Narrative

For the purposes of this report, narrative works may be explained as translating reality into a form in which the intended target may comprehend the idea or angle the artist is illustrating or addressing with their craft. This is confirmed in the quote below written by Hazel Paul, taken from her report 

based on narrative works.

“A narrative is re-presentation of reality from a particular perspective: reality reconfigured to express meaning”  (Hazel, n.d.).

Figure 1 – Andrea Previtali, Italian, ca. 1470 – 1528, The Annunciation, ca. 1520-1525, Tempera on wood panel, Gift of the Samuel H.

Kress Foundation 61.197. (ONLINE)^[1]

The above picture is a narrative art work done by Andrea Previtali, it depicts the annunciation^[2] of Mary, which is an important event within the Catholic Church, as it depicts the moment when the angel Gabriel was informing Mary that she would be the mother of Christ. Referencing from the narrative definition given by Paul, one would be able to observe the choice of symbols used within the work of art so as to express the painter’s narrative. The artist Previtali has given Mary and the angel halos, which is a symbol used within the Catholic circles to depict a saint. The other symbolism, which has been included is the dove, which was present at the Baptism of Jesus, this could be the painter’s way of expressing the authoritativeness of the message, as one ascending from God Himself.
 When it comes to analyzing a narrative work regardless of the art discipline, there are certain key aspects which the artist needs to keep in mind; however in the section below I will be discussing these as it pertain the relevant field of this report.
 There are many forms in which a narrative may be depicted; however this report will mainly be focusing on three forms of Narrative forms these being  Narrative jewellery and Poetry (Rabinowitz, J. 2005).