For the gallery report assignment, I went with my class to the Art Gallery of Ontario, located in Downtown Toronto (317 Dundas Street West) on Thursday, November 6th, 2014. The main reason to visit the AGO was to look at a particular exhibition, related to our drawing course – Michelangelo: Quest for Genius, along with other works being displayed there. The first work that will be critiqued is one of the works from the Michelangelo exhibition titled: Cleopatra, which is a sketch of her circa 1534 by Michelangelo himself. In this particular sketch, he uses line to draw the portrait of her, along with value to add shadow, depth, and detail in this work. Space and shape are used in this work, because the positive shape is Cleopatra and the negative space is the space that surrounds her. This drawing is also uses form to make the drawing look 3-Dimensional on a 2-Dimensional surface. To describe this work using the principles of design, balance is used, specifically asymmetrical balance, because Cleopatra is slightly tilting her head and her posture is facing three-quarters from us. Cleopatra's face is the main focal point of this work, and so this brings emphasis into it. There is rhythm because a lot of curves are present in this drawing, especially on her face, hair and the on the snakes. The snakes bring out variety/harmony in this piece. From here, Michelangelo demonstrates how he viewed the perception of beauty back in the Renaissance period. Michelangelo drew her this way, because he presumably thought that Cleopatra had the same beauty standards as women in the Renaissance period. For example, Michelangelo drew her with braided hair and a long neck. It is amazing that a work from one of the most famous artists in history have their work being displayed at the Art Gallery of Ontario. .
The second work that will be critiqued is a piece from the Suzy Lake exhibition, also being held at the AGO.
