The Early Renaissance in Italy (15th Century or “Quattrocento”) Rise of Humanism, Importance of Florence as artistic Centers, and Powerful Patrons (Medicini Family)

Humanism

There was a rise of humanism in art during this time, along with the importance of Florence as the artistic center

Sacrifice of Isaac 1401 (Loser)

Brunelleschi’s entry in the east door competition in (French Gothic quatrefoil frame a medieval holdover) (cast bronze, old testament)

Sacrifice of Isaac 1401 (Winner)

Ghiberti’s entry for the east door competition in (French Gothic quatrefoil frame a medieval holdover) (cast bronze, old testament)

• 1st “classical” nude since Antiquity, appreciation of the human body, he made them look muscular

• Ghiberti won due to the classical motifs, illusionism of depth, dramatic intensity, and the artisan virtuosity

Linear Perspective

Horizon line, vanishing point, and orthogonals (diagonal lines) which all give an illusion of depth/perspective - thanks to Brunelleschi

Atmospheric perspective (Aerial perspective)

the farther back an object, the blurrier, less detailed, and bluer it appears

Gates of Paradise 1425-1452

East doors, Baptistery of San Giovanni, Florence made by Ghiberti. It is the entire door.

Saint Mark 1411-1413

• Sculpted by Donatello, he reintroduces Greek contrapposto stance to statuary

• Guild headquarters had artists sculpt their patrons’ saint, basically like their mascot

David (Medici Family) 1440-1460

• Fully nude sculpture by Donatello

• About the biblical character David, from David vs. Goliath

• Laurel wreath - Was put on victors, a symbol of victory

Holy Trinity 1425

Painting by Masaccio

• “I was once what you are, and what I am you will become”

• Classical coffered ceiling inside a painted barrel vaulted, fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals, and columns

• Used linear perspective

Birth of Venus 1484

Painted by Botticelli

• Personification - Ideas in human form, learned this in english

• Tempera was used for this painting

Pursuit of Knowledge

There was more of a pursuit for knowledge, along with the studying of the classical world. Studying perspective.

Modular

Brunelleschi revived classical systems of proportions and employed this method of repeated use of forms and dimensions in his architecture

cornice

like the edges that sticks out at the tops of buildings

Quattrocento

Early Renaissance, a transformative period in Florence and Italy characterized by realism, humanism, linear perspective, and classical influences in painting, sculpture, and architecture

Palazzo Medici 1445

Bartolommeo, Rustic masonry at ground level mixed with classical architectural elements including a prominent cornice

Church of Sant’Andre

Alberti, Pilasters extend up uninterrupted in “colossal order”