Art of the Renaissance
Back to the Future
5 Causes1.) More Wealth available through
increased international trading
2.) More technical knowledge and appreciation for academics
3.) Rediscovery and appreciation of Classical artistic contributions
4.) The Protestant Reformation decreased the influence of the church
5.) End of the plague-filled years in Europe
4 Key Breakthroughs in Painting
Oil Paint on Canvas – (replaced tempera paint on wood & fresco on plaster) this provided a much greater range of colors & shading
Painting by Artemesia Gentileschi. Israeli leader Judith and her assistant Abra cutting the head off an enemy warlord.
Note the calm expressions (although it is suspected that overzealous restoration erased some of the furrows from their brows.)
Perspective – the illusion of depth on a flat surface – objects fade toward a “Vanishing Point”
Chiaroscuro – (light/dark in Italian) the use of light & shadow to creating depth & realism through accurate shading.
The Girl With the Pearl Earring – Johannes Vermeer
Pyramid Configuration – Building the focus of an image to a climax in the center
The Virgin of the Rocks – Leonardo de Vinci
3 Significant Styles of the Renaissance
Particular Eras and Regions
Early Renaissance (1400-1500)Originates in Florence, Italy due to its status as the center of Europe’s banking system
Key patron is the Medici family
3 Key Artists represent the significant developments of the Early Renaissance
Florence & The Medicis
Masaccio – “The Father of Renaissance Painting” – established many of the techniques associated with this period in 1420s
The Holy Trinity
Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
Donatello - “The Father of Renaissance Sculpture” - his David is the first free-standing nude statue since the classical period, but more “real”.
Botticelli – Painter who used new techniques to tell the story of the classical. The “Birth of Venus” is his signature work.
High Renaissance (1500-1600)Center of the movement shifts to Rome with the decline of the Medici family in Florence
Key patron is Pope Julius IIPeriod is seen as the peak of achievement in the arts
Period begins when Leonardo Da Vinci paints his “Last Supper” in 1495
High Renaissance Cont.Key contribution to architecture is Donato Bramante’s Tempietto 1502
Key painting: Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (1505) & Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Key sculpture is Michelangelo’s Pieta (1505)
Northern Renaissance (1400-1600)The Renaissance as it was
interpreted by the cultures outside of Italy (not just north)
Region did not have Roman ruins to rediscover, but looked to nature for inspiration
Invention of the printing press helped spread the developments in Italy
The Northern Renaissance was also closely linked to the Protestant Reformation
Northern Renaissance Hall of Fame
Holland – Jan Van Eyck
“The Arnolfini Wedding” 1434
Northern Renaissance Hall of FameSpain – El Greco
“The Resurrection” 1600
Germany – Albrecht Durer
“Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” 1497
Belgium – Pieter Bruegel “Hunters in the Snow” 1565
LiteratureIn 1450 Guttenberg invents printing
press, huge impact on availability & length of literature
Machiavelli writes The Prince in 1513, still a guide for getting & maintaining political power
The height of Allegory – stories where fictional characters symbolically represent another level of “Truth”
Literature Cont.
Martin Luther translates the bible into German & founds Protestantism
During 1590’s playwriting is at its height in Elizabethan England and William Shakespeare is the leading figure of this group.
Performing Arts
15th Century performing arts saw a revival during the Renaissance .
Ballet was born in Italy in the late 15th century as an interpretation of fencing
The First Opera - Dafne by Jacopo Peris – was performed in 1597
The plays (acting) of Shakespeare highlight this era in England
Leonardo Da Vinci Renaissance Man: A wise person
talented in many fields with various skills and abilities.
Lived 1452 – 1519 - an
intelligent, handsome and charming Italian
“His abilities were so extraordinary
that he could readily solve every difficulty”
An Accomplished: Singer –
Mountain Climber – Ornithologist – Inventor – Writer – Painter – Mathematician – Musician – Conversationalist
The Original Renaissance ManOne flaw, so curious that he would often abandon
one project for another Less than twenty completed paintings survive Conceived of ideas vastly ahead of his own time,
notably inventing the helicopter, a tank, solar power, the calculator, the theory of plate tectonics, and others
Greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of
anatomy, astronomy, civil engineering, optics and the study of water
Leonardo da Vinci: The Man Who Wanted to Know Everythinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rog5i2n1
QVs
Raphael – Key DetailsConsidered “Most Popular” of the Big 3
(Trinity of Great Renaissance Masters)
Hired by the Pope to decorate the Vatican at 26
Was a devoted Ladies’ Man, and Mentor
Died of Illness on his 37th Birthday
Raphael – Key WorksResurrection of Christ* School of AthensSistine MadonnaPortrait of Pope Julius II
Michelangelo – Key DetailsHired by the Medici @ 15
Held in high regard, but preferred to live in solitude
Talented as a sculptor and a painter, but viewed sculpture as a superior art
Worked alone on 10,000 sq. ft. Sistine Chapel ceiling but finished in 4 years
Michelangelo – Key WorksSistine Chapel
Michaelangelo
Pieta
MichaelangeloDavid
MichaelangeloThe Last Judgment
(part of the Sistine Chapel)
Donatello – Key DetailsBorn to an Artisan and trained by Martelli
Family
Got his start as a Goldsmith
Primarily a sculptor
Traveled to Rome to study 1404-1407, greatly influencing direction of Renaissance Art
Donatello – Key Works
David
Donatello – Key works
Magdalene Penitent
Donatello – key works
Statue of St. John The BaptistSt. Mark
Donatello – key worksStatue of St. John The BaptistSt. Mark
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