WeArtIt

                                                                   
                                  Lazzaro Pisani (1854 – 1932)
                             Portrait of Concetta Pisani

Pisani (1854 – 1932) is considered to be one of Malta`s most important artists of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Concetta Pisani was wife of the Maltese artist Lazzaro Pisani, the work dates to 1916, when he was 62 years old. I visited the Fine Arts Museum based in Malta on the 20th of October. Although this portrait is not my taste, it struck me because it reminds me of my grandmother.
 In this piece of art Concetta Pisani poses on a red armchair with carved wooden armrest, holding a closed fan in her right hand and in a green plain background. Concetta Pisani is wearing an elegant black dress with lace and her hair is styled at the back. She is also wearing a tall necklace and a short one with a cross pendent. This portrait forms a pair with Lazzaro Pisani self-portrait. This piece of art is a realistic art work in dark shades.

Talking from experience the colours we artists use depends on our character, personality and the mood we were in when we painted the portrait. It seems that the artist was depressed or maybe his wife liked to wear dark shades.

Inscription: the canvas is marked on the back “Concetta Pisani nata Frendo 1916”

Format: 94.5 x 69.5cm.

Type: paintings (visual works).

Subject: Furniture, Fashion, Women.

                                                              Figure 1: Portrait of Concetta Pisani

Reference from:

Google.com.mt, (2016). Portrait of Concetta Pisani - Fittex bil-Google. [online] Available at: https://www.google.com.mt/search?q=Portrait+of+Concetta+Pisani&rlz=1C1SVEE_enMT632MT632&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIjrOFtZ6uyAIVJotyCh18eAwm&biw=1366&bih=667#imgrc=sEvJ2hlX0v-zOM%3A [Accessed 13 Oct. 2015].

Haz-zebbug.com, (2016). Haz-zebbug.com - Personaggi. [online] Available at: http://www.haz-zebbug.com/lazzaro_pisani.php [Accessed 13 Oct. 2015].

Ltd, A. (2016). Lazzaro Pisani at Museum of Fine Arts. [online] Times of Malta. Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080206/local/lazzaro-pisani-at-museum-of-fine-arts.195182 [Accessed 13 Oct. 2015].

Anon. (2015). [online] Available at: http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/08533/artifact_aspx_id_720.htm [Accessed 13 Oct. 2015].

 Slideshare.net, (2016). The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta4. [online] Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda/malta4 [Accessed 13 Oct. 2015].


                                        Caesar Attard (born 1946)

                                             Pregnant Madonna 

Caesar Attard is very committed as an artist known for modern and contemporary arts. Making art for Caesar means, working in the face of uncertainty and self-doubt that touch his unconscious.

Amongst the different artists and artworks at the museum, there were a few in particular which struck me either for their subject matter, use of colour or the way in which they decided to portray certain events such as those from The Bible. For sure one of the portraits is “Pregnant Madonna” which is one of the most beautiful paintings of Caesar Attard. The main reason I was attracted to this is because of the creation of light and the use of pastel colours, which I like very much. Through this portrait one can see the positivity and the serene and calmness of the artist. In my work I usually use these colours and more bright ones to show my positivity towards life.

 Without doubt artists pass his or her message effectively. This is the reason every painting differs from other paintings. Today the 20th of October I visited The National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta in order to research and take note of different artists, their styles and paintings. Most of all I want to use what I learned there when analysing paintings.

My advice: “do not aspire to become an artist- you will only be a lousy one. Judy aspire to work hard”- Caesar Attard 

Figure 2: Pregnant Madonna

Reference from: 

 CAESAR ATTARD, (2012). Profile. [online] Available at: https://caesarattard.wordpress.com/biography/ [Accessed 18 Oct. 2015].

MaltaToday.com.mt, (2012). We need light! | Caesar Attard. [online] Available at: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/art/23586/we-need-light-caesar-attard-20121227#.VhT5pOyqqkp [Accessed 18 Oct. 2015].

Kunstbeeld.nl, (2016). [online] Available at: http://www.kunstbeeld.nl/upload/nieuws/kb/14-10/bvs%20viva%20malta/bvs%20IMG_9722.jpg [Accessed 18 Oct. 2015].

