Fall of Man by Düer

"Fall of Man"
Albrecht Dürer 
German
Engraving

This work stood out to me because of the detail of each person's anatomy. The textbook says that Düer  used the Da Vinci's Vitruvian studies of proportions. The detail of Adam and Eve's abdomen is remarkable as well as the contraposto and position of the arms. The background is intriguing as well. Each animal (cat, mouse, elk, ox and rabbit) is symbolic. The cat and the mouse are particularly meaningful as they reflect the tension between Adam and Eve at the time of the "Fall of Man". 

Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch

"Garden of Earthly Delights"
by Hieronymus Bosch
1505-1510
Oil on Wood
triptych

What strikes me about this triptych is the variety of subjects it discusses. Each panel discusses a subject that is under the umbrella of "earthly delights". In the first panel we see God introducing Eve to Adam, in the second panel, we see young people cavorting around big fruit (fertility symbols) and food, and in the last panel we see a dark background that looks sort of like a hell-scape with random abstract objects and people in despair. I feel an overall sense of eroticism when I look at this work.
After analysis, one may conclude that the painting is about earthly temptations and consequences of indulging in such earthly delights.
The color of the far right panel is much darker than the other two, but the horizon continues on through all three panels.
This is a very "busy" piece of art in that there is a lot of activity and movement.

The Damned Cast to Hell

Signorelli 1499-1504
Fresco, 23' wide
"The Damned Cast to Hell"

This painting stood out to me because of the chaotic depiction of muscular men writhing about in a war-like scene that appears to be on a stage of some sort. The perspective of the people with the angelic warriors above them signals the end of the world. The chaotic element is the most attractive thing about this painting.

Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci
"Last Supper" 1495-1498
Oil and tempera on plaster

Poorly preserved and chipping away. The composition is symmetrical. The light source is coming through in the same room that the painting was done and da Vinci made reference to that window in the space and made it look like they were being illuminated from light coming through that window.

Jesus announces that one of his disciples have betrayed him and Judas is there and everyone gets in groups of 3 and discusses amongst themselves. Befuddled.

The way he is pictured with the food and the table makes references to "breaking the body of christ" (bread) called eucharist.
The window in the background is centered with his head and Jesus's head is the vanishing point. The only curb in the architectural space is a little ring in the top right of the window behind jesus. It is supposed to symbolize a halo.

The stark contrast of emotions is contrasted as Jesus appears tranquil everyone else looks horrified. Psycho-dimensional play on di Vinci's part.

Madonna of the Rocks

Leonardo da Vinci
"Madonna of the Rocks"
oil on wood (transferred to canvas)

-shadows as if the figures were in spotlights
-lots of interaction between characters- psychological ploy (there is some conversation going on and you are there to witness).
-Triangular shape between people. Figures: pray, point, bless.
-Plants and interesting landscapes in the background.

I like this painting because of the way da Vinci involves the viewer through positioning and lighting.