Camera Obscura
The first evidence of any kind of mechanical visual reproduction, however, comes from Saudi Arabia, where unknown caravan riders noticed, at a time now lost, that a hole in their tent projected the inverted image of a passing camel onto the opposite wall. In 989 A.D. the Arabian scholar Hassan ibn Hassan described this accidental invention and gave it a name: the camera obscura. On a summer day in 1827, Joseph Nicephore Niepce made the first photographic image with a camera obscura in France.
As a tool, the Camera Obscura (was used by artists to project an image of a scene outside onto the opposite wall (either a pinhole or a simple convex lens could be used). The artist in the dark chamber could trace the projected image to get more accurate spatial perspective than previously possible. When photography was discovered many artists began to think that it was the "doom" of painting but that was not the case and it most probably never will be. Painting will always have certain qualities that can never be replaced by photography such as paintings are far more permanent than most photographs, especially color. There is a reason why governors and presidents are immortalized in paintings.
As a tool, the Camera Obscura (was used by artists to project an image of a scene outside onto the opposite wall (either a pinhole or a simple convex lens could be used). The artist in the dark chamber could trace the projected image to get more accurate spatial perspective than previously possible. When photography was discovered many artists began to think that it was the "doom" of painting but that was not the case and it most probably never will be. Painting will always have certain qualities that can never be replaced by photography such as paintings are far more permanent than most photographs, especially color. There is a reason why governors and presidents are immortalized in paintings.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Biography (1452-1519)
Born out of wedlock in Vinci, Italy (just outside Florence), Leonardo’s illegitimate standing kept him from receiving a good education and excluded him from the most lucrative occupations. However, such limitations never hindered (and perhaps even fueled) da Vinci’s desire for knowledge and great ambition.
At the age of 14, da Vinci began apprenticing with the artist Verrocchio. For six years, he learned a wide breadth of technical skills, including metalworking, leather arts, carpentry, drawing and sculpting. By the age of 20, he had qualified as a master artist in the Guild of Saint Luke and established his own workshop.
Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy. Born out of wedlock, the love child of a respected notary and a young peasant woman, he was raised by his father, Ser Piero, and his stepmothers. At the age of 14, da Vinci began apprenticing with the artist Verrocchio. For six years, he learned a wide breadth of technical skills, including metalworking, leather arts, carpentry, drawing and sculpting. By the age of 20, he had qualified as a master artist in the Guild of Saint Luke and established his own workshop.
Da Vinci's most well-known painting, and arguably the most famous painting in the world, the "Mona Lisa," was a privately commissioned work and was completed sometime between 1505 and 1507. Of the painting's wide appeal, James Beck, an art historian at Columbia University, once explained, "It is the inherent spirituality of the human creature that Leonardo was able to ingenuine to the picture that raises the human figure to some kind of majesty."
It's been said that the Mona Lisa had jaundice, that she was a pregnant woman and that she wasn't actually a woman at all, but a man in drag. Based on accounts from an early biographer, however, the "Mona Lisa" is a picture of Lisa Gioconda, the real-life wife of a merchant, but that's far from certain. For da Vinci, the "Mona Lisa" was forever a work in progress, as it was his attempt at perfection. The painting was never delivered to its commissioner; da Vinci kept it with him until the end of his life. Today, the "Mona Lisa" hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, secured behind bulletproof glass, and is regarded as a priceless national treasure.
Da Vinci has been called a genius and the archetypal Renaissance man. His talents in arguably extended far beyond his artistic works. Like many leaders of Renaissance humanism, he did not see a divide between science and art. His observations and inventions were recorded in 13,000 pages of notes and drawings, including designs for flying machines (some 400 years before the Wright brothers' first success), plant studies, war machinery, anatomy and architecture. His ideas were mainly theoretical explanations, laid out in exacting detail, but they were rarely experimental. His drawings of a fetus in utero, the heart and vascular system, sex organs, and other bone and muscular structures, are some of the first on human record.