                                            Antonio Sciortino ( 1879-1947)

                             Rhythm Vitae

                                        

I vsited The National Museum on the 20th of October. This is a late Art Nouveau style sculptor that shows the unity between a man and a women interacting together through dance and on an emotional level, in harmony throughout their life. The statue is a great achievement of modelling and design together with Nina De Vetlina,  "Women with a Mask" which is also an exhibit, Rythmii Vitae marks graceful, flowing movement in style and art at the time. This is one of the first bronzes by Scortino to be acquired for the museum`s modern art section Antonio Scortino started and finished this work between 1924 and 1927. This is one of Scortino`s most remarkable and memorable works from the national collection at The National Museum of Fine Arts. This famous statue was exhibited in Spain in May 2008 together with other fine art works form the national collection at The National Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition was administered by Heritage Malta`s Senior Curator for Arts and Palaces, Sandro Debono, Denis Vella as curator of modern and contemporary art within the Arts and Palaces Department and an authority on Antonio Scorpion, and Don Vicente Alcatraz from the Ajuntamient De Valencia. 

I was impressed by this statue because I myself practice dancing since I was 5 years old and so it reminds me of the beauty and passion of  dancing times.

Format

Height: 122cm, width: 38cm, depth: 28cm

                                              Figure 3: Rhythm Vitae

Reference from: 

Heritagemalta.org, (2016). National Museum of Fine Arts « Heritage Malta. [online] Available at: http://heritagemalta.org/museums-sites/national-museum-of-fine-arts/ [Accessed 18 Jan. 2016].

Facebook.com, (2016). Security Check Required. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/NFAMalta [Accessed 1  Nov. 2015].                      

Facebook.com, (2016). Timeline Photos - National Museum of Fine Arts - Malta | Facebook. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/NFAMalta/photos/a.314988821864755.78443.218685968161708/1077179648978998/?type=3&theater [Accessed1 Nov 2015].

 Zphoto.fr, (2016). Photo Rythmii Vitae. [online] Available at: http://www.zphoto.fr/rythmii_vitae_photo774396.html [Accessed 1 Nov. 2015].

 Independent.com.mt, (2016). Antonio Sciortino Exhibition in Spain - The Malta Independent. [online] Available at: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2008-04-21/news/antonio-sciortino-exhibition-in-spain-206553/ [Accessed 1 Nov 2015].

 Slideshare.net, (2016). The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta4. [online] Avrailable at: http://www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda/malta4 [Accessed 1 Nov. 2015].

                                               
             Frank Portelli. (1922-2004)

                          Agony of Christ in the Garden of Olives

Frank Portelli is a fine art painter and his interior design career was secured and stabilized around the late sixties. The painting is oil on canvas I can see dull colours in this picture; maybe it reflects the painter’s mood and character. This painting is found in the National Museum of Fine Arts. At first it was very difficult for me to understand since it is abstract. The image describes Christ comforted by a blue angel just before his arrest and crucifixion. Portelli divides the picture in two. In the right half, three messengers painted with the same blue colour of the angel are lying in the sun, while on the left Jesus Christ is praying and waiting for the suffering and death. Jesus is painted with stronger colours (bright green) to bring Jesus more a center of attraction On the right he uses shades of reds and purples as a background behind Christ.

The painting is 116 x 116cm

Figure 4: Agony of Christ in the Garden of Olives. This painting reminds me of the Passion of Christ and Good Friday.

Reference From: 

 Facebook.com, (2016). MUZA e-postcards - National Museum of Fine Arts - Malta | Facebook. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/NFAMalta/photos/a.692610717435895.1073741828.218685968161708/947843218579309/ [Accessed 19 Oct. 2015].

                                        Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)

                                       The Iceberg.

Albert Bierstadt was a famous American painter best known for painting landscapes of the American West. In this beautiful painting which is oil on canvas an iceberg is seen floating in the middle of the sea, with a small empty boat nearby. The place is probably Alaska and the weather looks very cold. Throughout his career Bierstadt travelled quite a lot and this painting may have been based on sketches he made while visiting Alaskan fishing villages near Loring Bay, where his steamer went aground in 1889. This painting reflects the painter’s character and personality. Romanticism is evident in the subject. The use of light and different shades of blue emphasizes the cold emotion of this work.

Location -  National Museum of Fine Arts Malta

Format – 53cm x  83cm  (without frame)

Figure 5: The Iceberg  This painting reminds me of the popular movie "Titanic". So beautiful, it makes me shiver.

Reference from:

Ltd, A. (2016). Artist Frank Portelli dies. [online] Times of Malta. Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040314/local/artist-frank-portelli-dies.127700 [Accessed 19 Oct. 2015].

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DADA ( 1. Art)

Dadaism was an art movement which emerged during World War 1 in the 20^th century. Dada, artworks and artists, in Switzerland Zurich, began in 1916. Its achievement was varied from performance art to poetry, photography, sculpture, painting and collage. Dada proved a powerful influence on artists in many cities, including Berlin, Hanover, Paris, New York and Cologne, all of which developed their own groups. The movement continued to grow with the arrival of Surrealist in France. 

