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Ignudi (plural noun) From the Italian adjective nudo, meaning "naked."
When Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508 and 1512, he incorporated pairs of male nudes as pure decoration.
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Their purpose was to support the shields, ribbons and huge garlands that framed the major, central frescoes.
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Not everyone around the pope was thrilled with the figures because they (the male nudes) had no religious context and . . .
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. . . as you can see in my diagram, the 20 figures take up a considerable part of the design.
Michelangelo called his 20 figures "The Ignudi," and though he did not invent the word, he did — through this title — coin an art term. Countless artists like Annibale Carracci (whom I profiled in my last posting) also incorporated ignudi into their design schemes.
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This is an ignudi by Carracci, one of many that he included in the ceiling of the Farnese Gallery.
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These ignudi, by an earlier artist, are in another part of the Palazzo Farnese, in a room that served as the family boardroom. Here the ignudi are similar to the figures one sometimes sees on either side of a crest, below.
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| Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meaning | Ottfried Neubecker |
This is the 1701 coat of arms of the King of Prussia. When seen in heraldry, figures such as these wildmen are called "supporters."
But I digress. The first stage of my Carracci wall will be an ignudi, very loosely based on one of Carracci's own. I'll unveil that in the next posting.
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But I digress. The first stage of my Carracci wall will be an ignudi, very loosely based on one of Carracci's own. I'll unveil that in the next posting.
Hello Mark, I am looking forward to see how you will portray your ignudo. They seem to be a grown-up version of putti, and lend a strength and foundation to a composition, like those old figures of Atlas holding up the earth.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello, Jim,
DeleteThe interesting thing about the ignudi is that they add an extra dimension to the framing of the primary artwork, which is invariably architectural. They are in essence leading the viewer to believe that the main fresco is two-dimensional, and that its framing is three-dimensional.
Dear Mark - I can see that the ignudi will add extra depth and interest to the framework and look forward to seeing the results of your labour.
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary,
DeleteI'm imagining that the ignudi of my design will add volume to the base of the mural, and give a decidedly Renaissance flair to the small wall. We'll soon see if that happens!
Male nudes around can only be a good thing. My C19th drawing of Mercury
ReplyDeletehttp://corcol.blogspot.com/2013/10/linear-and-asymmetric.html
is much loved, and any others that are finely executed would be too.
There was a suggestion that Michelangelo's profusion of male nudes was a nod to the predominance of homosexuality at the Vatican; plus ca change. The recent discovery of a male sauna in one of the Vatican buildings seemed to underline that.
Hello, Columnist,
DeleteYour comment reminds me that you had a concern that your beautiful antique image of Mercury was getting flooded with natural light every morning. I hope that was resolved for you!
My own thought on the profusion of male nudes within the Sistine Chapel's ceiling was that Michelangelo had the strength of character to do what he darn well pleased, and that he was going to get more male nudes in there one way or another.
Dear Mark,
ReplyDeleteMale nudes and why not? Was it Michelangelo who secretly studied cadavers so that he could become familiar with the muscle structure of each part of the human figure. It is no wonder then that he wanted to paint what he had discovered and what his talent allowed him to do.
I'm especially intrigued by the Ignudi (learned a new word from you) by Carracci...so perfect, hands and feet especially. Hope to see this beautiful young man somewhere in your newly inspired Renaissance setting.
Dear Gina,
DeleteIt's my understanding that both Michelangelo and Leonardo studied cadavers, and did so at quite a risk, since it was illegal.
The mastery of Michelangelo is beyond dispute, but I have to say that Carracci's figures — both male and female — are much more appealing to the eye. Again, I think history has underrated Annibale Carracci.
Dear Mark, I agree with Gina and find the male figure a beautiful site to behold! Ignudi, I like that term.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
A New Gallery in Town!
Dear Karena, I confess that the term is new to me also. The Pompeii Room has taken me in many new directions! xoxo
DeleteThis article should be of interest to you:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3004498/Italy-shows-restored-Pompeii-villa-EU-deadline-looms.html
Thank you so much for this article from the Daily Mail. Our local paper covered the story, but without these rich photographs!
DeleteI didn't know the word: Ignudi. Always wonderful to learn at Ruffnerian School. Or should that be Atelier Ruffnerian?? Can't wait to see your rendition. Cheers
ReplyDeleteHi, Loi,
DeleteI think you will be amused by the production. You'll be seeing some interesting stages.
I can't wait to see the progress on this Mark!
ReplyDeleteHi, Theresa — It's going to look more Renaissance than Pompeian, but it will be a good complement to the rest of the mural . . .
ReplyDeleteIgnudi = plural. Ingnudo = singular.
ReplyDeleteI'm publishing your comment because I think it's of value, but I wish you had the courage to be something other than "Anonymous."
Delete