Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 5: Gothic - Madonna with Child (1283-1284)

by Cimabue

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The next four lessons introduce the Gothic era which lasted approximately from the 1100s to the 1500s. Trends in art include better rendering of lifelike figures, artwork expressing emotion, and expanding to address secular topics. Between 1283 and 1284, Cimabue painted 'Madonna with Child.' Cimabue deviated from the traditional flat, two-dimensional Romanesque style [2]. Accordingly, 'Madonna with Child' has three-dimensional aspects, especially the facial features and body contours of the subjects along with the draping of the clothing. This painting features the Biblical Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus. Mary serenely watches the viewer while Jesus looks at Mary and tenderly touches her face. Mary wears a patterned robe and Jesus is draped in a shimmering, slightly translucent cloth. Faint halos encircle the heads of both mother and child.

Vocabulary

Gothic: Of or relating to the architectural style favored in western Europe in the 12th to 16th centuries.
Secular: Not specifically religious.
Madonna: The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Rib Vault: A building structure supported by diagonal arched ribs.
Buttress: A brick or stone structure built against another structure to support it.
Flying Buttress: A buttress that stands apart from the structure that it supports, and is connected to it by an arch (flyer).
Two-dimensional: Not creating the illusion of depth.
Three-dimensional: Lifelike or having depth (or the illusion of depth) as well as height and width.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Gothic
2. Timeline - 12th century to the 16th century

Movement Characteristics:

1. Use of Gold Tones to Depict Royalty, the Heavenly, and the Holy ('Ognissanti Madonna' by Giotto in 1306)

2. Subjects Become More Animated and Lifelike ('The Miracle of the Child Falling from the Balcony' by Simone Martini circa 1328)

3. Artwork Expresses Emotion (Tenderness in 'Madonna with Child' by Cimabue between 1283-1284)

4. Three-Dimensional Paintings Showing Depth, Height, and Width

5. Frescoes ('Dancing Peasants' in Härkeberga Church, Sweden by Albertus Pictor circa 1480)

6. Stained Glass ('The Virgin and Child' by Master of Klosterneuburg in 1335)

7. Decorated Manuscripts (Heures de Jeanne d'Evreux by Jean Pucelle between 1325-1328)

8. Gothic Altarpieces and Panel Paintings (Mérode Altarpiece, 'The Annunciation,' by Robert Campin circa 1427-1432)

9. Gothic Monumental Sculptures ('Martyrs Statues' from the Chartres Cathedral circa 13th century)

10. Gothic Portable Sculptures ('Casket with Scenes of Romances' between 1330 and 1350)

Gothic Movement Subjects:

1. Biblical Subjects Still Common ('The Last Supper' by Cimabue circa 1280s)

2. The Virgin Mary ('Madonna and Child' by Jaume Huguet circa 1450)

3. The Saints' Lives ('Saint Michael, Martyrdom of Saint Eulalia and Saint Catherine' by Bernat Martorell between 1442-1445)

4. Rise of Secular Subjects ('Guidoriccio da Fogliano at the Siege of Montemassi' by Simone Martini in 1328)

Gothic Architecture:

1. Taller, Lighter, and Stronger Buildings (Salisbury Cathedral in England)

2. Flying Buttresses (Notre Dame (English - Our Lady) in Paris, France)

3. 6-Part Rib Vaults (The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro in Cornwall, England)

4. Pointed Arch (Notre Dame in Paris, France)

5. Rose Window (Notre Dame in Paris, France)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Madonna
• Baby Jesus
• The Virgin Mary
• Two Haloes
• A Patterned Robe
• Something Tender
• Something Three-Dimensional

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Read Dante's Words on Cimabue [2]

• Cimabue was outshined by an artist named Giotto. (You'll learn about Giotto in the next lesson.)
• The famous Italian poet Dante wrote of Cimabue's fall from popularity in Canto XI of Purgatorio.
• Recite aloud Dante's words.

• O vanity of human powers,
• how briefly lasts the crowning green of glory,
• unless an age of darkness follows!
• In painting Cimabue thought he held the field
• but now it's Giotto has the cry,
• so that the other's fame is dimmed.

• Study Dante's portrait below, painted by Sandro Botticelli in 1495.

Activity 4: Compare and Contrast Buttresses and Flying Buttresses

Buttresses are brick or stone structures built against another structure to support it.

• See below the stone buttresses helping to hold the wall upright.
• Note how the buttresses are completely solid and perpendicular to the wall they support.

Flying buttresses stand apart from the structures they support and are connected to the supported structures by an arch (flyer).

• Note how the flying buttresses connect to the supported structure with a perpendicular arch.
• Architects moved from solid, squat, traditional buttresses to flying buttresses to make buildings look more delicate and heavenly.

Activity 5: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Gothic art movement.
• Find the Gothic art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Gothic art movement flourish?
• Which art movement preceded the Gothic art movement?
• Which art movement followed the Gothic art movement?

Activity 6: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 8 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are the Biblical Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.

1 / 5

Question 2

Why is this artwork called 'Madonna with Child?'

2 / 5

Answer 2

In the artwork, the Madonna (Virgin Mary) tenderly holds the baby Jesus.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this artwork belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Gothic art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

Which elements of the artwork characterize the Gothic art movement?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The artwork is more three-dimensional, it features the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and the subjects express emotion.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century did the artist create this artwork?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Cimabue created this artwork in the 13th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are the Biblical Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.
2. Why is this artwork called 'Madonna with Child?' In the artwork, the Madonna (Virgin Mary) tenderly holds the baby Jesus.
3. To which western art movement does this artwork belong? This painting belongs to the Gothic art movement.
4. Which elements of the artwork characterize the Gothic art movement? The artwork is more three-dimensional, it features the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and the subjects express emotion.
5. During which century did the artist create this artwork? Cimabue created this artwork in the 13th century.

References

'Gothic art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Cimabue.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Rib Vault.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.