High Renaissance in Italy (Unit 1)

High Renaissance

Similar social/economic/political situation in Italy as it was during the Early Renaissance: competing autonomous city-states and a powerful pope. Features the most famous Renaissance artists and works.

Generational shift

Transition in artists from one generation to another between the 1400s and the 1500s. Used as the distinction between the Early Renaissance and the High Renaissance.

Leonardo

Renaissance man known for diverse talents and genius: poetry, music, engineering, painting, and more. Considered one of the greatest artists of all time during his lifetime. Developed a reputation as “mysterious.” Experimental. Known for his analytical, slow process. Oil paint appealed greatly to him, and he was one of the first Italian artists to use it. Vasari argued that his multitude of skills was a gift from God.

Renaissance man

Multi-talented individual excelling in various fields.

Vasari

Florentine author of the most famous biography of the Renaissance. Lauded the artistic prowess of the likes of Leonardo and Michelangelo

Last Supper

Famous experimental painting by Leonardo where he attempted to combine tempera, oil paint, and fresco. The paint was fragile and not long-lasting as a result. Showcases the quality of Leonardo’s work. Seamless combination of a rational, precise structure and naturalism. Compositionally uses Jesus as a vanishing point and aligns all disciples with his eyes (escalating Early Renaissance techniques of perspective). Uses a triangular structure throughout.

Tempera

Fast-drying painting medium using pigments and water.

Oil paint

Slow-drying medium allowing for detailed artwork. Favored by slow-working artists such as Leonardo.

Fresco

Technique of mural painting on freshly applied plaster. Incredibly quick-drying. Requires daily-mixing, so it is sometimes possible to tell where the day’s work for an artist stopped and began based on differences in color shades.

Backward writing

Leonardo's unique left-handed writing style to avoid smudging the ink of his pens. Mistaken for codes.

Experimental artist

Artist who innovates and tries new techniques.

Michelangelo

Famous sculptor and painter of the High Renaissance.

Raphael

Noted painter known for his harmonious compositions.

Pope's power

Significant influence of the Pope during the Renaissance.

1500s

Time period defining the High Renaissance in Italy.

Artistic maturity

Peak skill level reached by artists in their careers.

Diversity of talents

Leonardo's ability across multiple artistic disciplines.

Anatomical studies

Leonardo's investigations into human body structure.

Elder statesman

Leonardo's status as a respected, older artist.

Horizon Line

Line running through Jesus's eyes in Last Supper.

Vanishing Point

Central point for perspective.

Orthogonals

Lines converging at vanishing point to create depth.

Mathematical Perspective

Precise use of perspective techniques in art.

Triangular Composition

Structure using triangles for stability and balance. Used by Leonardo in the Last Supper.

Naturalism

Artistic style emphasizing realistic representation. Leonardo was praised through his use of this alongside rational and precise structure (using sfumato and chiaroscuro to elevate the effect).

Sfumato

Technique creating hazy, smoky transitions in painting. A misty quality present in all of Leonardo’s work. Not exactly self-focused; often described as the figures emerging out of a mist or fog.

Chiaroscuro

Technique using light and shadow for depth. A subtle transition from areas of light to areas of shadow.

Mona Lisa

Oil on panel portrait of an upper-class Florentine woman. Leonardo’s most famous work well-known for its mysterious smile. Supposedly required clowns and jesters to keep its subject entertained during Leonardo’s incredibly long process.

Raphael

Big Renaissance artist known for clarity in art. Spent most of his career between Florence and Rome. First started out doing small Madonna paintings. Prioritized beauty and refinement in his art. Obsessed over the concept of “disegno.” Had a reputation as a “gentleman artist.”

Madonna Paintings

Early works by Raphael depicting the Virgin Mary.

Rich Colors, sfumato, and chiaroscuro

Vivid hues and techniques used in many Renaissance oil paintings by Rafael’s time.

Clarity and Directness

Raphael's artistic goal contrasting with Leonardo's style.

Early Renaissance

Period when perspective techniques began to evolve.

Artistic Genius

Leonardo's ability to blend structure with naturalism.

Composition

Arrangement of elements in a work of art.

Disegno

Conceptual approach to art design and composition. Directly translates to “design.” During the High Renaissance, if an artwork possessed this quality, it was imprinted onto the viewers’ intellect. A well-designed work of art was believed ot make one a more rational and intellectual person.

The School of Athens

Fresco by Raphael showcasing classical philosophers and artists. Although abundant, they are organized in a way that the piece looks harmonious and dignified. Commissioned for the interior of waiting rooms for the pope. Contains portraits of Plato/Leonardo, Aristotle, a self-portrait, Michelangelo/Heraclites, and more.

Papal Commission

Artworks commissioned by the pope.

Fresco

Technique of mural painting on wet plaster.

Renaissance Popes

Church leaders often raised in humanist environments.

Intellectual Development

Art viewed as a means to enhance intellect.

