Define a bottega and its function during the Renaissance.
A Bottega is a Italian word for a studio or a workshop and/or the assistants in the artists workshop. It was also used to identify an object made within the studio of a master when his assistants/students work on it appears to dominate his own.
Question 2.
Briefly outline the method of fresco secco painting. Illustrate if you wish.
Fresco secco painting was different from fresco painting in one aspect; fresco secco was done on dry plaster instead of wet plaster. A chemical reaction occurred as the plaster dried on the wall surfaces, which held the pigments to the surface. Unfortunately, fresco secco paintings tended to flake off over a period of time. In order to complete the process of fresco secco painting a wall had to be prepared with a undercoating of plaster. After the plaster dried the assistants would copy the composition with a red chalk like earth substance referred to as Sinopia. The paintings were done from the top to the bottom of the wall so if the art dripped it would fall onto unfinished parts of the painting. Assistants would cover one section at a time with a thin coat of plaster over the sinopia. The plaster did not set before the pigments mixed with water were painted on. .
Question 3.
Briefly describe the two major "patrons" that artists relied upon for their income and outline the iconography they required.
Two major patrons which artist relied on were the Church and the ruling/wealthy classes. .
Question 4.
Briefly discuss the first art historian and identify his writing.
The first art historian was a man by the name of Giorgio Vasari. He wrote the first important book on art history in 1550 named, Lives of the Painters, Sculptors, and Architects.
Question 5.
Briefly discuss the manner in which artists applied their drawings to the painting on gesso or plaster ground.
Artists applied their drawings to the gesso or plaster ground with a technique called Sinopia.