The skull is an anamorphosis, created with mathematics. I wrote my final essay in high school about maths in paintings, including anamorphosis. It is really interesting! This skull was probably made with a mathematical grid. You can find lots of literature about anamorphosis and the maths behind it in old books from the renessaince. Another kind of anamorphosis uses mirrors, which is even way more complicated. But so interesting!
WOW!! I'd never even heard of such a thing as anamorphosis/math before. Your comment is astounding. I'm going to look into this in the next few days while I'm on vacation. Thanks ever so much for the really interesting comment.
Thx, J-sope, from a bit of a math-nerd myself (allbeit way past his prime on that score!). But I also wonder if it might have been done with an actual visual rig? Paint a skull onto glass, then project slanting sunlight through it (perhaps via a few lenses) and then simply trace the resultant image onto a parchment laid on the floor. Not to suggest you are wrong, but just to widen the thought-experiment.
I was at an art gallery tonight and was constantly thinking about what you would say about the pieces, look at the details and stuff haha, really had an impact on me
@@catseatcookiessofiagacha5210 hahaha It's the typical BOT Spam comment, although, usually there is a barrage soon following, as in immediately. This is a one off from what I'm used to seeing. Perhaps this BOT has ticked off all the other Bot Spammers 🤣 They do get tiresome, don't they.
Yes! This is another aspect of this channel I'm starting to appreciate. Art Deco is slowly (me being slow on the uptake) teaching me how to approach paintings, how to think about context and presentation. Learning more here than a semester's worth of Art History.
I love how this channel went from less than 1000 views making background content to absolutely breaking the algorithm by tickling everyone’s lizard brain with the most interesting titles possible and ACTUALLY delivering on the content. You deserve all the success. More power to you
yup, you explained the viral videos nowadays. they tickled the lizard brain. but instead of making gross contents like those pimple popping videos, they actually delivered good content.
I want to say , i always find your presentations entertaining and highly informative. You dont make the puns , jokes , whatever too long or self absorbed as i find in other videos. I learn a lot from watching your videos and want to thank you for the hard work you put into them.
My father has a coffee table book of a bunch of masterpiece art that I grew up with and now getting to see your breakdowns of these gorgeous pieces I would fawn over in these books is just so amazing thank you!
How cool, now you have a completely new, IN DEPTH perspective of it!! Like getting a new present. Hope you thoroughly enjoy that book now, even more. EDIT ~ Now that I've re-read your comment I realise this book was part of your childhood. I hope the book is still in your family and you can enjoy it again.
We had a set of encyclopaedias on top of the piano (ah the old days!) in my mum and dad's house. One of them was devoted to great artists When I was young I must have spent hours fascinated by the pictures and the life stories of the artists. Along with visits to galleries it has given me a life long appreciation of painting and sculpture.
When I was ten, me and my family had a three day vacation to London. I didn't speak english yet at the time. We all visited the National Gallery there and when we came in front of the painting we didn't understand what the thing on the floor was. A nice old lady was on the side of the painting and noticed our concerned faces, looking really hard at the thing. She asked my parents if she could show me and my little brother the solution and then pulled gently me next to her. The little ten years old me was excided about the cool skull that appeared. I remember that day with a smile. I'm happy to see more about that painting again in this video. Also, really nice way to look at all the details!
Your voice sounds so young yet you're a wealth of knowledge regarding art and history. Much respect! I very much enjoy your analyses of these beautiful paintings.
Given the wealth of symbols and details in this magnificent painting, I have to smile at your suggestion that Holbein had to rush the portrait of the two men as an explanation for their bland expression. I am sure there must be some deeper meaning. Holbein was such a genius we could spend a full hour trying to decode all the hidden messages, including the skull’s so bizarre aspect. How do you think Holbein managed to paint it? It is really something unique.
It's so perfect that it would require some type of optics. He probably painted the skull normally and then used a camera obscura technique with mirrors angled to stretch and project it onto the canvas, giving it the warped perspective trick.
As French Catholics, I suspect that bland expressions were the Ambassadorial response to what the Church of England meant to the further division of Christendom.
The deeper meaning is that to see the skull and thus understand the metaphor it represented one had to first bow to the cross physically. That deeper meaning is lost to us today with all our technology. It would have been obvious to everyone in the past when viewing the painting in person.
Hans Holbine was such an amazing artist. And through my interest in the Royal Tudor dynasty, I've become familiar with his portraits and sketches and they never cease to astonish me for how beautiful and detailed they are. And thank you for the wonderful videos you post and all of your attention to detail as well. You put a great deal of research into the subject at hand and it shows.