One of da Vinci's last commissioned works was a mechanical lion that could walk and open its chest to reveal a bouquet of lilies. The famous artist died in Amboise, France, on May 2, 1519. Da Vinci's assistant and perhaps his lover, Francesco Melzi, became the principal heir and executor of his estate. Leonardo's work is relevant in so many ways today. He is the father of many inventions that have been further invented and perfected today and his paintings inspired many to take a different approach towards the art. He was one of the most if not the most influential men to ever live having an influence on a large number of aspects in life.
At the age of 14, da Vinci began apprenticing with the artist Verrocchio. For six years, he learned a wide breadth of technical skills, including metalworking, leather arts, carpentry, drawing and sculpting. By the age of 20, he had qualified as a master artist in the Guild of Saint Luke and established his own workshop.
Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy. Born out of wedlock, the love child of a respected notary and a young peasant woman, he was raised by his father, Ser Piero, and his stepmothers. At the age of 14, da Vinci began apprenticing with the artist Verrocchio. For six years, he learned a wide breadth of technical skills, including metalworking, leather arts, carpentry, drawing and sculpting. By the age of 20, he had qualified as a master artist in the Guild of Saint Luke and established his own workshop.
Da Vinci's most well-known painting, and arguably the most famous painting in the world, the "Mona Lisa," was a privately commissioned work and was completed sometime between 1505 and 1507. Of the painting's wide appeal, James Beck, an art historian at Columbia University, once explained, "It is the inherent spirituality of the human creature that Leonardo was able to ingenuine to the picture that raises the human figure to some kind of majesty."
It's been said that the Mona Lisa had jaundice, that she was a pregnant woman and that she wasn't actually a woman at all, but a man in drag. Based on accounts from an early biographer, however, the "Mona Lisa" is a picture of Lisa Gioconda, the real-life wife of a merchant, but that's far from certain. For da Vinci, the "Mona Lisa" was forever a work in progress, as it was his attempt at perfection. The painting was never delivered to its commissioner; da Vinci kept it with him until the end of his life. Today, the "Mona Lisa" hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, secured behind bulletproof glass, and is regarded as a priceless national treasure.
Da Vinci has been called a genius and the archetypal Renaissance man. His talents in arguably extended far beyond his artistic works. Like many leaders of Renaissance humanism, he did not see a divide between science and art. His observations and inventions were recorded in 13,000 pages of notes and drawings, including designs for flying machines (some 400 years before the Wright brothers' first success), plant studies, war machinery, anatomy and architecture. His ideas were mainly theoretical explanations, laid out in exacting detail, but they were rarely experimental. His drawings of a fetus in utero, the heart and vascular system, sex organs, and other bone and muscular structures, are some of the first on human record.
One of da Vinci's last commissioned works was a mechanical lion that could walk and open its chest to reveal a bouquet of lilies. The famous artist died in Amboise, France, on May 2, 1519. Da Vinci's assistant and perhaps his lover, Francesco Melzi, became the principal heir and executor of his estate. Leonardo's work is relevant in so many ways today. He is the father of many inventions that have been further invented and perfected today and his paintings inspired many to take a different approach towards the art. He was one of the most if not the most influential men to ever live having an influence on a large number of aspects in life.
Leonardo Da Vinci - Artwork and Designs
ALBRECHT DURER
Biography (1471-1528)
Dürer was born in Nuremberg, Germany where he spends most of his life. As a young boy, he started to learn the goldsmith's craft in his father workshop, however he was more inclined towards painting. Seeing his talent, his father yielded to his son wish and the young Albrecht became an apprentice of the painter Michael Wolgemut. After three years of learning, in 1490 he left for his Wanderjahre.
In 1494, Albrecht Dürer returned to Nuremberg, where he married Agnes Frey. In the same year, Dürer was accepted as a member of the painters’ guild of Nuremberg, and in autumn he left for Venice alone. He returned from Italy in the spring of 1495. Between 1496 and 1498, he created the fifteen large woodcuts of the Apocalypse. Dürer's father died in 1502, and Albrecht recorded his last moments, noting that his father died like a Christian, after receiving the Holy Sacrament.
