what is the influence of the grisaille technique on art?

Question

I am doing an independent study on grisaille paintings from the renaissance and baroque eras. I am interested in the influence of this particular technique on art. Why was it used the way it was, especially since it was used to simulate sculpture, and who was the main artists who used it successfully. I am also looking for a comprehensive list of works using this technique.

Answer 1

I have credited you with some sense so i haven't looked on google etc but I do have an enormous collection of renaissance etc art books and there is nothing on work on grissaille. I don't think the major artists used it as an end in itself. Was it used purely for decoration of interiors? And for sketches for larger pictures and for etchers to copy
(For those wondering what the question means it is a painting in tones of grey and mostly used as an underpainting Alan Ramsey early work is painted over a grissaille of red and white Reynolds used blue as wel as black and white ).
I would love to know what you have already found as i live in a little baroque Czeck castle that i would like very much to do some decorating on ( don¨t worry it has vbeen severely ruined by the commys)

Answer 2

I totally agree and tell my students basically the same thing. You are practicing doing something under ideal conditions and that is not always the case in a street situation. If the person is standing directly in front of you, not ready or not expecting you to do something and not too close or far then you can do a perfect kick and maybe end it quickly. Often times that is not the case though as people come at you from different angles, are not always just standing there in front of you with their hands in their pockets and sometimes your first technique may not be as effective as you want. You therefore have to be prepared to deal with that person who is now wary of you that is probably punching, wrestling, and grappling with you at that point. To also help alleviate this we practice "first strike" techniques that are done based on the distance between you and your opponent, that are easy to do, maximally effective, and don't require a great deal of strength so that even a smaller person can do them and include besides kicks, punches, elbow strikes, finger strikes to the eyes, open handed strikes to the facial area, and knees to the groin. Not even these techniques guarantee that you will come out on top but they will give you an edge initially so that you can follow-up and try and dispatch your adversary or turn and run.

Answer 3

Early Flemish and Italian master would carry out all the gradations of monotones meticulously and glaze them to coincide precisely with the grisaille. It is much easier to paint in shades of gray and then glaze, to bring out the beautiful colors.