I never found any interest in paintings, until I found your channel. It's so great! Please go on and give us all more insight into this incredible stuff.
Everything about this channel is top notch: the history, the art, the background, the depth, and of course, your lovely voice is just the cherry on top!
I am the furthest person you think would ever be interested in art, but you explore these paintings and interpret them incredibly that I have literally become obsessed and binged all your videos 😂❤ keep up the great work im absolutely loving it
one of the rare times I have actually seen the painting in person already and knew the history before seeing your video! your analysis makes me want to go back to the National Gallery and see it again...!
Waldemar Januszczak went deep on Hans Holbein in an art documentary I saw on TH-cam. The whole chapter in history, and where Holbein fits into it, is so juicy and dramatic! Cromwell, Catherine of Aragon, The Boleyns, The Tudor line, the bizarre ideas they had while religious persecution sculpted the facts... I finally think history is fun! Great Video... THANKS... These dark dives into art are FASCINATING!
And a Big THANK YOU to you too for sharing the info for those of us who thoroughly enjoy art and history. I'm going to mosey on over to that TH-cam channel and learn some new stuff. 💛
@@Julia-uh4li Hey, that's great! If anybody else is wondering exactly which video I was referring to, it's here ~~> th-cam.com/video/cWGvPjNPo1U/w-d-xo.html
@@SaraRankins. That looked pretty cool. I had no clue it even existed. If it helps certain kids get into history, that's great! As a former Vocal Music major, you would think I'd DIE for that sort of thing haha Instead, I went so hard on musicals in high school, that I blew my taste buds out for them (so to speak). Now I stare confused and feel embarrassed haha Bizarre
How wild it must have been for Holbein to capture the images of all these people who passed through the court, many of them condemned to brutal deaths. Capturing someone’s likeness is a really intimate process and I imagine he must have felt some weight of knowing what happened to a lot of his sitters.
Your channel has become one of my favorites. You do a really good job of explaining the history, time period, biography, painting and symbolism in a way that people who know nothing about art can understand and appreciate. And I love your sense of humor!
@@Art_Deco I have a question. When you showed the cross hidden behind the curtain did you notice what looked like a half of a demonic face in the curtain pattern from the area right of it. It's probably just me. I often see something that resembles an animal or face in patterns or objects.
Ya know, I came for the illusion, I stayed for the History lesson, thank you for this! This is such an awesome way to present Art History and World History!
This is a really interesting painting. The details are very impressive. Also, I very much appreciate how even when religious symbolism and divisions are portrayed in a painting, you present it in a historical and informative way that feels unbiased and sticks to the facts of the matter. Thank you.
I discovered your channel quite recently. I find it quite jubilant and like the way you use your voice in such a typical manner to share your knowledge. Never boring. About this painting : Anamorphic technic was not unknown and actually lots of people could device what this "cuttlefish bone" was. There is another anamorphic portrait, King Edward VI, attributed to William Scrots in the National Portrait Library.
Another great video- thanks! I remember this piece (and the skull) very clearly from a discussion of it in John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" (one of the best books I read in college). He went into detail (sorry) about the ability of oil painting to richly capture all the "stuff" Europeans of this time suddenly had available. I don't remember him getting into all the small bits you uncovered here, and that's something I really appreciate in this video, and in your others. Thank you, and please keep it up!
I agree 100%. I saw the TV series "ways of seeing" when it was first broadcast,(1972) and I was so impressed I bought the book. Every chapter is gold. Berger's insights were groundbreaking for the time, and still hold true today. Till I saw that show, I had been brought up on Kenneth Clark's art history TV series "Civilization"(plus having the huge coffee table book of his series) so up till then I had only been exposed to the traditional conservative Academic interpretation of art. Berger's take on art was shockingly radical, and he ruffled many feathers in the Art Establishment. But he was the one who made it acceptable, even essential, to view the art of previous eras free of the lens of centuries-old doctrines and aesthetic correctness. He held those long-accepted interpretations up to scrutiny, tossed them aside and encouraged viewers to trust their instincts. His approach was raw, honest and filled with humanity. Anyone who is interested in art appreciation MUST watch the series ( it's on YT) where in the first few seconds he appears to be cutting a very famous painting out of its hung frame on a gallery wall with a Stanley knife! Gripping stuff -- and every episode is equally as good.
