Allie's Fabulous Art Skills

The true work of art

Manuscript Illumination with Adoration of the Magi

Background Information:

Title: Manuscript Illumination with Adoration of the Magi

Artist: Master of James IV of Scotland (probably Gerard Horenbout)

Date: ca. 1515–25

Medium: Tempera, ink, and shell gold on parchment

Size: 6 1/2 x 4 5/8in. (16.5 x 11.7cm)

Stylistic Period: Renaissance

Culture: South Netherlandish

Analysis:

"Manuscript Illumination with Adoration of the Magi" is a painting from the Book of Hours, a collection of devotional prayers.  According to The Met Museum, the book's purpose was to inspire devotion for the non-ordained.  Book of Hours' earliest surviving English copy was written for a laywoman living in Oxford in about 1240 (University of Glasgow). The book had vast popularity in Northern Europe since it's original creation in 1240 up to the end of the 1600's.  

The subject is Virgin Mary holding Jesus, surrounded by three kings with gifts.  Outside of this, the townspeople appear to be praising the middle of the image, which is Virgin Mary holding Jesus.  This represents the famous scene from the bible of Jesus' birth.  In this, Jesus is held by his mother, Mary, and surrounded by wise men.  The use of background and foreground are very significant in the piece.  The focal point of the story, Jesus' birth, is placed in the middle and front of the image, while the townspeople are in the background.  The townspeople however all carry facial expressions of joy and praise. This could represent how Jesus carries sole importance, and society is second to that. Although the townspeople are not as important in the world, they gain their joy from Jesus. Secondly, the artist stresses the use of colors to emphasize the importance of certain subjects in the image, such as Mary and Jesus.  In the scene, Jesus is naked, which didn't shock me at first since he was first born.  However, when sketching the image myself, I realized that Jesus being naked led to his light skin tone being shown.  He is the only person in the scene in a light, bare color.  Even those who are clothed are in colors with darker undertones.  This portrays how he is the most important subject of the scene, and the artist wants the viewer's eyes to be drawn to Jesus right away.  Virgin Mary has gold, spark-like pieces above her head, showing a glow around her.  This is also the only time there is something truly glowing in the image, since all the other colors used were dull, such as the wise man's forest green and the building's stony grey.  This adds emphasis to Mary, and in combination to the light colors of Jesus, shows that Mary and Jesus are the true subjects of the image and the focal point for a viewer.  The artist's use of foreground, background, color, and emphasis, all aid in the portrayal of the meaning of the work; to communicate the value of the Christian life.  The foreground and background placements shows how the townspeople find pleasure in the birth of Jesus, portraying that a life with Christ comes with pleasure and happiness.  The use of bright colors on Mary and Jesus communicates that they are the light of the world, immediately giving them value.  The emphasis on the birth scene also shows how Jesus' birth is a symbol of Christianity, and therefore encourages people to follow Jesus, since he is a key feature of the religion.  

This work conveys the popular religious themes of the 1500's era because it shows a town revolving around a religious ideal.  This time period in England hosted the Great Reformation, an event centering around the creating of other branches of Christianity than Catholicism, due to new found corruption in the Catholic Church.  Because of this, the people of England were surrounded by religious beliefs since the reformation encapsulated the Church and politics of the time.  Another possible motivation for the creation of this piece is that the artist wanted people to remember the basis of Christianity, and forget the political issues going on.  This theory would be supported both by the chaotic context and the stylistic emphasis on Jesus' birth.  The value of the artwork remains the same today, since it serves as a portrayal of the basis of Christianity: Jesus' birth.  Since the religion itself still holds the same values, the artwork still communicates the same message of showing the values of a life with Christ.  However, today the image would most likely not be appreciated the same as it was in it's original time period.  This is due to the fact that there are now numerous paintings similar to this, that all portray Baby Jesus' birth.  There is also less of a reliance on artwork as a method of communication in society now, as technology has taken it's place.  In the 1500's however, the artwork was used as a way to communicate feelings and emotions.  Now, we simply take to twitter for an angry rant.

Alienation in Lowood

An image of Jane Eyre from JSTOR Daily

Jane Eyre is a novel set in England, written by Charlotte Bronte, and published in 1847.  The novel centers around Jane’s life as an orphaned child and being employed in a wealthy household.  Bronte's work displays the differences in wealth in 19th century England. However, in order to do this, Bronte had to publish the novel as, “Currer Bell” (York Notes).

In Chapter 7 of the book, Jane Eyre is embarrassed in front of her teachers and classmates. In the beginning of the chapter, there is a heavy allusion Lowood, a very religious town. At the arrival of Mr. Brocklehurst, it becomes evident Christianity is morphed into society. Then, when the Clergymen become present, there is a slight sense of mystery and suspense.  This is portrayed when Jane hides behind her slate and hides her thoughts.  

At one point, Jane accidentally drops and breaks her slate.  This causes an immediate backlash by Mr. Brocklehurst.  Once Mr. Brocklehurst recognizes Jane, she is also personally scrutinized.  This leads to public embarrassment of Jane, which leads her teacher, Miss Temple, to condole Jane. Bronte writes that "the kind whisper went to [Jane's] heart like a dagger." This use of figurative language, specifically the simile, creates a sense of the reader being brokenhearted, as it infers Jane has not ever acknowledged being loved, further revealing she has been alienated in both life and society. Therefore, even though Jane is surrounded by those in a society that is supposed to have perfect Christian values, their actions are far from Christian values, which makes those alienated in society feel unloved.

When Julia Severn is spotted by Mr. Brocklehurst with her curly hair down, he angrily forces her to cut her hair. He argues that the only way to be a Christian child is to refrain from individuality and fit in with all of the girls. Then following Julia's severe punishment, three women, two of whom were teenage girls bearing long hair with extreme curls, while the older woman styled a “false front of French curls." The metaphors used to describe the women's hair reveals how those characters are rich, and like to flaunt their ability to show individualism.  It is later revealed that those women were Mr. Brocklehurst's wife and daughters, showing extreme irony that right after Mr. Brocklehurst scolded Julia for her hair, his daughters and wife appear with excessive hairstyles flaunting individualism. The irony presented in the two situations portrays how the young girls are alienated in society for Bronte to argue the differences in the treatment and perceptions of the different social classes, the family representing a higher social standing and the alienated girls being in the lower class.  

Over time in Lowood, the morals and values of the members of the church, have altered from typical Christian beliefs. This is seen in Jane Eyre's alienation by Mr. Brocklehurst, as her characterization of being a outcast in society is revealed and demolished by a member of the church.  Then, the irony that Mr. Brocklehurst enforces rules in the school that girls are to be uniform in order to be Christian, then allows his family to express extreme individualism, reveals further the alienation of the young girls in society and communicates Bronte's argument that religious realm on society is corrupt, since the town is practically run by religion, however the people don't actually portray Christian values.