Sunday, May 25, 2014

Paintings Of Botticelli

By Darren Hartley


Botticelli paintings were perfections of the methods of the previous century. Despite this conservativeness, they also change procedures that were considered traditional to infuse current innovations into them. As evidence, they used a new medium named tempera grassa. In this medium, the egg yolk was mixed with oil to product a more transparent paint.

The finest pigments of the period were utilized in Botticelli paintings. They were applied in scumbles, i.e., thin and opaque layers. However, the reds and greens were glazed more often than not. These pigments produced an exquisite, enamelled effect, from its composition of infinite tonal gradations.

Over time, most of Botticelli paintings lost the fullness of their beauty. Abrasive and over-zealous restoration can take the blame. However, this loss can sometimes be a result of the tendency of colors to become more transparent or change their nature after a few years.

The most refined among the elements of Botticelli paintings are their flesh tones. They were demonstrations of Botticelli's being a superb draughtsman, as evidenced by the tensile lines characterizing the figures in his paintings.

Botticelli paintings showcased the skill of its artist with the media of chalk, pen, bistre and tempera. Botticelli was considered a pioneer in his use of paper tinted with roses, violets, yellows and grays. This established a middle value for figures, modelled up with whites in the light and down with darker colors.

Because the Dante illustrations were only executed in outline, they were considered unique Botticelli paintings. Supposedly to be infused with color, Botticelli never got to completing them. Of the 92 parchment sheets comprising the collection, some were not even started. They were initially scratched into the parchment, overdrawn with slate and ink, in preparation for their eventual filling with colored inks.




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