OBJECTIVES OF INTERPRETATION |
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| 1Primary or Natural SUBJECT MATTER
a) factual b) expressional constituting the world of artistic motifs |
2 Secondary or Conventional subject matter
constituting the world of images, stories, and allegories |
3 Intrinsic meaning or Content
constituting the world of "symbolical" values |
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ACTS OF INTERPRETATION |
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| 1 Iconographic ANALYSIS
(and Pseudo Formal) |
2 Iconographic INTERPRETATION
in the narrower sense of the world |
3 Iconographic INTERPRETATION
(Iconographic synthesis) in a deeper sense |
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EQUIPMENT FOR INTERPRETATION |
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| 1 PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
familiarity with objects, processes and events |
2 KNOWLEDGE
of literary SOURCES and IDEAS familiarity with specific themes and concepts |
3 INTUITION
familiarity with essential tendencies of the human mind conditioned by personal psychology and feeling of the time |
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CONTROLLING PRINCIPLE OF INTERPRETATION |
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| 1 HISTORY of STYLE
insights into the manner in which, under varying historic conditions, objects and events were expressed by form |
2 HISTORY of TYPES
insight into the manner in which, under varying historic conditions, specific themes and concepts were expressed by objects or events |
3 HISTORY of CULTURAL SYMPTOMS or SYMBOLS
in general (insight into the the manner in which, under varying historical conditions, essential tendencies of the human mind were expressed by specific themes and concepts |
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Analysis Leonardo's Last Supper: PRIMARY OF NATURAL SUBJECT MATTER The world of pure forms that work as carriers for conventional meaning FACTUAL 1) Pure forms: line (contour), shapes, structure, color, tonality, fresco... 2) OBJECTS and EVENTS: 13 men, plates, bread, partially eaten food men at table placed in room with landscape visible through windows EXPRESSIONAL QUALITIES Calm expression on central figure, all others seem to be in high emotional states. Strong gestures by individual figures. Chiaroscuro * plane construction of space * linear tactile use of tools to disciple form * closed form SECONDARY OR CONVENTIONAL SUBJECT MATTER The world of images, stories and allegories "subject matter" in the narrow sense of common usage." 13 figures at dinner table in a certain arrangement and in certain poses represent the "Last Supper." Literary source: THE BIBLE INTRINSIC MEANING OR CONTENT is apprehended by ascertaining those underlying principles which reveal the basic attitude of a nation, a period, a class, a religious or philosophical persuasion unconsciously qualified by one personality and condensed into one work MICRO VIEW *The LAST SUPPER is a document of Leonardo's personality, of the Italian Renaissance, of a religious point of view. *Leonardo chose the moment that Christ announces the treachery of one of the disciples. Is this moment particular to Leonardo or the Renaissance or both? It is not imminent in the transformation symbolism of this event. MACRO VIEW *Mystery of the Lord's supper, the Eucharist and transformation symbolism. * Legends of the Holy Grail * Biblical symbolism (John 6:26-51 * Uroboros (the sacrificer sacrificed) * Huitzilopochtli - Aztec God - god represented as dough figure eaten * Mithric bull sacrifice -fertility right meal of bread marked with crosses.