Read this article from the Science section of the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/science/08angier.html
From our studies so far, or from your knowledge of art of any era, provide specific examples of circle imagery that artists have used and the underlying intent of these works.
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When observing art, the concept of circles is often encountered. Our fascination with circles has its roots in science and the natural world. The image is thoroughly explored by many artists, sometimes branching out into spirals, domes, and spheres. However, the circular idea remains the same. Possibly the most famous engineers of ancient times mastered the circle. The Romans strived to build a temple to honor their long list of deities. However, it would have to be an awesome structure to please the multitudes of gods and citizens. How did they accomplish this daunting task? The architects utilized the circle, in the form of a dome. This structure included a massive dome atop the building, providing a celestial and fantastic mood for the temple. The Pantheon remains one of the artistic highlights of Rome. This is because of the famous dome; the circle makes the Pantheon significant.
From reading this article, and from prior knowledge pertaining to circular imagery, it is fair to say that the use circles is something that people can familiarize with. In the article, examples were given on how things like rain droplets, eggs, eyes, stars, and bubble wrap emphasize the appeal that circle have to people. Therefore using the knowledge we have of artwork from previous cultures and civilizations, we can see how this theory is applied. For example, the round Pantheon shows how the Romans appreciated the unity of all of their gods, and how the circle imagery represented that unity. In Early Christian art, the use of central planning architecture or halos and mandorla in painting that often surrounded Christ also represented divinity and holiness. There are many portrayals of circular depictions in the works we have studied, and these depictions support the ideas presented by the article, "The Circular Logic of the Universe".
The circle is an attractive shape, both practically and figuratively. In ancient times, the discovery of the wheel obviously made life tremendously easier. But its more than just a practical attraction, "The only other sort of visual stimulus that aroused those face tracing neurons, Dr. Tsao said, were round objects — clocks, apples and the like". If this is correct then it is natural to find circle imagery within art. One of the most famous examples of this is Stonehenge, an arrangement of massive boulders in a circular formation. Though the exact way that Stonehenge was used is unknown, it can be inferred that this circular formation was held in high regard spiritually, mystically, or otherwise. A circle has also come to be analogous with the universe and the pattern of life, infinite and connected. The circle has also became useful in religious art. In the Christian religion, like the universe, Christ is thought of as infinite and connected to all, what better way to depict this than a halo. A halo has often accompanied Christ in depiction. Other religious figures that have been depicted also have been paired with the halo. The halo has made it easier for the viewer to pick out the focus of the painting because people are naturally inclined to seek the roundness in objects. Sometimes religious characters are placed in a mandorla as well.
The concept of circles is a very intersting one. The circle is used in nature as well as art. In nature the circle takes the form of an egg which is vital to nature. The circle is also used in nature to represent raindrops, eyes, and stars. An art example that uses the idea of the circle would be the Pantheon located in Rome. They use a dome because the Romans believed in the unity of all their gods, hence the use the circle. In addition, the circle is also used to represent halos that were used in Christian Art.
The circle has been a very important conept of art. Humans have been facsinated with circle since anicen times in the natural and scientific world. A famous exapmle with ancient fascination with circles can be seen in stonehenge. Stonehenge was a circle surrounded by standing stones in modern day England. The stones used at stonehenge were marked with many engravings leading historians to believe that stonehenge had a spirtual and symbolic purpose.
Circles appear to be a recurring theme in art because of their appeal to the human eye and symbolism. Circles are seen in many Byzantine works as mandorlas, encircling the divine main character in a picture; many times christ is depicted with a mandorla. Also, central plan churches, with ambulatories, are based off of a circular model, as well as the Pantheon. Also, in many religions, such as Buddhism circles are used in pictures to symbolize eternity and the continuance of life after death.
Circles are a very present aspect in our everyday lives. We often don't think about just how much they influence our life. The essence of a circle comes in many forms, like, raindrops or clocks, and everything in between. Such a simple shape has the power to make pieces of art brilliant. For example, a defying characteristic of the gothic period is the Rose Windows. The windows manage to include both the delicate aspect of glass and a dominating feature because of its size. Circles are also seen in religious art, like ilya said, in halos etc. and are also in the eyes of devout figures. For instance, the votive figures we studies had large, circular eyes; to give the sense of awe. The endless shape of a circle can also be viewed in awe because it is a perfectly symmetrical figure, any way you split it, along with no ending or starting point. Circles are definitely an extremely wondrous, beautiful work of art.
