Assignment #4: Principles of Design

In the first image, “Gian Federico Madruzzo”, the choice of neutral colors in the figures clothing, walls and floor create unity. The warm red hue colored curtain in the upper right corner creates variety. This painting is also asymmetrical because it is not balance. If you were to divide this painting vertically it would not be balance. There would be more on the right of the picture(the curtain and dog), then there would be on the left of the picture. Also the man figure is not standing completely straight and has his foot arched out which also makes this painting asymmetrical. The artist used this asymmetrical principle to set off the center of the painting. The artist also used subordination in this painting. The use of lighter neutral colors in the background make not only the main figure stand out but also the red curtain. Emphasis would be the use of the warm red hue for the curtain. When first glancing at the painting, the red curtain is the first eye-catching thing because of the use of colors throughout. Scale and proportion are both normal size. The artist used a dog as an opposing subject so that scale and proportion would be show as normal humanlike size. The only rhythm that I see in this painting is the flooring. It is a repetition of brown blocks.

In the second painting, “Cardinal Bandinello Sauli, His Secretary, and Two Geographers”the unity is shown threw the use of complimentary colors and the use of the warm hue red. I has an asymmetrical balance because there is no center object and the use of space is different of both sides of the painting both left and right. Emphasis and subordination is seen by the artist’s use of the bright warm hue red on the dark complimentary color green. Just the use of the warm hue is the emphasis and the use of that color on a dark background is the subordination. Scale and proportion are normal scale which is shown because all objects in painting are the same size and proportion including the furniture. The only rhythm is the pattern repeated on the table cloth.

Assignment #2: Elements of Design

The Italian painting “Gian Federico Madruzzo”, shows the use of many different lines both horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines when portraying the creases of the clothing, along with the wall and floor structure. More importantly the painting uses implied/directional lines. The directional line from the arm down to the hand directs the eye to the foot which then directs the eye to the dog. The artist uses neutral colors throughout the painting, in the figures clothing and in the ground. The eye-catching red curtain sets off the center of the picture by bringing your attention to the right of the painting. The artist used a warm, primary color such as red to add some light and contrast to the painting. Because the curtain is a warmer hue it creates an illusion of a larger size. This painting is a portrait because it seems as if the subject is standing and posing for the painting.


This second painting is also an Italian painting, “Cardinal Bandinello Sauli, His Secretary, and Two Geographers”. This painting uses implied lines as well horizontal and vertical lines. The vertical and horizontal lines are shown in the creases in the clothing and the strokes of paint on the walls. The implied lines are the Cardinal’s arm positioning. The arm resting on the table points your attention to the bell which may have been overlooked if the artists would not have used the implied lines to attract the eyes. The other hand simulates the eyes to the legs which makes the eyes follow the lines and creases of the legs down until you see a spec of brown which seems to be a fly. In this painting the use of colors also compliments the painting as well but in a more detailed way. While looking at the painting you see that the artist used complimentary color harmonies. The main figure in the painting is the Cardinal which is in red and up against the green ground (wall). The use of these two colors creates a complementary scheme. Because the red is directly placed atop the green, it creates a more intense hue. This painting also has a strong use for the warm, primary color red but it is used as a sort of symbolic color. It seems as if the artist used the color red as a symbol of importance. The painting is a portrait of Cardinal Bandinello Sauli, His Secretary, and Two Geographers. The warm hue red is portrayed on the Cardinal, his secretary, the Cardinal’s chair, as well as the table. The artist chose this color because he wants the important things to stand out in the portrait. Notice the Cardinal’s shade of red is much more intense and bright because he has more importance than the others. When portraying the two geographers the artist used very neutral colors almost as if to blend them into the dark shaded green background.

Assignment #1: Online Museum Visit

"Gian Federico Madruzzo", c. 1560

Giovanni Battista Moroni

Bergamo, c. 1525 - 1578

oil on canvas, 201.9 x 116.8 cm (79
1/2 x 46 in.)

Timken Collection1960.6.27

"Cardinal Bandinello Sauli, His Secretary, and Two Geographers", 1516

Sebastiano del Piombo

Venetian, 1485 - 1547

oil on panel transferred to canvas, 121.8 x 150.4 cm (48 x 59 1/4 in.)

Samuel H. Kress Collection1961.9.37