Artistic symbolism is an effective power tool. The more art you possessed and the higher the status of the artist who created it was a direct symbol of wealth which equated to power throughout the medieval to modern times. Many monarchies, religions, politicians and political parties as well as average citizens have amassed power due to their commission of, acquisition and creation of many artistic pieces. We will discuss the important roles of portraiture as well as the emphasis on the requirement of a “professionally recognized” artist as well as the symbolism used within these portraits to expose the wealth and admirable qualities of its subjects/patrons. We will also discuss the ability of the artist to “rewrite” history through its interpretation of a subject. We will also discuss your blog posts which are due prior to lecture four.

1. Artist at Social Power Establisher
Art & Performance Communication - PBRL 3022 - Lecture Three
September 23, 2014
3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Seton 503, Mount Saint Vincent, Halifax, NS

2. Class Agenda - Lecture 3
A brief slideshow of the images in syllabus
Introduce: *Artistic symbolism is an effective power tool* and *Artists as designers of visual
power*
Detailed re-examination of a few of the most notable images of the height of portraiture
What would yours look like? Discuss the elements of your portrait
Discuss the rise of the “power portrait” as well as idea of patronage and the art collection as
symbols of status, wealth and power within society
Artist as powerful public communicator during the era of power portraits
Discuss the history and prominence of Da Vinci
We will also discuss the ability of the artist to “rewrite” history
Class discussion regarding the blog post assignment

3. Let’s look at the following
images and see what we
can share...

4. Image 1
Who is this?
Who is this?
What is their role?
What could you say about the era
they lived in?
What tells you when this was
painted?
What’s the purpose of this portrait?

5. Image 2 - Who am I?
Look at my clothes - what do they tell you? What story am I telling?
What is my role? What am I carrying?

6. Image 3
Who am I?
What is my place in history?
What am I trying to say with my
body language?
What’s the purpose of this portrait?

7. What does this mean?
Image 4
Why am I making this face?
What do the colours used in
this portrait say? Why were
they chosen?

8. Image 5 - Who’s the focus?
Look at my gesture and position - what story am I telling? What is my
role? What am I doing?

9. What is the theme here?
Artist as power establisher - How?
Body Language (stance, look, position of face)
Material possessions (crown jewels, expensive clothes
Background (lavish furnishings, mythical beauty)
Size of the painting (physically imposing, complex content
Historical references in the paintings (historical moment in time)
Semiotics and Symbolism (What colours are used? What things are added to
the portrait which seem odd?)

10. Elizabeth I
•First Tudor Queen
•Unmarried
•Had to establish a powerful image to
retain her throne
•Used what techniques?
Image 6
Image 7

11. Roderigo Borgias - Pope
Alexander VI
•Head of “The Original Crime Family”
•Priest with three acknowledged,
illegitimate children with a prostitute and
many concubines
•Killed for the papacy; waged “Holy War”
v.s. France
Image 1
Image 8

12. American Presidents
•They both are American leaders
•Both steered Americans to revolution
(independence and emancipation)
•What elements are used to exemplify their
glory?
•What is different in each portrait?
Image 9
Image 10

13. Power Portraits
What are Power Portraits?
What Semiotics and Symbolism are employed?
Setting: reinforces role, region, persona and title
Colour: indicates societal wealth, societal role and patron wealth
Pose: Profile, 3/4 profile, full body, half body, nature of the stance, body location, size within
portrait setting, angle they face others
Size: Physical size of the scene/portrait, additional family (hier apparent)
Clothing, objects & jewelry: embellishments, material type, colour, style, design, crowns,
jewels, swords, staffs, desk, writing materials, books, globes or maps, models, flowers etc.
Animals: dogs, horses, cats, birds (specifically the type), bears, lions, snakes, owls, etc.

14. What is this?
What do you see?
What are the symbols?
What are the signs?
Image 11

15. Image 3
Henry the VIII
Image 12

16. Image 13
Charles the First
Image 14

17. The proliferation of various subjects
matters but also the status of the artist
designing and executing your portraits.
Just like with present day designers - you
are wearing is important, who designed
your painting mattered.

