Lets Talk Composition

Look at that triangular composition!

Again, we need to get the boring stuff out of the way before we get started. Typically when we look at a piece of Renaissance art or any piece of art really we will see some sort of geometric composition. Artist try to incorporate some sort of geometric composition into their piece because it is more aesthetically pleasing. In Renaissance art more than not we will find triangular composition.

If you are confused as to what I am talking about, let me explain it in the simplest terms. Artist place the subject or other parts of their piece in a geometric structure in order to be more pleasing to the eye and also to create movement, your eyes will flow from one aspect of the piece to the next.

Lets look at one of the most famous paintings from the Renaissance that I am sure everyone is at least a little familiar with. This is the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Notice that the focal point of this piece is obviously her face, but notice that your eyes move from her face down to where her arms rest. Leonardo made this piece with triangular composition because it gives the piece a strong balance. There are also other triangles to be found in this piece, for example look at her eyes as the base coming down to the point at her mouth.