Saturday, September 29, 2012


This portrait was called Holy Trinity which was painted by Masaccio between 1424-1427. It is a Fresco in Santa Maria Novella, Florence, which is a masterwork of Masaccio. It is great example of applying mathematics to the depiction of space by painting the composition on two levels of unequal height. The crucified christ is in the middle and Mary and Saint John appear on either side. God emerges from the back and is supporting the arms of the cross. It appears God is presenting his son to the worshipper. Also there is dove of the Holy spirit between god's head and christ's head. In the portrait, there is a tomb containing a skeleton above which it is inscribed in italian, "I was once what you are, and what I am you will become." The inscription above the skeleton is so true, and it reminds the spectator the reality of life. The vanishing point of the painting is at the foot of cross. It is about 5 feet above the floor level, which pulls the two views, Trinity and Tomb, together. It creates an illusion of real structure transecting the wall's plane. The illusion is created by projecting the tomb forward into the church whereas the chapel subsides visually behind the wall and appears as an extension of spectator's space. The painting powerfully conveys on of the central tenets of Christian faith. 

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