Structural Intuitions by Kemp Martin;

Author:Kemp, Martin;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Virginia Press

Figure 82. Study for the drapery of a kneeling figure, Leonardo da Vinci

The effort put into such studies is understandable. Draperies, to which we tend not to pay enough attention, were conspicuous and significant elements in Renaissance compositions, whether altarpieces or narratives. The nature of the cloth, thick or thin, fine or rough, colorful or somber, patterned or plain, played an important role in the characterization of the participants. Modeled draperies testified to the physical presence of the posed figures and frequently conveyed their motion (and sometimes that of the air). They also testified to the status of their wearers. Leonardo typically formulated rules for their portrayal. He writes at one point, “Ensure that in your draperies the part that surrounds the figure reveals the way in which it is posed, and that part which remains behind it should be ornamented in a fluttering and outspread manner.” Leonardo is describing what became known as the “wet-style” draperies characteristic of ancient Roman statuary, in which the cloth clings to frontal contours of the body as if dampened. Drapery is generally an under-studied subject in the history of art, potentially spanning the era from ancient Egypt to the present day—though there are signs that it is beginning to attract more attention.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.