An excellent analysis, thanks! I have known about the skull since childhood but had no idea there were so many other fascinating, symbolic, and exquisitely rendered details.
last week in class we were discussing visual representation of life and death in art, and one girl mentioned The Arnolfini Portrait and "the pregnant woman in the green dress symbolizing life." I whispered to my colleague that the woman's not pregnant and that I know this because I watched video analyses of that piece. The professor proceeded then to mention this particular painting, The Ambassadors and the skull, and then you posted the analysis of that just a few days later... I'm just slightly creeped out 😂😂
This such an amazing painting. In my Art History class, it was presented & explained as a Vanitas painting. You definitely gave more detailed information on the backstory of this piece than my Art History teacher did. It was just another slide we had to memorize...
I was just checking your channel for more interesting art videos and low and behold, you uploaded one 15 minutes ago. Honestly, the way you explain these paintings make them so interesting to hear, keep going!
I saw this gorgeous painting on a trip to London, and had the great good fortune to have a Gallery guide explain it - thank you for adding to my appreciation and understanding of this work via your excellent video
Unbelievable. Wholly unbelievable.. What art and what an exceptional artistic capacity of the painter. Thank you for clarifying the entire story behind this art piece.
I love learning about the background items artists use (or did not use, in some cases). Once you laid out what they all were, it made sense, and made it even more interesting to look at.
If i had seen this painting in a museum - or anywhere at all - i would have looked at it for a minute and then moved on. I would never have noticed all of those intricate details you have highlighted on this video post. This is truly an amazing painting and i thank you for enlightening me about it.!!
Everything about this piece is quite stunning, the intricate details of each trinket, the warped skull at the center, the tired yet friendly aura that Dinteville and Selve give off, and the random Stussy S on that rug's design that really makes me question the origins of that thing.
Wow. Vietnam style flashbacks. My music teacher in middle school presented this piece to the class and asked if there was anything weird about it. No one noticed anything, but i raised my hand and asked what the "smudge" was. Never seen a teacher so happy in my life since lol
“The Ambassador’s” is one of my all time favorite paintings I learned about in Art History. Momento Mori and the geometrical concepts at that time were really thought provoking.
I remember seeing this painting in person in London some 20+ years ago and having an expert talk about it. I was so fascinated. So it was such a joy to hear about its story once again after all these years. Amazing channel, thank you. Keep up the wonderful work.
i remember seeing this painting on a school trip a few years ago and our tour guide telling us all about it. i didn't realise how amazing it was until now. thank you sm for this video
THANK-YOU! This painting blew my mind when I first saw (a reproduction of) it, 30 years ago - in class at Uni, from one of my English Lit. Professors (excellent teacher!) in one of our tutorials. He held it up, and just asked us what we saw .... my 1st guess was 'a paint brush' lol But after 5-10 minutes I saw it (about ½ of us spotted it.) I've never forgotten it, and always been mind blown by the sheer skill of it. I will NEVER understand how he pulled off that perspective, and distortion, 500 years ago! Thank-you so much for highlighting this painting!! 💜
Art Deco, I cannot tell you how much I love your videos. Overall they are very informative (educational), engaging and fun to watch. But, ....BUT,.... your narration is the best! Love your voice modulation and how you pepper your dialogue with very well placed sarcasm. You are so clever and witty. I wish you would do physics material as well. (another favorite of mine).
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The painting was finished in a rush and yet it's so detailed and exquisite! I wonder how the men portrayed here, particularly the man who commissioned the painting felt about it.
@@Art_Deco Then my work here is done. 🙂 Btw, I really enjoy your channel. I am a scientist by my education and self-taught as a fiction writer -- but historical art is one of the gaps in my knowledge, something I wish I knew more about, but there are only so many hours in the day and in life. So I really enjoy and appreciate compressed educational videos like yours, that explain the details I wouldn't pick up on my own.
I still remember vividly the moment when our art teacher revealed to us the skull. She made us guess for a long 30 minutes and nobody could figure it out ! Excellent video 👏👏👏 I enjoy your sense of humor. 😂
Love your videos. The narration (your voice in particular), the humor, the history and facts presented - everything creates perfect blend of entertainment and knowledge.
...you are turning paintings into walks through literary, historical, social and religious landscapes! ...i find your 'painting tours' on another level. unfolding a multi layered wondrous world through painting/art in a beautifully nuanced way- with a voice made for this! (the script is german!...so they were worshipping in german , liaising in french, and communicating in english?- they were more EEC than now😆).
As an old codger in my mid 70's I am always surprised how much there is to learn and never really took a detailed look into early paintings. This has also taught me that knowledge does not need to be associated with an older voice.
