1. C U R A T E D E X H I B I T I O N B Y J O N A T H A N O R T I Z
Line

2. About
In this Curated Exhibition we will examine the
different qualities of line and how several artist use the
element of line.

3. High Renaissance in Italy
Michelangelo uses a
zigzag line to show
Christ’s dead body which
blends in harmony with
Mary’s delicate curves of
her drapery. Line is used
to create the dramatic
effect of this scene.
Michelangelo, Pieta,
1948/9-1500. Marble; 5
ft. 8 ½ in. high. Saint
Peter’s Vatican, Rome.

4. Garden of Earthly Delights
Hieronymus Bosch uses
diagonal lines
throughout his painting
to create action and
movement. The lines
allow our eye to move
throughout the painting
to see the different
actions going on.
Hieronymus Bosch,
Garden of Early
Delights, c. 1510-1515.
Triptych: left panel,
Garden of Eden; center
panel, World before the
flood; right panel, Hell.
Oil on Wood; left and
right panels 7 ft. 2 in. x 3
ft., center panel 7 ft. 2 in.
x 6 ft. 4 in. Museo del
Prado, Madrid.

5. Bernini’s David
In Bernini’s David, we
can examine not only the
diagonal line showing
David’s action, but how
line is used to create his
facial expression, his
mouth and eyes are
somewhat straight
across, which gives him
a serious look, and
shows the audience what
he is doing requires
strength and
concentration.
Gianlorenzo Bernini,
David, 1623. Marble; life
sized. Galleria Borghese,
Rome.

6. Venus Consoling Love
Boucher uses implied lines
to help direct our eyes to
the focal point, Venus. The
viewer can see the implied
lines from the two cupids
on the right side, one
pointing to Venus and one
pointing with elbow and
head. The cupid to left is
also pointing with their
hands to Venus. We also
see how Venus’s leg point
and lead up to herself.
Francois Boucher, Venus
Consoling Love, 1751. Oil
on canvas; 3 ft. 6 1/8 in x
2 ft. 9 3/8 in. National
Gallery, Washington, D.C.

7. Gleaners
Jean-Francois Millet
uses a dominating
horizontal line which
recalls the Romantic
sense with the three
peasant’s “oneness with
nature”.
Jean-Francois Millet,
Gleaners, 1857. Oil on
canvas; approx. 2 ft. 9
in. x 3 ft. 8 in. Musee
d’Orsay, Paris

8. Statue of Liberty
Auguste Bartholdi uses a
vertical line with Lady
Liberty reaching for the
heavens with her torch
of liberty, which
symbolizes the
opportunity for
Americans and non-
Americans alike.
Auguste Bartholdi and
Alexandre Gustave
Eiffel, Statue of Liberty,
New York, 1875-1884.
Copper on a steel and
wrought-iron
framework; 151 ft. 6 in.
high.