18. Da Vinci - The Master
A man of many talents:
architect, inventor, author,
theorist and artist
In high demand - prolific
High status by all
demographics: religious,
political, monarchial and
received many patronages
Image 15

19. Image 16
Image 17

20. If you had a portrait
commissioned of you What would it look like?

21. Artists can increase and heighten your image
BUT
they can also detract from your established image
they can also detract from your established image
they can also detract from your established image

22. Image 18
Image 19

23. Image 20
Image 4
Image 21

24. Questions?

25. Let’s talk about your guest blog post
assignment..!

26. References:
Finn, J. M. (2012). Visual communication and culture: Images in action. Don Mills, On: Oxford University Press. 16-20.Henry VII: Patron ... or Plunderer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9ezB_J5Xq8 last accessed: November 17, 2013.
•West, S. (2004). Portraiture. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pages 21-41, 43-69, 71-103.King, J. N. (1989). Tudor royal iconography: Literature and art in an age of religious
crisis. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press. pages 13-22, 54,64, 118.String, T. C. (2008). Art and communication in the reign of Henry VIII. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.Kings of
Spain From the Catholic Monarchs to Juan Carlos I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAYwu5XQQh0 last accessed: November 17, 2013.The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBlGkTTol9E last accessed: November 17, 2013.History Channel: Henry the VIII: http://www.history.com/topics/henry-viii/videos#henry-viii last
accessed: November 17, 2013.History Channel: The Protestant Reformation: http://www.history.com/topics/henry-viii/videos#protestand-reformation-english-reformation last
accessed: November 17, 2013.The House of Habsburg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Habsburg and
http://www.traditioninaction.org/OrganicSociety/A_019_HumanTypes.html last accessed: November 17, 2013.Ivan the Terrible - biography: http://www.biography.com/people/ivanthe-terrible-9350679 and video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moltBmPc7Uc last accessed: November 17, 2013.She Wolves - England’s Early Queens: http
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Tpbkt2FgU last accessed: November 17, 2013.
•
Image references:
1. dell’Altissimo, Cristofano. (unknown date). Pope Alexander Vi. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_Alexander_Vi.jpg
2. Eworth, Hans. (1569).Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eworth_Elizabeth_I_and_the_Three_Goddesses_1569.jpg
3. Hans Holbein the Younger. (1536-37). Portrait of Henry VIII. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Henry_VIII
4. Vasnetsov, Viktor. (1897). Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vasnetsov_Ioann_4.jpg
5. Carpenter, F.B. (1864). Emancipation proclamation. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emancipation_proclamation.jpg
6. Artist unknown. (c. 1600). Elizabeth I in Coronation Robes. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_I_in_coronation_robes.jpg
7. Gower, George. (1588). Elizabeth I (Armanda Portrait). Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_I_%28Armada_Portrait%29.jpg
8. Titian. (1506-1511). Jacopo Pesaro being presented by Pope Alexander VI to Saint Peter. Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacopo_Pesaro_being_presented_by_Pope_Alexander_VI_to_Saint_Peter
9. Stuart, Gilbert. (1796). George Washington (Landsdowne Portrait). Retrieved from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gilbert_Stuart,_George_Washington_
%28Lansdowne_portrait,_1796%29.jpg
10. Healy, G.P.A. (1869). Abraham Lincoln. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_by_George_Peter_Alexander_Healy.jpg
11. Eyck, Jan van. (1434). The Arnolfini Portrait. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Eyck_-_Arnolfini_Portrait.jpg
12.Unknown. (1545). Family of Henry VIII. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Family_of_Henry_VIII_c_1545_detail.jpg
13. Dyke, Anthony van. (1636). Portrait of King Charles I in his robes of state. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:King_Charles_I_after_original_by_van_Dyck.jpg
14. Dyke, Anthony va. (1633). Charles I (1600-49) with M. de St Antoine. Retrieved from: http
://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anthony_van_Dyck_-_Charles_I_%281600-49%29_with_M._de_St_Antoine_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
15. Melzi, Francesco. (post 1510). Portrait of Leonardo. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_Melzi_-_Portrait_of_Leonardo_-_WGA14795.jpg
16. da Vinci, Leonardo. (1503-1506). Mona Lisa. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg
17. Melone, Altobello. (1500-1524). Cesare Borgia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cesareborgia.jpg
18. Unknown. (1520s). Portrait of Richard the III of England. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_III_earliest_surviving_portrait.jpg
19. Unknown. (late 1500s). King Richard III. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:King_Richard_III.jpg
20. Unknown. (1500’s). Ivan the Terrible. Retrieved from: http://www.ssqq.com/travel/images/russia2012x064.jpg
21. Repin, Iiya. (1885). Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16th, 1581. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:REPIN_Ivan_Terrible%26Ivan.jpg