The voice explaining this amazing piece did a wonderful job, the part she said "Take a second to see this detail" gives me satisfaction. 🙂 Interesting video, thanks for sharing.
I know this is a visual art channel but just a quick note about words. IMPOSSIBLE means not-possible. Can't be done. Since the illusion was accomplished it was entirely possible, all along. _Remarkable, challenging, stunning, excellent._ All perfectly good superlatives for this work. Other than that, well done on another -impossible- superlative video. ;)
Insane how these paintings have such fine detail..this era of paintings were described as realist paintings which were mysterious as to how the paintings could be so detailed to where they think the paintings could have been made in another way. Like a camera
I’ve always seen the skull, and whenever I see this painting I love just how surreal it is and makes me feel. It looks like some old computer render. I love this painting.
I absolutely adore your videos!! I love learning about the hidden meanings behind paintings! I was wondering if you would ever do this one painting, where it was a portrait of a woman with an owl on her shoulder. From what I learned from my professor, back then, owls meant idiocy, meaning the painter was calling this woman an idiot. Does that ring a bell to you? It's a painting I enjoy
It's hard for me to believe how difficult it was for folk to realize it was a skull. It took me only a glance to immediately see it ; perhaps, people then hadn't the visual library of one who grew up in the age of media how we did. I think this is relationship is analogous to comparing the performances of neural networks ; one receiving much training, and the other receiving less.
I encountered this painting some years ago, in a magazine called 'Fortean Times'. this magazine covered, and covers, a wide range of phenomena, from UFOs to bizarre news stories, stopping off at cryptozoology and many other topics along the way. There was a whole article on this painting, which includec a wonderful A4 size picture of the artwork, along with details of all the hidden symbology, including the skull. Try as I might, wiggling and tilting the page, I could never get a proper view of the skull. So I'm really glad you'vedone so_ at last, after so long, I can actually see what it really looks like!
The skull is an anamorphosis, created with mathematics. I wrote my final essay in high school about maths in paintings, including anamorphosis. It is really interesting! This skull was probably made with a mathematical grid. You can find lots of literature about anamorphosis and the maths behind it in old books from the renessaince. Another kind of anamorphosis uses mirrors, which is even way more complicated. But so interesting!
WOW!! I'd never even heard of such a thing as anamorphosis/math before. Your comment is astounding. I'm going to look into this in the next few days while I'm on vacation. Thanks ever so much for the really interesting comment.
Renaissance paintings were mathematical masterpieces; their precision in balance of perspective has always fascinated me.
You just blew my mind!!! That is so amazing, how art and math can marry in this technique!!
Super interesting!
Thx, J-sope, from a bit of a math-nerd myself (allbeit way past his prime on that score!). But I also wonder if it might have been done with an actual visual rig? Paint a skull onto glass, then project slanting sunlight through it (perhaps via a few lenses) and then simply trace the resultant image onto a parchment laid on the floor. Not to suggest you are wrong, but just to widen the thought-experiment.
I was at an art gallery tonight and was constantly thinking about what you would say about the pieces, look at the details and stuff haha, really had an impact on me
@Patrickkim WTF?
@@catseatcookiessofiagacha5210 hahaha It's the typical BOT Spam comment, although, usually there is a barrage soon following, as in immediately. This is a one off from what I'm used to seeing. Perhaps this BOT has ticked off all the other Bot Spammers 🤣 They do get tiresome, don't they.
Good for you
Man you got so many ups because you’re a bot and that pretty sad.
Yes! This is another aspect of this channel I'm starting to appreciate. Art Deco is slowly (me being slow on the uptake) teaching me how to approach paintings, how to think about context and presentation. Learning more here than a semester's worth of Art History.
The amount of details and symbolism in this painting is insane! And the skull, it’s incredible 😮 It's truly super skilled artist…
There's even the S symbol on the painting
I love how this channel went from less than 1000 views making background content to absolutely breaking the algorithm by tickling everyone’s lizard brain with the most interesting titles possible and ACTUALLY delivering on the content.
You deserve all the success. More power to you
condsider my lizard brain tickled
yup, you explained the viral videos nowadays. they tickled the lizard brain. but instead of making gross contents like those pimple popping videos, they actually delivered good content.
334√=}thlieker
Username checks out lol
Lizard brains would not be interested in Paradise, btw...🙏❤✨
I want to say , i always find your presentations entertaining and highly informative. You dont make the puns , jokes , whatever too long or self absorbed as i find in other videos. I learn a lot from watching your videos and want to thank you for the hard work you put into them.