The movement which began in Zurich 1916 was named after the 18^th century French satirist, Voltaire, whose novella Candide mocked the madness of his society. One of Zurich’s founder Hugo Ball wrote

 “This is our Candide against the times.”

Members of Dada opposing all the norms of bourgeois (member of the middle class) culture often cried “Dada is anti- Dada.”

Dada art varies widely and it is hard to speak of a clear and well organised style. It is influenced by Futurist and Expressionist concerns. Dadaists always opposed against cultural pride and political support for the war. Dada activities included public gatherings and publication of art/ literary journals, passionate coverage of art, politics and culture were topics discussed in a variety of media. The movement influenced later styles like the avant – garde and downtown music movements and groups. Important and vital personalities in the movement included Hugo Ball, Emmy Henning’s, Hans Arp, Tristan Tzara and Max Ernst amongst others. 

Dada was not popular only in visual and literary arts, its influence reached to the sound and music. Kurt Schwitters developed sound poems, while Francis Picabia and Georges Ribemont- Dessaignes composed Dada music performed at the Festival Dada in Paris on the 26^th May 1920. Other composers such as Erwin Schulhoff, Hans Heusser and Albert Savinio all wrote Dada music. Members of Les Six collaborated with members of the Dada movement, performed their works at Dada gatherings. 

“Dada is the groundwork to abstract art and sound poetry, a starting point for performance art, a prelude to postmodernism, an influence on pop art, a celebration of antiart to be later embraced for anarcho-political uses in the 1960s and the movement that laid the foundation for Surrealism.”.

Example : 

figure 1: 1917 and 1919 famous Dada's 

Information Obtained from :

Lib.uiowa.edu. (2016). International Dada Archive - The University of Iowa Libraries. [online] Available at: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/dada/ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2016].

 About education. Unknown. About Education:
Dada art [Online]
Available from: http://arthistory.about.com/cs/namesdd/p/duchamp.htm
[Accessed 11th December 2015]

Justin, W. 2015. The art story: 

Dada [Online]

Available from: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-dada.htm

[Accessed 11th December 2015]   

Impressionism ( 2. Art)

Impressionism is considered to be the first Modern movement in painting. This 19^th century art movement was originated by a group of Paris based artists whose exhibitions brought them to projection during the 1870’s and 1880’s. Impressionist painting characteristics include small and thin but visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate image of light in its changing qualities, ordinary subject matter, inclusion of movement and unusual visual angles. Its founding members included Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro and others.  The independent artists, despite their diverse approaches to painting, appeared to rank as a group. Conservative critics separated their work for its unfinished, sketch like appearance. Progressive writers praised it for its picture of modern life.

In addition to their natural technique, the bright colours of impressionist canvases were shocking for eyes that were usually used to see more vibrant colors of Academic painting. Most of the independent artists did not apply the thick golden varnish that painters usually used to tone down their works. The paints themselves were brighter as well. In the 19^th century vivid synthetic pigments for paints, vibrant shades of blue, green and yellow were in fashion. Painters used these colors that had never used before in Images of Suburban and Rural leisure outside of Paris, were a popular subject for the impressionists, Monet and Renoir Pierre- Auguste. 

The independent collective organized eight exhibitions  between 1874 and 1886, with a number of participating artists from nine to thirty years old. Pissarro, the eldest, was the only artist who exhibited in all eight shows, while Morisot participated in seven. The interest for an independent exhibition had been discussed in 1867. Its many aspects and different participants made the impressionist movement difficult to describe. Impressionism was a modern original movement and its modernity made it the cause for later avant- garde art in Europe.

Example :

                  
                                               Figure 1:  Leonid Afremor  Vibrant colors in oil paintings.

Figure 2: Vincent Van Gogh 'Starry Night' 1889

Figure 3:Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over the Rhone”

Figure 4: Vincent Van Gogh "Green Field with Cypress"

Information Obtained from: 

Margaret, S. Unknown. Heilbrunn timeline of art history: Impressionism: Art and Modernity [Online] Available from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/imml/hd_imml.htm

[Accessed 12th December 2015]

Impressionism. 2015. Wikipedia: 

Impressionism [Online]http://www.theartstory.org/movement-impressionism.htm
[Accessed 12th December 2015]

Justin, W. 2015. The art story:
Impressionism [Online]
Available from: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-impressionism.htm 
[Accessed 12th December 2015]