In the second half of 1505, Dürer set for his second journey to Venice. There were probably economic reasons behind his decision to leave for Italy since Nuremberg did not pay his artists very well. Besides, he could extend his circle of friends, and make himself known beyond the limited society of his native city. Indeed, in Venice for the first time, he was appreciated at his true value, and important people of Venice and artists alike were eager to meet him. The Venetian Senate even offered him a pension of two hundred ducats if he would stay in Venice. However, the Venetian painters were not too happy with his presence there, except Giovanni Bellini. Reluctantly, the artist returned to Nuremberg in 1507.
Albrecht Dürer's biography is harder to trace between 1507-1520, as he did not leave any account regarding his private life between these years. However, the high number of works belonging to this period is indicating intense, hard work. It appears that between 1512 and 1516, Durer's activity as a painter ceased for some time and he devoted himself to making engravings and woodcuts. In 1514 Dürer experienced the great sorrow of losing his mother, who died May 17th, after a long and painful illness.
On July 12th, 1520, Dürer set for Netherlands, accompanied by his wife and a maid.During the journey, he made sketches of people and cities, buildings and animals. The festivities and his work did not prevent the artist to keep a close eye on the religious turmoil caused by the Lutheran movement in Germany, and he expressed his support for the leader of the Reform. In the following summer the painter returned to Nuremberg.
In 1525, he published an important scientific work, "The Teaching of Measurements with Rule and Compass." In 1526, Dürer created his last great painting work, the "Four Apostles," his gift for the City of Nuremberg Council. In 1527, he published his "Art of Fortification. “ Another large work, the four-volume "Human Proportions," was in preparation to be printed when the artist died suddenly on April 6th, 1528. Albrecht Dürer was mourned by all the great minds of the time, and his death was truly regarded as a huge loss, not only for Germany, but for all Europe, and the mankind
Dürer strives for artistic liberation for North European art, thereby following the Italian Renaissance - to be free of the restrictions of traditional methods and more room for creativity and emotion. Dürer was one of the first artists to portray himself in a self portrait. He left a vast oeuvre: about 60 paintings, 250 woodcuts, 100 engravings, 6 etchings and more than 1,000 drawings and watercolours.
Dürer exploited the new printing technology to broadcast cheap, mass produced prints throughout Europe. In doing so, Dürer combined self promotion and spiritual values, making him the first international superstar. Dürer is sometimes called the German Leonardo because of his intellectual curiosity, but there is this enormous difference. While Leonardo was always looking outward at the great world around him to find out how things worked, Dürer was just as determined to look inward and explore the mystery of the human soul.
In 1494, Albrecht Dürer returned to Nuremberg, where he married Agnes Frey. In the same year, Dürer was accepted as a member of the painters’ guild of Nuremberg, and in autumn he left for Venice alone. He returned from Italy in the spring of 1495. Between 1496 and 1498, he created the fifteen large woodcuts of the Apocalypse. Dürer's father died in 1502, and Albrecht recorded his last moments, noting that his father died like a Christian, after receiving the Holy Sacrament.
In the second half of 1505, Dürer set for his second journey to Venice. There were probably economic reasons behind his decision to leave for Italy since Nuremberg did not pay his artists very well. Besides, he could extend his circle of friends, and make himself known beyond the limited society of his native city. Indeed, in Venice for the first time, he was appreciated at his true value, and important people of Venice and artists alike were eager to meet him. The Venetian Senate even offered him a pension of two hundred ducats if he would stay in Venice. However, the Venetian painters were not too happy with his presence there, except Giovanni Bellini. Reluctantly, the artist returned to Nuremberg in 1507.
Albrecht Dürer's biography is harder to trace between 1507-1520, as he did not leave any account regarding his private life between these years. However, the high number of works belonging to this period is indicating intense, hard work. It appears that between 1512 and 1516, Durer's activity as a painter ceased for some time and he devoted himself to making engravings and woodcuts. In 1514 Dürer experienced the great sorrow of losing his mother, who died May 17th, after a long and painful illness.
On July 12th, 1520, Dürer set for Netherlands, accompanied by his wife and a maid.During the journey, he made sketches of people and cities, buildings and animals. The festivities and his work did not prevent the artist to keep a close eye on the religious turmoil caused by the Lutheran movement in Germany, and he expressed his support for the leader of the Reform. In the following summer the painter returned to Nuremberg.