Cultural Integration

Blend of classicism and humanism in Renaissance society.

Michelangelo

Pinnacle artist, revered above Leonardo and Raphael during his lifetime. His importance for later art manifested in how he was seen as a model to being a good artist. Considered himself first and foremost as a sculptor but also painted. Vasari claimed he was sent to teach other artists how to attain perfection. Chose to work intuitively in contrast to Leonardo and saw his sculpting as “freeing the form” (a rather modern concept).

“The Divine Michelangelo”

Michelangelo’s nickname - a result of his reputation as an art genius saving fellow artists from their errors. A testament to the magnitude of his influence on the art world.

David

Michelangelo's iconic sculpture symbolizing Florence. Interestingly depicts David during a moment of stillness where he decides he will fight Goliath (posing this as the moment he truly became a hero). Michelangelo miraculously sculpted David with a sense of energy and a possibility of movement in marble. Exceptionally correct anatomy other than out-of-proportion hands (a result of either Michelangelo’s obsession with sculpting hands as a testament to his skill or the fact that the statue was meant to be seen from below).

Polykleitos

Ancient sculptor influencing Michelangelo's artistic style.

Mature male nude

Acceptable representation in art during Michelangelo's time.

Slingshot

Weapon David carries, signifying his readiness to fight.

Goliath

Giant adversary David prepares to confront. Symbolizes Milan in Florentine renditions.

Florence

City-state commissioning Michelangelo's David sculpture.

Artistic cues

Influences Michelangelo drew from classical art.

Marble Quarries

Locations where Michelangelo selected unclaimed marble blocks.

Constant Revision

Leonardo's practice of restarting work for perfection.

Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Famous frescoes painted by Michelangelo for the Pope despite the fact that the former was not a painter. Supposedly had a workshop to assist him (as was typical of artists at the time) but then fired them after a single panel and did the rest himself. The amount of scaffolding he would have had to use is a testament to his determination. Contains narrative scenes in the center and various stories about the creation of the world from the book of Genesis.

Artist Workshops

Renaissance practice of artists managing teams and apprentices. Following the system, the work would always be accredited to the master artist regardless of the division of labor (this was a known and accepted fact by patrons).

Full-Sized Drawings

Poking holes technique used by Michelangelo for ceiling figure outlines.

Artistic Spirit

Concept of material possessing inherent artistic qualities.

Trompe l'oeil

Art so realistic it “fools the eye.” Used in Michelangelo’s frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to create the illusion of marble arches.

The Creation of Adam

Michelangelo’s most famous narrative on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Features God the Father giving the spark of life to Adam. Demonstration that Michelangelo’s understanding of the human body is informed by classical sculpture; he applied principles he learned in sculpture to his paintings, giving them a unique look compared to other Renaissance paintings of humans. This limited his body diversity, but his mastery of the classical body was nonetheless enormously influential.

Classically-inspired Nude

Idealized male body representation by Michelangelo.

Venetian School

AKA the Venetian High Renaissance. Distinct art movement during the Italian High Renaissance. Trended toward secular and classical subjects, as the church is less powerful than it is in Rome and Florence.

Venice

The place that Leonardo is believed to have picked up oil painting from. An international city of trade with strong connections to Northern Europe. Also known for its festivities.

Oil on Canvas

Painting technique popularized by Venetian artists who picked it up from Northern Europe.

Giorgione

Prominent artist of the Venetian Renaissance. A master artist.

Titian

Major figure in Venetian Renaissance painting. Began as an apprentice to Giorgione but eventually became a master himself.

Pastoral

An idealized landscape. Enormously popular in Venice, especially among wealthy Venetians who often owned a city apartment and a country home. Became fashionable to decorate urban apartments with these scenes.

Pastoral Concert

Influential work credited to Giorgione and Titian. An image of two guys composing music who are inspired by two classical muses (responsible for inspiring artists). An example of two distinct Venetian aesthetics: a Sfumato-like, golden smokiness and its sensuousness (mainly focused on sounds), both amplified by its velvety brush strokes.

Architectural Framework

Structural design surrounding figures in artwork.

Golden Smokiness

Sfumato-like. Characteristic light quality in Venetian paintings.

Sensuousness

Art appealing to the senses, enhancing viewer experience. Characteristic quality in Venetian paintings.

Venus of Urbino

Titian's iconic nude portrait. Although there is debate over where it depicts a real person, the sleeping dog suggests it is a mistress of the Duke of Urbino (its patron). Thought of as the standard for the female nude in Western art. Has a haziness and sensuous quality (scent and sound).

Venus Pudica

Modest pose covering genitals meant to be modest yet draws the viewer’s attention to the area it conceals. Discussed as false modesty. Seen in Venus of Urbino.

Dog

Symbolically represents fidelity in Venus of Urbino painting; asleep.

Secular Art

Art commissioned by non-religious patrons in Venice. Allowed for greater exploration of mythology.