This is the only art channel like this that I watch and honestly it's because of the way she talks about it.
My father has a coffee table book of a bunch of masterpiece art that I grew up with and now getting to see your breakdowns of these gorgeous pieces I would fawn over in these books is just so amazing thank you!
How cool, now you have a completely new, IN DEPTH perspective of it!! Like getting a new present. Hope you thoroughly enjoy that book now, even more.
EDIT ~ Now that I've re-read your comment I realise this book was part of your childhood. I hope the book is still in your family and you can enjoy it again.
We had a set of encyclopaedias on top of the piano (ah the old days!) in my mum and dad's house. One of them was devoted to great artists When I was young I must have spent hours fascinated by the pictures and the life stories of the artists. Along with visits to galleries it has given me a life long appreciation of painting and sculpture.
When I was ten, me and my family had a three day vacation to London. I didn't speak english yet at the time.
We all visited the National Gallery there and when we came in front of the painting we didn't understand what the thing on the floor was. A nice old lady was on the side of the painting and noticed our concerned faces, looking really hard at the thing. She asked my parents if she could show me and my little brother the solution and then pulled gently me next to her. The little ten years old me was excided about the cool skull that appeared. I remember that day with a smile.
I'm happy to see more about that painting again in this video. Also, really nice way to look at all the details!
Your voice sounds so young yet you're a wealth of knowledge regarding art and history. Much respect! I very much enjoy your analyses of these beautiful paintings.
I think it's a voiceover.
channels like these typically consist of a team that create and revise the script for each video
I find it so crazy how these old paintings are so realistic
I love how you always have an understanding of the historical background before you analyze. Very nice video!
Given the wealth of symbols and details in this magnificent painting, I have to smile at your suggestion that Holbein had to rush the portrait of the two men as an explanation for their bland expression. I am sure there must be some deeper meaning. Holbein was such a genius we could spend a full hour trying to decode all the hidden messages, including the skull’s so bizarre aspect. How do you think Holbein managed to paint it? It is really something unique.
It's so perfect that it would require some type of optics. He probably painted the skull normally and then used a camera obscura technique with mirrors angled to stretch and project it onto the canvas, giving it the warped perspective trick.
As French Catholics, I suspect that bland expressions were the Ambassadorial response to what the Church of England meant to the further division of Christendom.
"I am weary, melancholy, the most wearisome weary ambassador..." looks to me like they really DON'T wanna be there.🤷🏻♀️
The deeper meaning is that to see the skull and thus understand the metaphor it represented one had to first bow to the cross physically. That deeper meaning is lost to us today with all our technology. It would have been obvious to everyone in the past when viewing the painting in person.
Yes I agree. To say the painting is rushed at all shocked me
Hans Holbine was such an amazing artist. And through my interest in the Royal Tudor dynasty, I've become familiar with his portraits and sketches and they never cease to astonish me for how beautiful and detailed they are. And thank you for the wonderful videos you post and all of your attention to detail as well. You put a great deal of research into the subject at hand and it shows.
Is that the guy that Six song was about? The guy who did a lot of portraits for royalty.
@@DeathnoteBByes, that's him xd
*Holbein
I never found any interest in paintings, until I found your channel. It's so great! Please go on and give us all more insight into this incredible stuff.
Everything about this channel is top notch: the history, the art, the background, the depth, and of course, your lovely voice is just the cherry on top!
I am the furthest person you think would ever be interested in art, but you explore these paintings and interpret them incredibly that I have literally become obsessed and binged all your videos 😂❤ keep up the great work im absolutely loving it
Hi Sara I'm also Sara
@@SaraRankins. 😂😂 hello there Sara
one of the rare times I have actually seen the painting in person already and knew the history before seeing your video! your analysis makes me want to go back to the National Gallery and see it again...!
Waldemar Januszczak went deep on Hans Holbein in an art documentary I saw on TH-cam. The whole chapter in history, and where Holbein fits into it, is so juicy and dramatic!
Cromwell, Catherine of Aragon, The Boleyns, The Tudor line, the bizarre ideas they had while religious persecution sculpted the facts... I finally think history is fun!
Great Video... THANKS... These dark dives into art are FASCINATING!
And a Big THANK YOU to you too for sharing the info for those of us who thoroughly enjoy art and history. I'm going to mosey on over to that TH-cam channel and learn some new stuff. 💛
@@Julia-uh4li Hey, that's great! If anybody else is wondering exactly which video I was referring to, it's here ~~>
th-cam.com/video/cWGvPjNPo1U/w-d-xo.html
You should watch six the musical
@@SaraRankins. That looked pretty cool. I had no clue it even existed. If it helps certain kids get into history, that's great!
