Rusty Gray's ART F200X Blog

The concept of art being publicly funded has existed practically since art itself. Art is relied on to convey a message, soften a public image, or in some cases used to inspire their communities. Religious institutions, nobles, royalty, and now governments have all used art in a multitude of ways. The United States government has been a patron of the arts almost since its founding. Capitol buildings, paintings, and monuments were commissioned in the early days and now there is a far more structured patronage. In fact, at least half of a percent of a federally funded building’s budget is allotted for original art (Mekouar). The U.S. General Services Administration (known as GSA) oversees federal buildings. It also maintains records and preserves public access to hundreds of thousands of paintings, prints, sculptures, and other architectural and environmental works. There is a massive collection of publicly funded works through the centuries, but six of these works in particular really...

The early 20 th Century brought with it a period of intense economic, social, and political turmoil. Industrialization, consumerism, social mobility, and the struggles of the working class brought were at the forefront. Mass production and new scientific innovations were only intensified by the onset of World War I. War has almost always been the ultimate catalyst for invention. The exponential growth in the automobile industry, the invention of electric washing machines, home refrigerators, and even frozen food all boomed during this period. In 1929, the stock market crashed and led to what we now call the Great Depression. Almost 25% of the United States workforce was unemployed at its peak and this number does not include farmers who lost their lands and homes due to foreclosure (Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum). During this period, many scientific innovations were seen as only helping the wealthy in an almost surreal way. Some artworks in particular seem to c...

Romanticism and Realism are almost polar opposites as far as subject matter. Talented artists from either classification chose vastly different subjects. One of the most distinctive differences between Romantic and Realism art forms was the glorification of ideals vs everyday normal activities. A Romantic artist would attempt to capture emotion or big ideals on canvas, while a Realist artist would attempt to capture routine everyday moments. My personal preference is Romanticism over Realism. While both can evoke emotion, Realism seems so personal. If you were familiar with the task or had someone in your life who was, it can speak to you. That’s not to be underestimated. However, if you don’t, you may run the risk of appearing somewhat condescending or patronizing regardless of intention. While I don’t dislike Realism and there are many works that I find inspiring, the ideals captured by Romantic artists can transcend social and economic barriers and are very powerful and influentia...

The term Neoclassicism refers to the revival of the classical art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. While classical revivals were not new to Europe, the study of old or rare historical objects during this era was viewed as a way to address modern social, economic, and political ideals (Palmer 1). There were several new archaeological discoveries during this period as well. There were excavations at the Herculaneum in 1738, Pompeii in 1748, and surveys of the Greek temples at Paestum in 1750 (Hollingsworth 371). The Enlightenment was also taking place during this era with an emphasis on reason and intellect. In addition, many patrons of the art and artists themselves were able to see firsthand many of these historical sites due to the increasing popularity of the Grand Tour; basically, a gap year where they traveled abroad for cultural enlightenment. All of which brought forth a wealth of new subject matter for the classical revival taking place across Europe.  Three piec...

  La Tour, Georges de. Saint Joseph Charpentier (or Joseph the Carpenter ). 1640 – 1645 c. Louvre Museum. Paris, France. Georges de La Tour’s Saint Joseph Charpentier or Joseph the Carpenter is an oil painting currently residing in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The Council of Trent was the Catholic Church’s response to the protestant Reformation. In 1621 during the final years of the Trent Council, Pope Gregory XV declared St. Joseph’s Feast to be a holy day (Wilson 101) . The proliferation of art and literature with Joseph as the subject exploded. This work is widely attributed to being a result of that Papal decree. The merging of spirituality with everyday life to tug on heartstrings and capture souls was at the very center of what the Catholic Reformation was trying to accomplish in art. It is believed the piece was painted sometime between 1640 and 1645 (Louvre n.d.). It is also thought to have been painted in the Duchy of Lorraine where the artist spent the majori...

  Botticelli, Sandro. Primavera . Late 1470s – early 1480s c. The Uffizi. Florence, Italy. Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, which translates to spring , is a painting using tempera grassa on wood. The piece currently resides in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy. It was painted in Florence and was commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici and his brother Giovanni "Il Popolano", cousins to Lorenzo de' Medici, in the late 1470s to early 1480s ( Spring by Botticelli 2024). This painting embodies the spirit of the Renaissance in several ways. First, the forms depict the impact of humanism with the use of figures from classical mythology rather than biblical themes. Zephyrus transforms a nymph named Chloris into the spring goddess Flora on the right. Venus overlooks the scene while Cupid fires an arrow in the middle. To the far left, we have Mercury poking at the sky with his staff. Just to his right, we see the whimsical dance of the three Graces. We als...