Question

*** THIS IS A FORM AND CONTENT ESSAY*

** AN EXAMPLE HAS EVEN BEEN PROVIDED, AND I APPRECIATE ANY HELP AND I KNOW ITS ART SORRY!!!**

In a work of your choice explore form and content. Form describes the physical properties of the work. Content describes the message and meaning in the work. 400 word minimum.

First introduce the work and state your thesis. Then you describe what you see in the work. What is depicted?
Then using the elements of art and principles of design, explore composition and form- how is color used, how are shapes and forms placed in the composition, etc... Then discuss style and techniques- Is the work naturalistic, abstract, Impressionistic, Pop Art? What kind of brush strokes does the artist use? What kind of space is depicted? All of these discussions fall under the concept of form.
Content typically requires research to completely describe the meaning in the work. Did the artist write about their intentions? Does the work depict a historical event or story? Is there a story? Is the artist making a point? I there a political or religious message? When discussing content, formal aspects will also be referenced, often the artist expresses content through form.
Every work has content, but sometimes it is more difficult to understand. For instance Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is more than a depiction of a small village at night. The swirling brushstrokes and use of color express Van Gogh’s awe at the magic and mystery of nature and the universe. Even non-representational art has content.

Structure

Develop your essay following this guideline:
Introduce the work- title, artist. Include thesis statement at or near the beginning.
Description- Briefly describe what you see. Assume the reader is not familiar with the work.
Form analysis- discuss the use of the elements of art and principles of design, style and technique. Focus on just a few aspects that are important to the work.
Closing- Reinforce thesis
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance Period is a masterful display of naturalistic technique and an expression of humanist philosophy. This masterpiece has fascinated millions throughout the centuries and is considered the most valuable painting of all time. The woman in the painting, Lisa Gherardini Del Giaconda, is sitting in a relaxed pose with a rather mysterious smile on her face; the main focal point of the painting. Behind her is a serene landscape of a lake nestled among rocks and hills. By placing the scenic backdrop higher and giving it less detail, Da Vinci creates the illusion of distance. Subtle brushstrokes were used while shadowing and dark colors give the painting depth and a warm, overcast appearance. As your eye moves from top to bottom, the background transitions from light to dark. The majority of light emanates from the paleness of her skin and the gray skies above. Near the left center, a winding road leads your eye toward the natural, peaceful setting behind her. This curve is also mimicked in the draping over her right shoulder, which seems to blend in with the road in the distance.
In this small work, da Vinci displays his mastery of Renaissance style and technique. Chiaroscuro models a real figure in the sunlit haze. Atmospheric perspective, skillfully rendered by layer upon layer of thin glazes creates a rich haziness. The subtle smile invites the viewer to contemplate the thoughts, feelings and motivations of a real person sitting before us, whom existed in this time and place, the golden age of the Renaissance.

Answer 1

Title- Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Lorenzo Bernini.

Introduction-The Cornaro Chapel of Rome became the part of world history in 1652 when a life-size sculpture of Santa Teresa Ecstasy established inside it. The sculpture is a symbol of great roman professionalism and religious dedication. Lorenzo Bernini showed religious values of contemporary Rome as well as the rest of Europe, in his art, a lot of innate factors comes to the surface and make us curious about the level of imagination and professionalism.

Description- The sculpture was made by white marble during the period of European demonization, during this period the European of Western culture spread overworld and supported religious reformation. Lorenzo Bernini was the famous Italian artist who made some world-class sculpture for religious symbols.

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is a combination of two figures, in which a nun and an angel is showing enormous connection, Bernini showed his imagination with the help of these figures, he utilized the sculpture to target many contemporary ideological values especially catholic idealism.

The religious reformation in Europe influenced social structure as well as collective behavior, Roman Churches was the symbol of prosperity and sculptures and wall paintings helped these churches to become the center of attraction and symbol of rich culture, art, and religious values.

The idea of sculpture- The idea of sculpture is based on the Life of Teresa and Jesus, the angel is keeping golden spear which is a symbol of royal punishment with religious ideologies. The second most important part of the sculpture is the position of both figures, the angel is showing the supremacy of religious autonomy while another figure is attaching the values of imaginative ideas regarding own perceptions and social values.

Bernini’s spiritual and sensual perceptions of religious values and human tendencies and characteristics are very cumulative and imaginative with a realistic approach. Bernini’s self-portrait is evidence of his legacy and his love for Roman and European rich culture.

Conclusions- The ecstasy of St. Teresa is the legacy of Bernini, he included some gifted characteristics which became his symbol of professionalism and out of the box approach. he used some self-inventive techniques in his works which became a road maps for modern artists.