Monday, April 13, 2009

Assignment 6


After reading about the Palace of Versailles, I have an even greater appreciation for it. I visited there for the first time this summer and they had just completed and reopened the Hall of Mirrors. It is so overwhelmingly detailed that I actually did not see some of the things that were noted in our readings - in particular the ceiling paintings. Now I must go back. One of the interesting aspects of Baroque Art is the seeming lack of composition with regards to emphasis on any one particular thing. So much goes on in the paintings and architecture that there does not seem to be a focus. I find this less appealing from a viewers standpoint. It is somewhat like the way movies are being filmed lately with everything happening in flashes before your eyes and no time to actually see what is going on.