Leonardo da Vinci, Madonna and Child with Saint Anne and John the Baptist, 1499, Chalk, Charcoal on Paper

CHIAROSCURO: Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna and Child with Saint Anne and John the Baptist

Leonardo da Vinci, Madonna and Child with Saint Anne and John the Baptist, 1499, Chalk, Charcoal on Paper
Leonardo da Vinci, Madonna and Child with Saint Anne and John the Baptist, 1499, Chalk, Charcoal on Paper

Text by Vincent DeLuise Author, Educator, Musician at amusicalvision.blogspot.com, Cultural Ambassador, Waterbury Symphony Orchestra

Artist : Leonardo da Vinci

Title: Madonna and Child with Saint Anne and John the Baptist, also known as the Burlington House Cartoon.

Medium: Chalk, Charcoal on Paper, dimensions : 142 cm x 105 cm

Date: 1499, Collection : National Gallery, London

Chiaroscuro is one of the four canonical Renaissance painting techniques, the others being Cangiante, Sfumato and Unione.

When we hear the term Chiaroscuro, we usually respond with a knee-jerk association of that brilliant Baroque genius, Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi 1571-1610).

Yet, it is important to remember that chiaroscuro technique was understood and employed by artists working in the cinquecento, a hundred years before Caravaggio.

El Greco, Tintoretto, Parmigianino, Giorgione, and Leonardo da Vinci all used the technique of chiaroscuro in some of their works.

This exquisite drawing by Leonardo, known as the Burlington House Cartoon (cartoon = cartone, a type of preparatory drawing), is one of his splendid works of art. It is also a magnificent example of chiaroscuro.

Let’s parse the terms Chiaroscuro and Tenebrism (Tenebroso):

  • Chiaroscuro (italiano “chiaro-scuro” – “light-dark”)
  • Teneberism (italiano “tenebroso” – “murky”)

Chiaroscuro and tenebrism both relate to how light and shadow are used in a painting or drawing.

However, there is a theoretical difference between the two terms:

  • Chiaroscuro is a shading technique used to give two-dimensional objects a sense of relief and volume, which gives the illusion that they are three-dimensional solids.
  • Tenebrism (Tenebroso), in contrast, is a dark-light compositional technique by which some areas of the painting are kept dark (pitch black), and some areas are strongly illuminated by comparison, or spotlighted.

Tenebroso technique is used for effect, and for this reason it is sometimes called “dramatic illumination.” There is very little modelling involved: no attempt to give figures a sense of three-dimensionality.

Tenebrism is negative form, while the shading and shadow of Chiaroscuro contribute positive form.

Reference:

1) Chiaroscuro: Visual Arts Cork

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/painting/chiaroscuro.htm

2) Marcia Hall. Color and Meaning in the Renaissance.

Text by Vincent DeLuise Author, Educator, Musician at amusicalvision.blogspot.com, Cultural Ambassador, Waterbury Symphony Orchestra

art news insights with artaddict galleria

This article is published on ArtAddict Galleria, where we explore the intersections of art, history, and culture. Stay tuned for more insights and discoveries!

Related Articles