresco is not for the faint hearted, it’s a time-honored skill that takes persistence and a meticulous nature. While it’s unlikely that fresco would become as popular as it once was, it’s easy to see why these amazing works of art took people’s breath back then because they still do today.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Italian Life, Italian Society Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »