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!

@Julia-uh4li

Жыл бұрын

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.

@h.s.w.5760

Жыл бұрын

Renaissance paintings were mathematical masterpieces; their precision in balance of perspective has always fascinated me.

@N1KK1Zify

Жыл бұрын

You just blew my mind!!! That is so amazing, how art and math can marry in this technique!!

@VAULT-TEC_INC.

Жыл бұрын

Super interesting!

@GedMaybury23

Жыл бұрын

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

Жыл бұрын

@Patrickkim WTF?

@Julia-uh4li

Жыл бұрын

@@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.

@hannahjosiah5393

Жыл бұрын

Good for you

@mangot589

Жыл бұрын

Man you got so many ups because you’re a bot and that pretty sad.

@WestOfEarth

Жыл бұрын

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…

@danielanderson6933

Жыл бұрын

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

@asiantom4935

Жыл бұрын

condsider my lizard brain tickled

@fashiharz8584

Жыл бұрын

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.

@user-pr6ed3ri2k

Жыл бұрын

334√=}thlieker

@spicymeatballs2thespicening

Жыл бұрын

Username checks out lol

@rmp7400

Жыл бұрын

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.

@psychochewy8982

Жыл бұрын

This is the only art channel like this that I watch and honestly it's because of the way she talks about it.

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!

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!

@Julia-uh4li

Жыл бұрын

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.

@thedativecase9733

Жыл бұрын

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.

I find it so crazy how these old paintings are so realistic

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.

@dyscotopia

Жыл бұрын

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.

@madgevanness4011

Жыл бұрын

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.

@TheBereangirl

Жыл бұрын

"I am weary, melancholy, the most wearisome weary ambassador..." looks to me like they really DON'T wanna be there.🤷🏻‍♀️

@jbyker2205

Жыл бұрын

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.

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.

@rolandscales9380

Жыл бұрын

I think it's a voiceover.

@walterclements_

Жыл бұрын

channels like these typically consist of a team that create and revise the script for each video

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.

@DeathnoteBB

Жыл бұрын

Is that the guy that Six song was about? The guy who did a lot of portraits for royalty.

@AngelDustMyBel0ved

10 ай бұрын

​@@DeathnoteBByes, that's him xd

@MusicsObsession

6 ай бұрын

*Holbein

The crucifix and the illusion skull the broken loom, the details are just spectacular.

Waldemar Januszczak went deep on Hans Holbein in an art documentary I saw on KZread. 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!

@Julia-uh4li

Жыл бұрын

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 KZread channel and learn some new stuff. 💛

@BoyProdigyX

Жыл бұрын

@@Julia-uh4li Hey, that's great! If anybody else is wondering exactly which video I was referring to, it's here ~~> kzread.info/dash/bejne/lYt72LKjfrPVYbg.html

@SaraRankins.

Жыл бұрын

You should watch six the musical

@BoyProdigyX

Жыл бұрын

@@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

@SmartStart24

Жыл бұрын

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.

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 😂😂

@meridaskywalker7816

Жыл бұрын

Both of these paintings are very famous and often analyzed, but it's indeed a strange coincidence

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...!

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 love how you always have an understanding of the historical background before you analyze. Very nice video!

Used to be obsessed with this painting when I was younger, thanks for covering it.

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

@SaraRankins.

Жыл бұрын

Hi Sara I'm also Sara

@Sara_ennit

Жыл бұрын

@@SaraRankins. 😂😂 hello there Sara

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

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.

As always, an amazing and intricate video! So much historical details. Love your job, love the edition, the information and the funny references.

@Art_Deco

Жыл бұрын

You’re so kind, Ana! Thank you 🙏🏻

@anacb5554

Жыл бұрын

@@Art_Deco it's just the truth

@tiffanymichaels2429

Жыл бұрын

@@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.

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!

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!

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!

@arodvaz1955

Жыл бұрын

ways of seeing is one of my fav books

@a24-45

Жыл бұрын

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.

This is one of the coolest paintings ever with the beautiful meticulous detail and the awesome illusion.

The detail in the painting is bananas.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

A picture paints a thousand words. Artists are deep, really deep. Theyre communicating their soul.

It’s so much fun to listen to someone who’s passionate about what they’re talking about

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 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...

No wonder Holbein was in charge of all the royal paintings - he was pretty brilliant. Even if this painting was a rushed job, it's so intricate and detailed and that skull is pure brilliance.

The details on this painting is ridiculous! How can he paint those notes, those perfect spheres, those details on the map. How 🤯

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. 😂

@ju59

Жыл бұрын

What did you see originally? Because I can only see a skull - but surely my mind was already aware it was a skull…

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.

