ART H213 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Frederick Catherwood, Izamal, Francisco Oller
12 Jul 2018
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March 4, 2015
LECTURE 12
Views of Ancient Monuments to Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan
Frederick Catherwood
•Created by same authors
•Cover designed by Owen Jones, didn’t know anything about Maya- doesn’t look Mayan
•Imposition of familiar on non familiar
Lithograph prints
•Drawn on stone- look more like drawings
Fallen Idol at Copan (from book)- Frederick Catherwood
•Trees, fallen stele- romantic lost civilization
•Wild deer- nature, untouched by civilization
•Lightening bolt in background- storm scene
Trained in 18th century art theory
•Different types of landscapes
•Edmund Burke- sublime or beautiful
•1870 published essay on subject
Catherwood’s work
•romantic
•sublime- something impresses you, inspires fear, awe, powerful, frightening effect
•theatrical, overwhelming, incomprehensible
Colossal Head at Izamal (another litho print)
•overgrown city
•awe inspiring
•panther on left- intimidating
•images of ruins- created in a way to have effect on viewer
•nostalgic- lost past no longer with us
•sublime- incomprehensible, awe inspiring
•lots of fiction but also things that did exist but no longer do- has value
writers argue ancient cultures were sophisticated
Jose Maria Velasco
•training in history- interested in natural history
•later becomes painter instead
Courtyard of the Ex-Convent of San Augustin (study and finished painting) 1860-61
•rough outline, quick- then bring into study, use smaller brushes for final
Copy of Italian landscape by Eugeno Landesci (? Name spelling) 1860-61
•beautiful landscape, not sublime, its compliment
•calm
•easing, comfortable transitions- foreground, middle ground, background
•framed nicely by ground/trees
•balanced
As a student Velasco was taught these techniques, aesthetic philosophy
Document Summary
Views of ancient monuments to central america, chiapas and yucatan. Frederick catherwood: created by same authors, cover designed by owen jones, didn"t know anything about maya- doesn"t look mayan. Lithograph prints: drawn on stone- look more like drawings. Fallen idol at copan (from book)- frederick catherwood: trees, fallen stele- romantic lost civilization, wild deer- nature, untouched by civilization, lightening bolt in background- storm scene. Trained in 18th century art theory: different types of landscapes, edmund burke- sublime or beautiful, 1870 published essay on subject. Catherwood"s work romantic sublime- something impresses you, inspires fear, awe, powerful, frightening effect theatrical, overwhelming, incomprehensible. Jose maria velasco training in history- interested in natural history later becomes painter instead. Courtyard of the ex-convent of san augustin (study and nished painting) 1860-61 rough outline, quick- then bring into study, use smaller brushes for nal. Name spelling) 1860-61 calm: beautiful landscape, not sublime, its compliment, easing, comfortable transitions- foreground, middle ground, background, balanced framed nicely by ground/trees.
