Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tintoretto vs Titian


What a wonderful day we had. We joined the Robinson & Treanor families at the Gallery of Modern Art for a lecture presented by Simona Albanese of the University of Queensland.
Between us in our group we had 4 adults 8 children ranging in age from 3-9. When we entered the darkened lecture theater you could feel all eyes on us as the average age of those in attendance would have been well... 70 years old. I know they thought we had taken the wrong turn and the children's section was at the other end of the gallery. But no, through peering glares over half glasses we pressed on to find our seats. Which I might add where the ones that fold up and down and squeak, causing instant concern for me because all I could see was the 3 and 4 year olds playing with them the whole lecture.
A gentleman introduced Simona Albanese and she proceeded with the most wonderful lecture on the comparisons of the work between Tintoretto vs Titian.
You have no idea how much you are able to learn from the Artistic Pursuit Curriculum Book 2 because the children understood almost everything she said (well her strong beautiful Italian accent was a slight barrier for them at times).
From the symbolism used in art work to the different ways Renaissance artist have changed the expression, for example, of the halo around Saints or The Virgin Mary from the more grand expression uses in the 13th & 14th century art work produced by Cimabue or Giotto for example to small glows in these particular artist cases.
The children even understood how the use of blue was important in the work given the expense of such a colour in the day.
The children just sat there in their sets perfectly well behaved, attentively listening to Simona Albanese's lecture.
We spoke with her afterward and of course scored a photo opportunity with her and the children which I will add when Ricio learns how to download the photos from the camera. Renaissance art is easier to understand then Cannon camera's sometimes don't you think?

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