Skills for Study Level 2 Teacher's Book - Cambridge University Press

true-to-life, but did not try to recreate the world only by using the Italian techniquesof perspective or proportion (suggestion that he did also use perspective andproportion in his art). Jan van Eyck did make his painting beautiful and realisticthrough making his art colourful and detailed, with his art no less effective in terms ofbeauty and reality than his Italian counterparts’ (more definite here – text A says ‘tryto make’; certain that van Eyck’s art as effective as Italian art in terms of beauty andreality).2e Students check their answers.2f Student discussionAnswers1 Text A2 Italian renaissance art used ideas from classical Italy about proportion andnew ideas about perspective to create more realistic art; Northern Europeanart not using the same techniques and was not so effective.3 Yes, with the comment that he was not ‘only’ using Italian techniques,suggesting that he was using some Italian techniques.4 Northern European (Dutch) art focused on detail and colour to capture beautyand reality, and less on perspective and proportion.5 Text B. It is more cautious in terms of the language used. Nevertheless, theauthor’s views are strong, especially in the final sentences.Note: Activities 2f–2h give more of the same practice with intensive reading asin activities 2b–2e, and are not aiming at a different teaching point: they cantherefore be considered optional. The texts in these activities centre on the conceptof ‘contrapposto’ stance. This was first used in ancient Greek sculpture to give theimpression of life in depictions of human beings. The contrapposto stance puts theweight of the figure being represented onto one leg, with the subject’s arms andshoulders moving in the other direction to give the illusion of movement. This wasin contrast to the previously static, ‘unrealistic’, images of humans where weightwould be evenly distributed on both legs. This technique was revived during theRenaissance with the dual purpose of bringing to mind classical art, which wasundergoing a revival, and imbuing figures in art with more life, or realism.2g Student discussionSuggested answers1 Depends on students’ own opinions.2 Depends to an extent on students, but the sculpture on the left is less life-likethan the figure on the right. The figure on the left is standing in a position thatdoes not seem realistic (this is known as the Gothic ‘S-shape’ curve). The hairis unnatural, or stylized. The figure on the right is standing in a more naturalmanner, seemingly ready for movement. You can see his figure beneath theclothing, and his facial expression appears more natural.Note: The figure on the left is an example from the Middle Ages, and is typical ofdepictions of humans at that time (stylized, less true to life). The figure depictsSaint Barbara. The sculpture on the right is from Classical Rome and is a goodexample of ‘contrapposto’ (see below for more detail about this technique).Unit 4 Part B ∙ Understanding written information 113