I've used this image regularly in my introduction to Visual Communication. There are aspects of the composition that are intriguing. The thing to point out is the placement of the groups of figures to the left and right of Venus in the centre. Mercury is far left and Zephyr to eh far right. This suggests that that painting is to be read as at least three episodes of a narrative. This introduces the relationship between framing, composition and time in the image.
Framing is important here on many levels. Not least in relation to the organisation of space and also in the representation of time in the image. It is intuitive for western viewers to assume that, as a consequence of habits of reading, that visual messages are to be read from left to right in a similar way as to the reading of a text. But the opposite is the case with the above image. If the experts are right, the image is a representation of Spring - the title really gives this away. Venus is presiding over her garden. To the left Chloris is being transformed into Flora - the goddess of flowers, having been raped by Zephyr. To the right of Venus are the three graces. Cupid overlooks the action above Venus. Mercury is idly poking clouds. The advent of springtime is indicated by zephyr - the west wind. The progress of spring by Chloris' transformation into Flora. Thus there are three distinctive episodes. Time in the still image. Crude but on the level of composition, very interesting.
No comments:
Post a Comment