Art History: Year 1300 Forward

  The Virgin of the Macana and the Pueblo Revolt Very few paintings of the Virgin of the Macana exist and they all date to the late 18th century. The virgin of the Macana is a recreation of the Virgin of Toledo that came about after the Pueblo Revolution. The Pueblo Revolution was the first revolution on American soil as well as the first successful Indigenous peoples armed rebellion. The goal of the Pueblo revolution was to expel Spanish colonial forces. Christianized and non-christianized Indigenous people formed this rebellion. Casualties included 21 Franciscan missionaries and 400 Spanish colonists. Many of the expressions in this painting appeal to Spanish colonial forces and their right of passage rather than the suffrage of the indigenous people, such as Mary's wounded head, blamed on the hanging native, and the few natives submitting to christian conquest.   A specifically interesting version of the Virgin of the Macana lives at the New Mexico History Museum....

  Ivory Mask This mask is of Idia the first Queen mother of the Benin empire. Her son was that of the King and she is remembered for fighting for his right to succeed his father and take the throne. There was a competition due to the fact the King had another son with another woman. Idia did the most to secure her son’s lineage. This mask would have been worn on the hip as an accessory. It is carved from Ivory, a white and luminescent material very popular in African trade. It is believed when the mask was originally created there might have been inlays of gold or coral.  This Ivory mask of an African woman represents complete and total power through commemoration created in an expensive and admired way.  The ends of Idia's hair is finished with knots that feature tiny costumed Portugese men. The Portugese were significant to African trade. The Portugese brought the Africans brass and the Africans traded pepper, Ivory and animal skins. These knots as part of the Que...

The following will discuss the immense differences as well as similarities of the Sin Sukju portrait and the self portraits of Albrecht Dürer. Each piece was created for a different purpose, affords different levels of intracacy but is also timeless in representation of religious beliefs. The portrait of Sin Sukju was to commemorate both his life as well as his death due to his sacrifice and honor as a civic official that remained loyal to the court and the King. Portraits of many others were created in the same manner, as “meritorious subjects.” These officials who were honored due to their loyalties featured rank badges on the front and back of their overcoat. Sin Sukju’s rank badge consists of feathery peacocks, among blossoming plants and clouds. These paintings were made to commemorate and in some cases were recreated in “copies” for the families of these officials. In the ink painting on silk scroll Sukju is shown seated with a full length view of his body, feet on a wooden stool...

Classical antiquity is the combination of greek and Roman civilization characteristics between eighth century B.C and Sixth Century B.C.E. These characteristics include harmony, balance, and a sense of proportion. A fine example of classical antiquity is Michelangelo’s Sculpture of David. The sculpture was originally created to sit high upon the cathedral in Florence, Italy. After it was created it was decided that the sculptor was too beautiful to be placed so high and found a new home inside the cathedral. Michelangelo was only twenty-six years old when commissioned for this sculpture. The sculptor of David features the ideal male body well proportioned. Michelangelo’s sculpture of David also features a common pose where the weight of the body is placed on one hip and leg; this pose is called contrapposto In this specific case Daivd’s weight resets on his right leg while his chest and hips face forward and he gazes in the opposite direction. The pose David is holding explains he is...

  Intro      Hello, My name is Cayton Wagner! People frequently miss pronounce my name! I am a second year at Colorado State University Pueblo. My major is a bachelors in fine art with an emphasis in ceramics and painting! I took the first part of art history my very first semester freshman year. This year has been quite the learning curve and quite exhausting but I am trying to push through!     I am a Colorado native! I have a blue heeler named Soda, that helps me do everything. My older brother and I both attend school at CSUP! I have been making my entire life, crafting, painting, sculpting and designing.  I hope to become a teacher as well as a well known contemporary artist. I often sell my work pottery and painting as well as do commission for all different types of customers. What I enjoy most about art is the process, discussion it and sharing the tools in my tool box with others. I plan to live and work...