In time periods as early as prehistory, artists displayed their fascination with circular imagery. Stonehenge was built between 2750 and 1500 BC and of all the megalithic monuments in Europe, it stirred the imagination of the public most strongly. This was an early sign of artists' interests in the concept of the circle. Kandinsky wrote that the circle is “the most modest form, but asserts itself unconditionally.” In addition, he states that it is “simultaneously stable and unstable,” “loud and soft", and “a single tension that carries countless tensions within it.” Many artists have incorporated the circle in their artwork however, the Pantheon is the most widely known example of this. Its dome, adorned with coffers and a central oculus, remains one of the most innovative and complexly engineered structures ever built. In The Baptistry of the Orthodox (Early Christian) the dome contains concentric rings of decorations to draw the eye upward to a central image: the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
circular forms are prominent and reoccurring theme in the visual world. Wether in nature or in art the circle can be seen almost every where. It represents so much in nature such as, our moon and sun, eggs, in addition to many circular aspects in the human form. The because it is every were and because it is soft and appealing to human eyes it has become a stable in art. from the extenuated circularity of the Venus of vilindpoph, to the great dome of the pantheon.
circular forms are prominent and reoccurring theme in the visual world. Wether in nature or in art the circle can be seen almost every where. It represents so much in nature such as, our moon and sun, eggs, in addition to many circular aspects in the human form. The because it is every were and because it is soft and appealing to human eyes it has become a stable in art. from the extenuated circularity of the Venus of vilindpoph, to the great dome of the pantheon.
TYLER CARROLL
When reviewing the concept of circles, they are not only apparent in our everyday life, but have been a common symbol in art for centuries. In the article Natalie Angier describes the appeal of circles to the human eye, such as, eyes, raindrops, and even eggs. For centuries circles have been used symbolically in artwork. For example, dating back to the Roman era, the use of circles in the Pantheon represents the union of all gods. Also, in Early Christian artwork, the mandorla surrounds Christ, showing his significance.
Circle imagery has been an important concept in art, stemming from the natural world. Eggs, rain drops, and the human eye are just a few of the various examples of this shape. Some famous ancient examples of the circular form is Stonehenge in England and the Pantheon. The architects of this structure used a dome to maximize their use of space and build something that would represent all of their many gods. In Byzantine culture the depictions of Christ and other prominent people feature a mandorla, a halo-like circle surrounding the figure. In later periods, the Goths used the circle form for their rose windows, beautiful stained glass which can be viewed at Chartres, Notre Dame, and other cathedrals in Europe. While these are only a few examples, the idea of circles in art, as well as the natural world, plays a significant role.
Throughout the various eras of artwork, the geometric shape known as the circle, is commonly used. For example, the Dome of the Pantheon built in the Roman era by the emperor Hadrian. Other than the fact that the building is of a circular dome structure, the Pantheon has a 29 foot-wide oculus, or central opening. The purpose behind installing the oculus was to give the illusion that one could rise buoyantly upward and escape the spherical hollow of the building to commune with the gods.
Circles are a used in art for symbolism, to enclose a figure, for architectural purposes, etc. Circles were used a lot in art because of its reoccurrence in nature. Circles can symbolize the moon, the world, the sun, and more. An example of a ROman building is The Pantheon. The Pantheon was a huge architectural achievement. The Pantheon has a central plan and has a massive circular dome. The dome is built with precise measurement and would take a genius to build. Circles will always be used in Art because the eye is drawn towards it.
Circles are commonly used in art and architecture because its commonness in nature as well its appeal to the human eye. The Pantheon is one example that uses circles. Built as a central plan, the Pantheon is one of Rome's greatest architectural achievements. However, without its massive circular dome, the Pantheon would not nearly be as noteworthy today. Both the extensive planning and the difficulty constructing the dome make it an architectural marvel, far ahead of its time.
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