Giorgione

Italia • 1477−1510

Biography and information

Barbarelli Giorgio da Castelfranco, or Giorgione (Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco; 1477 (1478) – 1510), the great painter, which is one of the most outstanding figures of the Renaissance, the representative of the Venice art school. Curiously, some of his unfinished canvases finished by Titian after the death of the author.

The real name of the painter Giorgio is, however, in connection with a large physique he was given the nickname – Giorgione (i.e. large). Accurate information about the origin of this great master is not installed. The popular view is that it is associated with the famous family of Barbarelli because late painter, often called Giorgio da Castelfranco Barbarelli.

Biography of the great master in many respects mysterious. He was one of the most gifted figures of the Renaissance in Venice, although he died at a fairly young age (probably from cholera). The paintings that belong to his authorship, are not numerous, they are not present in all the major museums of the world, however, a cause of unceasing interest to this day. The creative genius of the author perfectly reflected the Renaissance love of human beauty, the very being.

Features of the artist Giorgioneeven at the beginning of the great master manifested a key feature of his style — poetic images of diversity hidden in nature, in the person of forces, the existence of which is able to reveal not the action but in a quiet spirituality. The artist had managed to depict the landscapes so that they are not only to the major figures, but conveyed the depth of space, creating a lasting impression on the entire web.

In his Mature paintings have an implicit sense of the breath of life, and reproduction of organic life are connected with a certain idealization, subtle emotional environment is difficult, the associative nature of ideas and plot. All this gives the works of the author of the veil of vagueness. In the works of later period formed the main theme in the work of Giorgione — a combination of man and nature.

Famous painting artist Giorgione: "Holy family", "The test of fire of Moses""Judgement Of Solomon", "Judith".

The mysterious oeuvre of Giorgione

The mystery surrounding both the person and work of the great master, due not only to limited data about this genius artist, but also the absence of signed paintings. However, contemporary painter, Marcantonio, Mikiel, yet left behind a detailed description of the works of the great masters who were at that time in private collections. It gave the opportunity to identify paintings in various European museums.

Found information on 2 of the official orders which received a master in 1507, the year, however, the frescoes made by him, has not survived to our days. The artist's work has enriched the art of Venice, the actual reading of the features of composition, color, texture, besides a diversified range of subjects; the works of Giorgione served as a model for the most famous of his followers – Titian, which was considered one of the most talented artists of Italy.

At a very young age, Giorgione came to Venice. It is known that in 16 years of the artist Giorgione worked and studied with the famous master Giovanni Bellini. Just in Venice in his work most clearly evident new humanistic ideas, in the beginning of XVI century, his works had a distinct secular character. The legacy of the artist had a considerable impact on a number of Italian artists, and this caused a number of problems with the attribution of paintings by Giorgione.

Paintings of Giorgione's enigmatic masterpieces of the Renaissance

Image of Judith were often a source of inspiration for many painters of this era. She represented civic virtue, valor, sacrifice. Judith, which was created by the artist Giorgione, is subtle, complicated and mysterious way. The canvas depicts the heroine of the biblical legends in the very moment when she, successfully coming out of enemy camps and performing the duty of stopping reverie over formidable trophy. Her eyes lowered, and his face was full of serenity. The painting of Giorgione "Judith" — one of the greatest works of the artist.

Unusual and interesting well as the famous altar the composition of the master "Castelfranco Madonna". The artist Giorgione chose the subject of the Holy conversation (Madonna surrounded by saints is talking to them), which was popular among the Venetian altarpiece. This story had no direct relationship to the Bible, but because it provided great scope to create paintings in a secular spirit.

Saint George and Francis are near the throne, on which sits the Madonna with the child. In the place usual for such compositions of the environment, symbolizing the Church, the painter depicted the Venetian province. The transparency of the bright beauty of the landscape, full of space and enveloped in a light haze, meets the calm reverie, in which resides the Madonna with the saints. Between characters in the works of Giorgione stretched like invisible spiritual threads, which create a sense of their true inner unity, and it gave the painting a special lyrical atmosphere.

This altarpiece commissioned by Tuzio Costanzo in memory of his son. It was intended for a chapel in the Cathedral in Castelfranco. At the base of the throne of the Madonna is a sarcophagus with the arms of the dynasty Costanzo — back and cast his glance of the mother of God. SV. George, who is the patron of warriors, is the best image of Matteo Costanzo, who was killed in the war.

"The Castelfranco Madonna" is a work of Giorgione, created for the Church, but the wizard had creative freedom regarding the essence of the image itself. This work is filled with secular atmosphere, right comparing it with a peculiar funerary Elegy. However, the author didn't just rethink the usual liturgical song, and went on, refusing among the first European artists from the traditional to the fact.

Innovative approaches and calm contemplation of the

Indeed, the paintings of Giorgione are often significantly different from other Renaissance paintings. Usually the stories were taken from unknown sources, but their meaning is still unclear. Reason these pictures bring up so much controversy in our time — their interpretation was the subject of several studies. Particularly difficult the interpretation of the paintings of the great Giorgione's "Three philosophers" and "the Storm". The first of them is made for Patricia Taddeo Contarini, to decorate his house, the second for the nobility, Gabriele Vendramin.

The artist has created an unusual for his era paintings in a small format. They are contemplative in its meaning, to satisfy the most discerning private clients, being also designed for the subtle communication of the viewer and the work itself. Customers and connoisseurs of the paintings of Giorgione are representatives of the most intelligent circles of society, Venice, which joined the ideas of humanism and received an excellent education.