One of the greatest paintings ever done.

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!

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

This man’s an absolute god with them painting skills

“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.

The best breakdown of this painting I have even come across. Thank you.

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.

OUTSTANDING ANALYSIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This painting is so amazing. Thanks for revealing all the details to us!

I like how old renaissance painting are like vectorized, you can just zoom into them endlessly without losing any quality. Vector art before vector art

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

This was a very talented artist. It's impressive to see the minute details.

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 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

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.

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.

@Art_Deco

Жыл бұрын

True! Lol

@jerrysstories711

Жыл бұрын

@@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 love this you’ve made me so interested in art history and anyalysis

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!! 💜

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.!!

Yes! I remember this painting and figuring out that distorted object was, amazing!

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.

It's amazing how much you can zoom and there're still meaningful details! The skull is nice too.

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.

Your channel is soooo amazing

@Art_Deco

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!!

i loved this painting as a kid

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.

I love the intricate detail, I could stand and look at this paintings for hours.

Probably the best visual piece of art ever produced

How could something with so much detail also be rushed? Everything that was mentioned actually added to the painting (as evident by how good the painting is) and many of the details on the painting would have probably been omitted if it had been rushed.

Love your videos. The narration (your voice in particular), the humor, the history and facts presented - everything creates perfect blend of entertainment and knowledge.

Paintings like this give me chills with all the symbolism, it's incredible!

Absolutely loving these videos. Art and history weren't interesting to me until your videos and now I'm hooked. Keep them coming!

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

7:01 Oh snap! Holbein also drew the radical S that I used to draw in middle school 😆

This is amazing! Thank you for making and sharing it!

There is a song about that painting, written by polish musician and poet Jacek Kaczmarski, titled "Ambassadors" A globe under the arm - holding a map of the world. What strategy can be afforded, plans and dreams, And the insignia of power, sable robe, Thick hair, and hand's gesture without a twitch. And in reach of the hand a clock - it's quite early, Clock's pointer doesn't take away the confidence. Sight - mirror of the soul - sees everything, even in sleep, Whom is calmed by a Cipher and a Letter. They've done so much already, despite being so young, The wax of history submits to their unmistakable tracks, It's Georges de Selve - a promising diplomat, and Jean de Dinteville - a French Ambassador. It's a discrete splendor - only an echo of dignity, A Turkish carpet, Italian Lute - a sophisticated sign. In mute lips absolute taste of victory, In attitudes - greatness - gained in life, A heavy curtain supports - with what it hides. They confidently look ahead, sure of their righteousness, For Diplomacy controls today everyone who lives, And they're - the flowers of sixteenth century diplomacy! They don't know what's pain, plague, or a cold, Great cravings - the world will always satisfy! It's Georges de Selve - a promising diplomat, and Jean de Dinteville - a French Ambassador. Yet within the lute, a string suddenly breaks, And the open pages of the book of knowledge turn yellow... Behind the crucifix errs the hand involuntarily. The clock's arrow moves faster! A terrifying shape before them appears with a half-step. And disturbs the peace - is the artist fooling around? No, it's no joke! You must look at that shape from the side! To see clearly that it is a human skull! They were - and they are no longer, ah - what a loss it is! What were they called? Who's still aware of it? Ah! Georges de Selve! A promising diplomat! Ah! Jean de Dinteville, a French Ambassador!

These are amazing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a delightful way.

One reason I like watching these videos is that the narration is very pleasing to listen to.

Brilliant video. I love this painting and have seen it twice. It is astounding.

I used to enjoy seeing this painting at the National Gallery in London when I was stationed in the UK in the late 90s.

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.

Thanks for your fascinating explanations!

A brilliant artist. I would be proud to have known this artist..❤

I have never seen such beautifully detailed masterpiece

Outstanding video! Well done! ❤

Another great vid, thankyou so much!

One of the most fascinating paintings I've seen

This is a great one. So much symbolism that we don’t even see now, but everyone knew then.

This is the diamatetric opposite of clickbait titles. I was blown away! Subscribed! Thank you

@shaunindia

Жыл бұрын

Does this channel have an IG account?

I still remember when I was looking at the paintingfor the first time, not seeing the skull at all. Then suddenly it popped out to me, so crazy!

This is my favourite painting of all time!

I love your hard work. Keep going.

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 would have looked at this painting and not have seen a fraction of the pointed out here... with wonderful humor! Thanks

Absolutely love your content and how much work you put into these videos. Great work as always~

I was so impressed with the details of the painting, and until the crucifix was revealed (which I hadn’t noticed at first) my mind was just blown away at that point).

The detail is crazy!