Week 3: Italian Early Renaissance Art

Altarpiece:

• a panel that is painted or sculpted representing a religioys subject that is placed above and behind an altar in a church

• Two panels = diptych

• Three panels = triptych

• Multiple panels = polyptych

Chiaroscuro:

• literally translated as “light-dark”

• The use of light and dark to produce three-dimensional modeling

Foreshortening:

• the use of perspective to show the extension of an object back into space

Fresco:

• Italian for “fresh”

• A mural-painting technique involving the application of permanent lime- proof pigments, diluted in water, on freshly laid lime plaster

• (Buon fresco involves the application of pigment on several layers of wet plaster, while fresco secco refers to the painting directly on dried lime plaster

Gilding:

• Very thin bounded gold leaf applied with glue to a surface

• Emphasizes the spiritual and heavenly subject matter of religious works

Giornata (pl. gionate):

• meaning “day” in Italian, the section of plaster that a fresco painter expects to complete in one session, to keep the plaster from drying before pigment can be added

Italo- Byzantine Style (the maniera greca):

• the use of the Byzantine style in Italy, especially prevalent after the fall of Constantinople in 1204, which led to the migration of Byzantine artist to Italy

Maesta:

• the scene of the Virgin Mary (Madonna) seated on a throne holding the infant Jesus on her lap

• often flanked by angels, saints or prophets

• translated “majesty”

Tempera:

• a paint made of pigment mixed with egg yolk, glue or casein

Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Flore)

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1296

• Romanesque

• geometric

• Cathedral and city hall of Florence by same architect, Arnolfo di Cambio

• Shows competition Florence felt with Siena

• Ornamented in Tuscan style-marble geometric designs

• Emphasis on horizontal elements

• Campanile (bell tower) separate structure, designed by Giotto

• hosted 30,000 while Florence only had 10,000 population at the time

The Baptistry of St. John

• c. 1059 - 1128

• Romanesque

• All Florentines baptized here in early years after its completion

• Baptism as cleasing the soul

• Classical details: triangular pediments, Corinthian capitals

• baby’s were baptized here

South doors Baptistry of San Giovanni, Cathedral of Florence

• c. 1330 - 1336

• Andrea Pisano

• Guilt bronze

• Each square on the door tells a different Bible story

• Compositions of each panel recall those of Giotto

• Proportions, flowing robes recall French sculptural style

• French Gothic quatrefoil frames

• There was a contest between two artist: Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti, Lorenzo won.

• Brunelleschi stopped sculpting after losing and only was an architect

• Lorenzo won at 20 years old and took him 20 years finish the entire door

Sacrifice of Isaac:

• Lorenzo Ghiberti

• Florence Baptistery

• c. 1401 - 1402

• gilded bronze

• Lorenzo wins the contest

• His art labeled as more aesthetically pleasing

• recalls classical antiquity

• emotive

• naturalistic detail

• diagonal

• Unified composition

The Flagellation of Christ

• Lorenzo Ghiberti

• c. 1401 -1424

• Gilded Bronze

• Baptistry Florence

• North doors

• Scenes from the New Testament (Life of Christ)

• Took 20 years to complete

• Artist signature —appears as a prophet

Contrapposto:

• posture of a figure standing at rest with weight shifted onto one leg

• contrapposto became popular again

Gates of Paradise:

• Lorenzo Ghiberti

• east doors

• Florence baptistery

• c. 1425 - 52

• Gilded bronze

• Baptistry, Florence

• Lack of quatrefoil frames

• Old Testament scenes

• Use of perspective

• Artist’s signature-appears as a prophet

• Gothic architecture to signify the old

Four Martyred Saints (Quattro Santi Coronati):

• Nanni di Banco

• Church of Or San Michele

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1408 - 1414

• Marble figures

• Each niche of Or San Michele is decorated with sculpture paid for by a guild

• Predella: shows woodworkers and stonemasons at work

• 4 different ppl: Four-Crowned Martyrs, or Four Crowned

• these 4 ppl refused to make sculptures of pagan gods and they were killed

• Contrapposto

• shows the body underneath the clothes

• hair and face are detailed Contrapposto

Stonemasons guild:

• guidl was collective for a skilled occupation

• commisioned stonemasons at work

St. George:

• Donatello

• c. 1415 - 1417

• Florence, Italy

• he was a knight

• fought on horseback

• weapons guild requested it

• fought dragon (shown on the bottom)

St. Mark:

• Donatello

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1411 - 1413

• standing on a pillow

• attention to clothes

• commissioned by the clothing guild

Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius:

• Donatello

• gilded bronze

• Donatello looked at what Romans were doing

• first bronze statue made after 100 years

David:

• Donatello

• c. 1430 - 1460

• Bronze

• the bankers commissioned David

• they saw themselves in his story

• the hat represents a wealthy god, which points to the family

• laurel leaves on head to show victory

• symbol of Florence and Medichi family

Mary Magdalene:

• Donatello

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1452 -1455

• Polychromed and gilded wood

• Later work by Donatello turns away from classical beauty, grandeur

• he worked with a multitude of materials

• Raw emotion

• recalls medieval ideals of piety

• she was a prostitute

• spends the next 30 years in repentance

• What makes a great artist?

  • diversity in art platforms, styles, facial expressions

Trinity:

• c.1425 - 28

• Fresco

• Santa Maria Novella, Florence Italy

• illusion of depth

• dove represents the holy spirit

• Mary & John the Evangelist

• Two donors of the church

• “What you are, I once was, what I am, you will be”

• memento mori: death symbol Skelton

The Birth of Venus:

• Botticelli

• c. 1485

• Tempera on canvas

• Venus Pudica = Modest Vensus

• Innovative use of the female nude

• Allegory of innocence and truth of the soul

• Christian mysticism- the ascent of the soul to God

• Despite not being Christian, it has Christian allegories

• gold highlights in the man/nymphs hair

Birth of Oshun:

• Harmonia Rosales

• c. 2017

• oil on linen

• Celebrated in Brazil, Cuba, West Africa

• goddis of love and vertiligo

• different gender dynamic

• goddess of the sea on the right

• zues like figure on the left

• artists wants ppl too look at other mythologies

• boldness in color

• lightning

• background is more tropical, fruits cacti

• peacock feathers

• portions of her skin are covered in gold ot show vertiligo

The Annunciation:

• Fra Angelico

• c. 1438 - 1447

• Fresco

• San Marco, Florence

• loggia- a covered exterior gallery or corridor, supported by series of columns or arches

Pazzi Chapel at Santa Croce

• Architects: Brunelleschi and Michealozzo

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1460s

• All’antica detail: porch (loggia) that resembles triumphal arch

• Meeting of pilasters at corners: struggle to reconcile mathematical proportions with ancient classical elements

Ospedal Degli Innocenti (Hospital of the Innocent)

• Filippo Brunelleschi

• c. 1421

• Florence, Italy

• home for orphans

• created by the artist who lost

• goldsmith guild commissioned it

• babies shown to show the purpose of the building

• loggia: a covered exterior gallery or corridor, supported by series of columns or arches

Palazzo Medici Riccardi

• Michelozzo di Bartolommeo

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1445

• commisioned by the Medici family

• rough massonry

• curved arches for windows

• Roman inspired

• cornice

• even smoother surface

• dressed masonry (smooth, finished)

• rustication (rough, unfinished masontry)

Santa Maria Novella:

• Leon Battista Alberti

• Florence, Italy

• c. 1456 - 1470

• stained glass gothic

• pattern similar to Islamic uses 2 or more colors

• Greek/Roman temples: pendent at the top

• columns/pillars