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\centerline{MONT 105N -- Analyzing Environmental Data}
\centerline{February 15, 2019}
\centerline{{\it Rhopography} Study Guide}
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{\it Background}
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Our reading for class on Friday, February 22 is a section of the 
chapter titled ``Rhopography'' from the book {\it Looking 
at the Overlooked: Four Essays on Still Life Painting} by Norman Bryson.
This is available as a scanned .pdf on the course homepage.  This is
a challenging text that will require some careful attention and thought.
To help you to get the most of this (and our museum visit the following
Sunday, February 24), here are some study questions.
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{\it Questions} 
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\item{1.}  Who is the author and what is his background?
\item{2.}  What does the author mean by the terms ``rhopography'' and ``megalography''
\item{3.}  The title of Bryson's book is {\it Looking at the Overlooked: Four Essays on Still Life Painting}. 
What do you think this title means?
\item{4.} Bryson positions still life painting in relation to other painting genres such as portraiture and history painting. How does he make this comparison?
\item{5.}  Bryson uses the paintings of Juan S\'anchez Cot\'an as 
``examples of rhopography's potential for overturning the scale of human importance?'' Discuss how.
\item{6.}  What are {\it bodeg\'ones}?
\item{7.}  According to Bryson, Cot\'an's work engages ``the eye'' in a powerful and particular way. Discuss how.
\item{8.}  How are Cot\'an's paintings ``hyperrealistic'' rather than merely ``realistic''? What is the difference?
\item{9.}  Describe how Bryson draws a comparison between the {\it Spiritual Exercises} of St. Ignatius and Cot\'an's paintings. 
\item{10.}  How are Cot\'an's paintings ``anorexic'' according to Bryson?
\item{11.}  Describe how Bryson describes Cot\'an's paintings in mathematical terms. Note: The footnote 6 on page 69 was 
not copied.  It says: ``To be more precise about Cot\'an's calculus: if the estimated centres of 
gravity for each fruit/vegetable are joined, the result is what is known as an exponential decay curve.''
Is that different from a ``logarithmic curve?''  How?
\item{12.}  According to Bryson, what is the ultimate aim of Cot\'an's mathematical approach to composition 
and his painting technique? Do you agree with this argument?
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