As a former Vocal Music major, you would think I'd DIE for that sort of thing haha Instead, I went so hard on musicals in high school, that I blew my taste buds out for them (so to speak).
Now I stare confused and feel embarrassed haha Bizarre
How wild it must have been for Holbein to capture the images of all these people who passed through the court, many of them condemned to brutal deaths. Capturing someone’s likeness is a really intimate process and I imagine he must have felt some weight of knowing what happened to a lot of his sitters.
The crucifix and the illusion skull the broken loom, the details are just spectacular.
Used to be obsessed with this painting when I was younger, thanks for covering it.
Thanks! Dynamite videos. I'm hoping I sense your personality through the narration and editing. Both are fantastic. Take my money.
Wow! Thank you so much. It means a lot!
Your channel has become one of my favorites. You do a really good job of explaining the history, time period, biography, painting and symbolism in a way that people who know nothing about art can understand and appreciate. And I love your sense of humor!
As always, an amazing and intricate video! So much historical details. Love your job, love the edition, the information and the funny references.
You’re so kind, Ana! Thank you 🙏🏻
@@Art_Deco it's just the truth
@@Art_Deco I have a question. When you showed the cross hidden behind the curtain did you notice what looked like a half of a demonic face in the curtain pattern from the area right of it. It's probably just me. I often see something that resembles an animal or face in patterns or objects.
This is one of the coolest paintings ever with the beautiful meticulous detail and the awesome illusion.
Ya know, I came for the illusion, I stayed for the History lesson, thank you for this! This is such an awesome way to present Art History and World History!
This is a really interesting painting. The details are very impressive.
Also, I very much appreciate how even when religious symbolism and divisions are portrayed in a painting, you present it in a historical and informative way that feels unbiased and sticks to the facts of the matter. Thank you.
I discovered your channel quite recently. I find it quite jubilant and like the way you use your voice in such a typical manner to share your knowledge. Never boring.
About this painting : Anamorphic technic was not unknown and actually lots of people could device what this "cuttlefish bone" was. There is another anamorphic portrait, King Edward VI, attributed to William Scrots in the National Portrait Library.
Another great video- thanks! I remember this piece (and the skull) very clearly from a discussion of it in John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" (one of the best books I read in college). He went into detail (sorry) about the ability of oil painting to richly capture all the "stuff" Europeans of this time suddenly had available. I don't remember him getting into all the small bits you uncovered here, and that's something I really appreciate in this video, and in your others. Thank you, and please keep it up!
ways of seeing is one of my fav books
I agree 100%. I saw the TV series "ways of seeing" when it was first broadcast,(1972) and I was so impressed I bought the book. Every chapter is gold. Berger's insights were groundbreaking for the time, and still hold true today. Till I saw that show, I had been brought up on Kenneth Clark's art history TV series "Civilization"(plus having the huge coffee table book of his series) so up till then I had only been exposed to the traditional conservative Academic interpretation of art. Berger's take on art was shockingly radical, and he ruffled many feathers in the Art Establishment. But he was the one who made it acceptable, even essential, to view the art of previous eras free of the lens of centuries-old doctrines and aesthetic correctness. He held those long-accepted interpretations up to scrutiny, tossed them aside and encouraged viewers to trust their instincts. His approach was raw, honest and filled with humanity. Anyone who is interested in art appreciation MUST watch the series ( it's on YT) where in the first few seconds he appears to be cutting a very famous painting out of its hung frame on a gallery wall with a Stanley knife! Gripping stuff -- and every episode is equally as good.
An excellent analysis, thanks! I have known about the skull since childhood but had no idea there were so many other fascinating, symbolic, and exquisitely rendered details.
last week in class we were discussing visual representation of life and death in art, and one girl mentioned The Arnolfini Portrait and "the pregnant woman in the green dress symbolizing life."
I whispered to my colleague that the woman's not pregnant and that I know this because I watched video analyses of that piece. The professor proceeded then to mention this particular painting, The Ambassadors and the skull, and then you posted the analysis of that just a few days later... I'm just slightly creeped out 😂😂
Both of these paintings are very famous and often analyzed, but it's indeed a strange coincidence
I had never been as interested in art until I discovered your channel. Thank you for your insight, history and beautiful voice- it’s marvelous!
The detail in the painting is bananas.
the details are amazing. the math and music pages, upside down writing on the globe, the floor and table cloth and so much more. wow
This such an amazing painting. In my Art History class, it was presented & explained as a Vanitas painting. You definitely gave more detailed information on the backstory of this piece than my Art History teacher did. It was just another slide we had to memorize...
