I chose this painting for the formal analysis https://www.caravaggio.org/medusa.

I chose this painting for the formal analysis https://www.caravaggio.org/medusa.jsp
*Below are some of the questions that you should incorporate into your report.
Make sure to write this as an essay and not simply answering these questions as a bullet list. The key is that your report flows, so treat it as an essay.
Answer the following questions: these are called the identifying questions.
Who is the artist?
What is the title of the work? Date? Dimensions? Location? Medium? Support?
What is the subject matter of the work?
Then consider answering some of the questions below:
Consider the work’s title . Does the title help you interpret what you see?
Can you imagine different treatments of the same subject matter that would change the way you read the work?
In case of a sculpture, or installation: If the human figure is its subject matter, how is the figure treated?
If the work is nonrepresentational, what feelings does it evoke?
Consider the formal elements of the work and how they relate to its subject matter.
How is line employed in the work? Does it seem to regulate or order the composition?
Does it seem to fragment the work?
Is it consistent with traditional laws of perspective or does it violate them?
In case of sculpture or installation: what is the relation of the work to the space it occupies? What is its relation to the viewer? Does the work move, or require you to move?
What is the relation of shape to space in the work?
How do light and dark function in the work? Is there a great deal of tonal contrast?
What other elements seem important? is you attention drawn to the work’s texture? Does time seem an important factor in your experience of the work?
What principles of design are used to organize composition or the architecture?
Is there significant use of visual rhythm and repetition of elements?
Is the composition balanced? Symmetrically, Asymmetrically?
Do the work’s various elements seem proportional, and how does the question of scale affect your perception? Does the composition seem unified or not?
Has the artist’s choice of medium played a role in the presentation of the various elements and their organization or design?
Are effects achieved that are realizable only in this particular medium?
If more than one medium is involved, what is their relation?
What is the meaning of the work? What is its content, as opposed to its subject matter?
What are the artist’s intentions? How do these intentions manifest themselves in the composition? Are there other feelings or attitudes that the composition seems to evoke, and what specific elements or design choices account for those feelings?
Are there symbolic meanings in the work?
Does the work seem to have personal meaning to the artist– that is, is it biographical?
Is the work a political or social commentary?
Is there some larger philosophical, historical. or social context that informs the work?
Finally, what does the work mean to you
Content must include:
What: what object are you writing on, what is the theme that you are writing about
When: when was it made
Why: why was it created, this refers back to the function of the object, the importance of the theme and its relation, significance to its time, culture
Where: where was it made
Who(if applicable) created it, or commissioned it and HOW.
The ‘HOW’ part of your report is the most crucial one. You have to convince your reader why it is worth her or his time to read this report, i.e. what makes your topic interesting. This translates into the fact that you need to dazzle your reader (in this case, me, your Professor) and grab my attention.
Format:
· Introductory paragraph–introduce the work of art, provide a brief description
· Thesis statement: clearly, and I mean clearly and effectively state the point you are making
-Do not ramble, pad your essay with unnecessary and overly elaborate words
· Body: this is where you support your thesis:
-must be organized in paragraphs
-use complete sentences
· Make transitions between paragraphs, and when changing to a new topic.
· Make a conclusion or summarize your thoughts in a final paragraph. This is where you should feel confident enough to introduce a novel albeit related issue to keep the reader engaged and to finish with a WOW effect!
LASTLY, proof read your report, spell-check, do not trust your computer to catch spelling errors for there is a lot of non-English terms you will be using in this report. Have someone else read your report and ask their opinion for constructive criticism–does this paper make them want to go and see the object, ask your reader.
Happy writing, everyone!
Content must include: who, what, where, when, why, iconography
Format:
1. Introductory paragraph
A. Introduce the work of art
B. Provide a brief description of its background
2. Thesis Statement
A. State the point you are making
B. DO NOT:
1. Give a laundry list
2. Ramble
3. Pad your essay with unnecessary sentences, phrases, etc.
3. Body of essay
A. Organize in paragraphs
B. Support your thesis
C. Use complete sentences
D. Make transitions between P. and when changing to a new topic
E. Make a conclusion or summarize in the final P.