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Research http://sydney.edu.au/museums/publications/muse/past-issues/2781_Muse_July_web.pdf The Rhetorical Criticism of Visual Elements: An Alternative to Foss’s Schema by Valerie V. Peterson (2001)
 * ‘Portrait of Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus’
 * Artist unknown, date unknown
 * Presented to university of Sydney by Sir Charles Nicholson
 * 1454-1510
 * Likely an 18th C copy based upon the earlier painting by Titian
 * Determinant, ruthless gaze- also with a hint of vulnerability and sadness
 * Lost her husband and new born son, later lost the throne
 * Queen from 1474-1489
 * From prominent Venetian family- married Lusignan King James II (‘James the Bastard’)
 * Important figure in the history of the island- married in order for Venice to keep control of the island
 * Ruled for a number of years, combating intrigue
 * She was a popular subject among venetian art school painters- allegory for devotion to Republic and personal sacrifice for Venetian power
 * ‘Lady of the Renaissance’, the woman who gave up the throne for Venice
 * Extending her left hand, wearing a black widow’s gown, a coronet and necklace
 * Behind her to the left is a red curtain revealing a seascape
 * Below column is a Latin inscription naming Caterina and her title as Queen of Cyprus
 * ‘visual texts were seen as designed to influence belief and action, as having objectives, and as having creators with motives and intentions who made design choices relevant to particular audiences’ p.20
 * ‘people sense the physical world in different ways, so their initial perceptions of visual elements would also differ’ p.24
 * ‘visual elements will require assessment in light of their context’ p.24

Report: ‘Portrait of Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus’ author and date unknown (donated by Sir Charles Nicholson to the University of Sydney) Located in the Nicholson Museum, The Quadrangle on the Sydney University Camperdown campus.

Context: Although the date of the painting is unknown, what is known is that it is most likely depicting the period 1474-1489 when Caterina was the Queen of Cyprus. She came from a prominent Venetian family and married King James II (‘James the Bastard’) yet he died shortly after they were wed, leaving her as regent. Her new born son James had also passed away so Caterina ruled alone. She faced challenges from Venetian merchants and Cypriot aristocracy so her reign was turbulent. The rhetorical situation is epideictic, as it is attached to an emotional situation, praising the Queen’s strength in times of hardship in her reign as well as promoting her position as Queen. Purpose: The purpose of the painting is to promote the Queen as a powerful figurehead, despite being alone in her ruling of Cyprus. Author: The artist of the painting is unknown but the Queen of Cyrpus was a popular subject for Venetian art schools during the Renaissance; it can be derived from the painting that the artist was trained in classical Venetian style. The artist is speaking effectively to the audience as he/she is depicting the Queen as a person of power. Even if the audience did not know the subject, the artist has conveyed her royal status through the crown and traditional stance, as well as the Latin inscription in the bottom right naming her title. Audience: The intended audience of the painting would’ve most likely to have been the subjects of the Queen, reminding them of her position (as many were trying to take her throne). The secondary audience is the viewers of the painting in the Nicholson Museum. The author/artist wouldn’t have an awareness of this secondary audience- but it can be assumed that the artist would have thought the painting would be displayed publically.

The Text: The text is an oil on canvas painting, communicating visually through positioning, colour and symbolism currently being displayed at the Nicholson Museum. The main idea conveyed through this text/painting is of the Queen being a strong and powerful monarch, a true ‘Renaissance woman’. The painting is an allegory, alluding to the royal family of Cyprus and the Renaissance era. Emotion supports this text as it emphasises the hardship and determination of a widowed Queen. The artist uses colour to characterise the Queen e.g. her black dress represents her status as a widow, and the red curtain represents royalty. Her open face and hand to the background of the seascape dictates her position as Queen over Cyprus. Personal Experience: The setting of the Nicholson Museum for the viewing of the painting was quite striking, with the contrast between the black wall and the brightly light painting. The red and black contrast within the painting also made her fair skin seem angelic. I felt sympathetic and encouraged by the Queen of Cyprus who was being commemorated, and I think the author’s use of emotional links allowed the text to be communicated well.