Wow! If it was to flex his skill, then he succeeded, cuz the skull is so dope! This is easily one of my favorite paintings now!
A picture paints a thousand words. Artists are deep, really deep. Theyre communicating their soul.
I was just checking your channel for more interesting art videos and low and behold, you uploaded one 15 minutes ago. Honestly, the way you explain these paintings make them so interesting to hear, keep going!
I saw this gorgeous painting on a trip to London, and had the great good fortune to have a Gallery guide explain it - thank you for adding to my appreciation and understanding of this work via your excellent video
Unbelievable. Wholly unbelievable.. What art and what an exceptional artistic capacity of the painter. Thank you for clarifying the entire story behind this art piece.
I love learning about the background items artists use (or did not use, in some cases). Once you laid out what they all were, it made sense, and made it even more interesting to look at.
It’s so much fun to listen to someone who’s passionate about what they’re talking about
Thanks!
I really appreciate your generosity and support of the channel!
If i had seen this painting in a museum - or anywhere at all - i would have looked at it for a minute and then moved on.
I would never have noticed all of those intricate details you have highlighted on this video post. This is truly an amazing painting and i thank you for enlightening me about it.!!
Everything about this piece is quite stunning, the intricate details of each trinket, the warped skull at the center, the tired yet friendly aura that Dinteville and Selve give off, and the random Stussy S on that rug's design that really makes me question the origins of that thing.
It's amazing how much you can zoom and there're still meaningful details! The skull is nice too.
The best breakdown of this painting I have even come across. Thank you.
Wow. Vietnam style flashbacks. My music teacher in middle school presented this piece to the class and asked if there was anything weird about it.
No one noticed anything, but i raised my hand and asked what the "smudge" was.
Never seen a teacher so happy in my life since lol
This was a very talented artist. It's impressive to see the minute details.
“The Ambassador’s” is one of my all time favorite paintings I learned about in Art History. Momento Mori and the geometrical concepts at that time were really thought provoking.
I remember seeing this painting in person in London some 20+ years ago and having an expert talk about it. I was so fascinated. So it was such a joy to hear about its story once again after all these years. Amazing channel, thank you. Keep up the wonderful work.
Probably the best visual piece of art ever produced
One reason I like watching these videos is that the narration is very pleasing to listen to.
Paintings like this give me chills with all the symbolism, it's incredible!
i remember seeing this painting on a school trip a few years ago and our tour guide telling us all about it. i didn't realise how amazing it was until now. thank you sm for this video
The first time I saw this piece I saw the skull immediately! I've always been surprised at how many people don't see it.
I used to take an AP art history class in highschool and I absolutely hated it. Yet here I am and actually interested in this.
I love the intricate detail, I could stand and look at this paintings for hours.
This man’s an absolute god with them painting skills
THANK-YOU!
This painting blew my mind when I first saw (a reproduction of) it, 30 years ago - in class at Uni, from one of my English Lit. Professors (excellent teacher!) in one of our tutorials. He held it up, and just asked us what we saw .... my 1st guess was 'a paint brush' lol But after 5-10 minutes I saw it (about ½ of us spotted it.)
I've never forgotten it, and always been mind blown by the sheer skill of it. I will NEVER understand how he pulled off that perspective, and distortion, 500 years ago!
Thank-you so much for highlighting this painting!!
💜
This painting is so amazing. Thanks for revealing all the details to us!
I’ve loved Holbein since I was a child…I spent hours studying the details in his work, each one a tiny masterpiece in itself.
Yes! I remember this painting and figuring out that distorted object was, amazing!
Art Deco, I cannot tell you how much I love your videos. Overall they are very informative (educational), engaging and fun to watch. But, ....BUT,.... your narration is the best! Love your voice modulation and how you pepper your dialogue with very well placed sarcasm. You are so clever and witty. I wish you would do physics material as well. (another favorite of mine).
The painting was finished in a rush and yet it's so detailed and exquisite! I wonder how the men portrayed here, particularly the man who commissioned the painting felt about it.
One of the greatest paintings ever done.
Brilliant video. I love this painting and have seen it twice. It is astounding.
I love this you’ve made me so interested in art history and anyalysis
We will never have art like this again . Pure talent
4:12 No you can't play them just by looking at the painting, you would need some sort of musical instrument.
