Last chance for Medieval & Renaissance art in Dallas

[DonaCatalina]

Exhibit ends July 27
We're going this morning to see art of the middle ages and renaissance Spain. I hope to get a closer look at some portraits I've only seen online.
Details of clothing seen up close in portraits has amazed me in the past by how different it comes across in person as opposed to a photo.

[operafantomet]

Exhibit ends July 27
We're going this morning to see art of the middle ages and renaissance Spain. I hope to get a closer look at some portraits I've only seen online.
Details of clothing seen up close in portraits has amazed me in the past by how different it comes across in person as opposed to a photo.

I know! It's like the details just jumps toward you. I love that. Drop us some words on how the exhibition was, will you?

[DonaCatalina]

I wish I could fins a full length version of this online. Alessandro Farnese

The painting is very clear in detail overall. The panes on the slops are a cream colored silk that match his slashed court slippers.
What looks orangey in this photo on the panes is actual very heavy gold bullion embroidery which is also on the codpiece. Under the armor he wear a doublet that matches the slops. The edge of the color is visible with its cream color and gold embroidery. The lining under the panes is a bright white which is obviously its own seperate layer and not attached to individual outer panes. The edges of the armor are trimmed in what appears to be red satin that has been pinked.
Isabella Clar Eugenia

It is heard to imagine the density of pearls on this dress until you see it from 6" away. Anything on this dress that is not shiny satin or red embroidery is pearled. Tiny pearls framed in gold bullion barely as big as apple seeds up to pearls the size of grapes. And the pearls used are a mixture of white and black pearls set in designs. The right arm shows just a hint of a completely defferent sleeve underneath which makes me believe that it might be the same dress as this one with pearls added.
Quite of few of the other pieces were altar pieces. You could pick out the donors by the patterned gold fabric of their clothing. Seen closeup the gold was a layer of gilding where the patterns were stippled in by hand and on accasion layers of paint over the gold. Some pieces on loan from the Prado were already gone but it was an impressive collection nonetheless.

[Anna Iram]

Oh my gosh I would LOVE to see an exhibit like that! Yes you are right, seeing clothing in person is so much different.  I wish we had something of the sort in the Tampa area. 

[gem]

How wonderful! On our recent visit to St. Louis, we were delighted to find that their museum of fine arts has a marvelous collection of very well-known Renaissance art--including Holbein's portrait of Lady Mary Guildford, as well as portraits by Ambrosius Benson and Jean Clouet!

So if you're in even a smaller metro area, it might be worth checking out your local art museums; fine Renaissance art might be closer than you expect! (The Des Moines Art Institute, for instance, has quite a nice collection of Durer engravings.)

[CenturiesSewing]

Anna the only thing that comes to mind for Ren era art is the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. I've only been there once but enjoyed it a great deal. The 16th century miniatures made of wax were my favorite thing followed by the huge painting of Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain. 

[DonaCatalina]

Oh my gosh I would LOVE to see an exhibit like that! Yes you are right, seeing clothing in person is so much different.  I wish we had something of the sort in the Tampa area. 

Too bad the Tampa Art Museum appears to focus on modern art almost exclusively.
This was one we saw at the Meadows.

1590's and wearing big black spectacles. His sleeve appears to unbutton all the way down even though it is shown open only at the elbow. The edge is piped or whip stitched in non-metalllic gold with cloth covered buttons that match the piping.

[operafantomet]

This was one we saw at the Meadows.
http://www.arttrans.com.ua/imageproduct/1148/Ribera_Jusepe_de_Portrait_of_the_Knight_of_Santiago_Order_print_b.jpg
1590's and wearing big black spectacles. His sleeve appears to unbutton all the way down even though it is shown open only at the elbow. The edge is piped or whip stitched in non-metalllic gold with cloth covered buttons that match the piping.

Makes me wonder if the elbow area is the only area with actually functioning buttons, while the other ones only are mockups (like some modern blazer cuffs)?

[operafantomet]

I wish I could fins a full length version of this online. Alessandro Farnese
http://www.corbisimages.com/images/67/81AD270F-F960-4674-B9AC-938399DDCF25/CS002674.jpg
The painting is very clear in detail overall. The panes on the slops are a cream colored silk that match his slashed court slippers.
What looks orangey in this photo on the panes is actual very heavy gold bullion embroidery which is also on the codpiece. Under the armor he wear a doublet that matches the slops. The edge of the color is visible with its cream color and gold embroidery. The lining under the panes is a bright white which is obviously its own seperate layer and not attached to individual outer panes. The edges of the armor are trimmed in what appears to be red satin that has been pinked.

Did they explain his relevance to Spain and Spanish art? It's definitely not THE Alessandro Farnese (cardinal and son of pope Paul III), but I'm suspecting it might be this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Farnese,_Duke_of_Parma_and_Piacenza

He was governor of Spanish Netherlands, and both theme and style wise it seems to fit with the portrait you posted. But if you can confirm it or add further info it would be cool! I've dealt a lot with the Farnese family in my studies, but my interest has sorta stopped in the 1580's, with the death of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. He was a cool guy, though.

And thanks for the details on his outfit. Makes me wanna dig out one I took detailed photos of in Copenhagen. To come...

[DonaCatalina]

No its definitely not the Cardinal. I knew he was the grandson of Carlos I (albeit illegitimite) and a great friend of Don Juan de Austria who was his uncle. (Don Juan being another illigitimate but acknowldeged son of Carlos I.)
A contemporary portrait of Alessandro is below showing him in very similar clothes.

[Anna Iram]

Love this ensemble. Such an unusual pattern in the cloak. I'll bet the textures of this painting in person would make you want to reach out and touch it.  

Dona, I did just a bit of looking for that full length portrait, and I find so many are cut off at the leg. I wonder why sites don't show the entire painting? Odd.

Yes ,Tampa does not have a great museum for period paiting, though CenturiesSewing (I'm sorry! I've forgotten your real name.) is right and there is a very nice collection at The Ringling. A favorite place to visit. I don't recall the miniatures. How could I have missed them? Guess I need to have another wander through soon!