DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

SITE

This new narrative and research required me to find a new site. As my narrative was pointing towards some form of escape I decided to find somewhere outside of Holland and as the painting depicts Clio the muse of history I decided to make the site some where in Greece associated with history. There are many historical sites in Greece but I decided on a spot in the mountains just above Delphi that looks down on the sanctuary of Apollo the youthful god of the sun and of music and on the sanctuary of Athena the goddess of wisdom and art. Both these greek gods are in keeping with the aspirations of my character and thus I chose a site that looked down on their sanctuaries.

RESEARCH

I then went back to researching the painting;
The young woman in the painting is dressed up to represent the Greek muse Clio. Clio was one of the 9 Greek muses who were personification of 'The Highest Aspirations of Art and Intellect' Clio in particular was the muse of history.
Holland in the 1600's was also in the process of becoming a more liberal society, especially when compared to the rest of Europe. As with most changing societies this causes and split between new and old and tension I wanted to use this in my narrative.I then applied this new information to my narrative and came up with a new narrative;

'A young woman has the highest aspirations of art and intellect and wants to escape the tensions of society to pursue this'

INITIAL DESIGN

My initial design was, in keeping with the narrative, set in the English countryside. I also explored some of the key features I found in painting; light and the drape. For this design I had as my precident and site the Groombridge Place Gardens in Kent. I found the meandering gardens and old sandstone building fit with my ideas for the project at the time.

INITIAL NARRATIVE

A SPACE FOR A YOUNG WOMAN TO ENTERTAIN HERSELF AND ESCAPE FROM THE PRESSURES OF SOCIETY

ANALYSIS OF PAINTING AND WORD EXPLORATION

WORD EXPLORATION
cosy
cluttered
work space
moody
enclosed
music
art
painting
reading
travel
place
costume
exploration
escape
hidden
secret
secluded
quiet
still
reflective
pensive

INITIAL ANALYSIS OF PAINTING

The painting depicts a young woman being painted by an artist in his studio. The studio is cluttered and cosy, you don't see the whole space of the room just view a section through peering beyond a drape. The drape is a significant feature of the painting, it frames the composition, it reveals and conceals light and covers the source of the light. The young woman is looking towards the floor but her body is facing the light source, suggesting she would much rather be where the light is coming from than here, she is holding a book and trumpet, so reading and music are interests of hers.

THE ART OF PAINTING
By Johannes Vermeer
1668