True! Lol
@@Art_Deco Then my work here is done. 🙂 Btw, I really enjoy your channel. I am a scientist by my education and self-taught as a fiction writer -- but historical art is one of the gaps in my knowledge, something I wish I knew more about, but there are only so many hours in the day and in life. So I really enjoy and appreciate compressed educational videos like yours, that explain the details I wouldn't pick up on my own.
Absolutely loving these videos. Art and history weren't interesting to me until your videos and now I'm hooked. Keep them coming!
I still remember vividly the moment when our art teacher revealed to us the skull. She made us guess for a long 30 minutes and nobody could figure it out !
Excellent video 👏👏👏
I enjoy your sense of humor. 😂
What did you see originally? Because I can only see a skull - but surely my mind was already aware it was a skull…
Love your videos. The narration (your voice in particular), the humor, the history and facts presented - everything creates perfect blend of entertainment and knowledge.
A brilliant artist. I would be proud to have known this artist..❤
...you are turning paintings into walks through literary, historical, social and religious landscapes!
...i find your 'painting tours' on another level.
unfolding a multi layered wondrous world through painting/art in a beautifully nuanced way- with a voice made for this!
(the script is german!...so they were worshipping in german , liaising in french, and communicating in english?- they were more EEC than now😆).
A perfect comment
I love your hard work. Keep going.
The details on this painting is ridiculous! How can he paint those notes, those perfect spheres, those details on the map. How 🤯
As an old codger in my mid 70's I am always surprised how much there is to learn and never really took a detailed look into early paintings. This has also taught me that knowledge does not need to be associated with an older voice.
The voice explaining this amazing piece did a wonderful job, the part she said "Take a second to see this detail" gives me satisfaction. 🙂
Interesting video, thanks for sharing.
This is the diamatetric opposite of clickbait titles. I was blown away! Subscribed! Thank you
Does this channel have an IG account?
I know this is a visual art channel but just a quick note about words. IMPOSSIBLE means not-possible. Can't be done.
Since the illusion was accomplished it was entirely possible, all along. _Remarkable, challenging, stunning, excellent._ All perfectly good superlatives for this work.
Other than that, well done on another -impossible- superlative video. ;)
This is amazing! Thank you for making and sharing it!
Until I started watching your vids ..I always thought old paintings were boring...I now look at them with a new light 😁
OUTSTANDING ANALYSIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Insane how these paintings have such fine detail..this era of paintings were described as realist paintings which were mysterious as to how the paintings could be so detailed to where they think the paintings could have been made in another way. Like a camera
I’ve always seen the skull, and whenever I see this painting I love just how surreal it is and makes me feel. It looks like some old computer render. I love this painting.
This is a great one. So much symbolism that we don’t even see now, but everyone knew then.
The person presenting/writing this channel is genuinely so fucking hilarious they’ve made me care about art in a way I’ve never cared before
I have never seen such beautifully detailed masterpiece
I absolutely adore your videos!! I love learning about the hidden meanings behind paintings!
I was wondering if you would ever do this one painting, where it was a portrait of a woman with an owl on her shoulder. From what I learned from my professor, back then, owls meant idiocy, meaning the painter was calling this woman an idiot. Does that ring a bell to you? It's a painting I enjoy
Never mind I found it! It's called Malle Babbe!
One of the most fascinating paintings I've seen
It's hard for me to believe how difficult it was for folk to realize it was a skull. It took me only a glance to immediately see it ; perhaps, people then hadn't the visual library of one who grew up in the age of media how we did. I think this is relationship is analogous to comparing the performances of neural networks ; one receiving much training, and the other receiving less.
I remember the first time I saw this painting in an art book. I might’ve been in middle school. I instantly fell in love with it.
Your channel is soooo amazing
Thank you so much!!
Wow, ive never been so captivated about painting until this.
The subscription was so earned and worth it, easily one of the best channels Ive subscribed to
You definitely earned a like and subscriber.
More info than my favorite art teacher and as much info as my art
Awestruck, frankly. What a piece of work is man indeed
This is my favourite painting of all time!
i loved this painting as a kid
Wonderful... Thank you... The voice is great.
I encountered this painting some years ago, in a magazine called 'Fortean Times'. this magazine covered, and covers, a wide range of phenomena, from UFOs to bizarre news stories, stopping off at cryptozoology and many other topics along the way. There was a whole article on this painting, which includec a wonderful A4 size picture of the artwork, along with details of all the hidden symbology, including the skull. Try as I might, wiggling and tilting the page, I could never get a proper view of the skull. So I'm really glad you'vedone so_ at last, after so long, I can actually see what it really looks like!