In 1525, he published an important scientific work, "The Teaching of Measurements with Rule and Compass." In 1526, Dürer created his last great painting work, the "Four Apostles," his gift for the City of Nuremberg Council. In 1527, he published his "Art of Fortification. “ Another large work, the four-volume "Human Proportions," was in preparation to be printed when the artist died suddenly on April 6th, 1528. Albrecht Dürer was mourned by all the great minds of the time, and his death was truly regarded as a huge loss, not only for Germany, but for all Europe, and the mankind
Dürer strives for artistic liberation for North European art, thereby following the Italian Renaissance - to be free of the restrictions of traditional methods and more room for creativity and emotion. Dürer was one of the first artists to portray himself in a self portrait. He left a vast oeuvre: about 60 paintings, 250 woodcuts, 100 engravings, 6 etchings and more than 1,000 drawings and watercolours.
Dürer exploited the new printing technology to broadcast cheap, mass produced prints throughout Europe. In doing so, Dürer combined self promotion and spiritual values, making him the first international superstar. Dürer is sometimes called the German Leonardo because of his intellectual curiosity, but there is this enormous difference. While Leonardo was always looking outward at the great world around him to find out how things worked, Dürer was just as determined to look inward and explore the mystery of the human soul.
Albrecht Dürer - Engravings
The Print Revolution
- The Chinese invented Woodblock printing around the year 600.
- The world's first known movable-type system for printing was created in China around 1040 A.D. by Bi Sheng (990–1051) during the Song Dynasty.
- Typecasting was invented in Baltimore, America, 1884 by Ottmar Mergenthaler.
- The first European to be accredited with the invention of printing was Johannes Gutenberg.
- The first book to be printed in China, when translated from Chinese, is the Diamond Sutra.
- The first book printed in Europe from movable types was the Bible, printed by Gutenberg.
- An incunabula is a book printed before 1501 or an artifact of an early period.
- A uncial is a majuscule script (written entirely in capital letters) commonly used from the 3rd to 8th centuries AD by Latin and Greek scribes. Uncial letters were used to write Greek, Latin, and Gothic.
The Movable Type Printing Revolution VS. The World Wide Web
Before, the printing press helped with many things. It gave writing a consistent feel and look, enhanced the reading experience, increased literacy being available to the general public, brought down the cost of books, transformed learning and so much more. But now the question is if it is still necessary since the World Wide Web provides all of this and maybe even more.
One of the major effects of movable type printing was that books and scripts and anything that consisted of text really became a lot cheaper compared to when scribes had to handwrite them, however, with the World Wide Web, things no longer needed to be printed at all. Books and writing became free and the printing press in a way was not needed as much. Digital formats now seem to be preferred to printed formats. Most people prefer to see it on a screen for free than buy it in print.
Before it was always very necessary for someone to buy a newspaper or to buy a magazine, now with the use of the World Wide Web everything becomes quicker, more convenient and in many cases more entertaining as things like video and apps are being used. Electronic is always with us now and therefore we do not have to go out of our way to be available to the things print provides such as news.
People are more mobile, connected and busier than ever before. The way we have begun consuming content and the World Wide Web takes this into account and the old way of delivering news does not currently fit the fast-paced 21st Century.
One of the major effects of movable type printing was that books and scripts and anything that consisted of text really became a lot cheaper compared to when scribes had to handwrite them, however, with the World Wide Web, things no longer needed to be printed at all. Books and writing became free and the printing press in a way was not needed as much. Digital formats now seem to be preferred to printed formats. Most people prefer to see it on a screen for free than buy it in print.
Before it was always very necessary for someone to buy a newspaper or to buy a magazine, now with the use of the World Wide Web everything becomes quicker, more convenient and in many cases more entertaining as things like video and apps are being used. Electronic is always with us now and therefore we do not have to go out of our way to be available to the things print provides such as news.
People are more mobile, connected and busier than ever before. The way we have begun consuming content and the World Wide Web takes this into account and the old way of delivering news does not currently fit the fast-paced 21st Century.