Renaissance Art: Key Works, Techniques, and Historical Contexts

What is a triptych?

A three-paneled altarpiece, often hinged, used for devotion (ex: Campin, Mérode Triptych).

What were Italian city-states, and why are they important?

Independent powers like Florence, Siena, Venice; rivalry fueled artistic innovation.

Who were the Medici, and why are they important?

Wealthy Florentine banking family, major patrons of art (Donatello, Botticelli).

What is Humanism in Renaissance art?

Focus on classical antiquity, human dignity, secular learning; inspired naturalism.

What is Naturalism?

Lifelike representation of figures and space; a shift away from medieval flatness.

What is the Italo-Byzantine style?

Gold backgrounds, flat stylized figures, spiritual emphasis (pre-Giotto).

What is fresco painting?

Pigments applied to wet plaster; durable, bright colors (Giotto, Masaccio).

What is tempera painting?

Egg-yolk medium; fast drying, matte finish (Botticelli).

What is oil painting, and who perfected it?

Slow drying, allows detail and luminous blending; perfected by Jan van Eyck in Northern Europe.

What is engraving?

Printmaking from incised metal plates; allowed wide distribution (Schongauer).

What is a Book of Hours?

Private prayer book with lavish illustrations (Limbourg Brothers).

What is contrapposto?

A natural stance with weight shifted to one leg (Donatello's David).

What is foreshortening?

Technique to create depth by shortening receding parts of a figure (Mantegna's Foreshortened Christ).

What is aerial/atmospheric perspective?

Illusion of depth by fading color and hazy background.

What is linear perspective?

System of depth using vanishing points; invented by Brunelleschi, applied by Masaccio.

Who painted Christ's Entry into Jerusalem (1305), what medium, and why important?

Giotto; fresco in Arena Chapel, Padua; innovated naturalism and spatial depth.

Who painted Lamentation (1305), what's the subject, and why important?

Giotto; fresco in Arena Chapel; shows raw human emotion; diagonal composition guides the eye.

Who painted Madonna Enthroned (ca. 1310), and why was it significant?

Giotto; tempera on panel; breaks from Byzantine flatness, monumental natural Virgin.

Who painted the Maestà Altarpiece (1308-11), where, and why important?

Duccio; Siena Cathedral; combines Byzantine elegance with narrative detail; civic devotion to the Virgin.

Who made the South Doors, Baptistery of Florence (1330-36), and why important?

Andrea Pisano; bronze relief; clear narrative, honored St. John the Baptist, precursor to Ghiberti's doors.

Who sculpted the Well of Moses (1395-1406), and why important?

Claus Sluter; limestone, Dijon; monumental realism; turning point in Northern sculpture.

Who made the Ghent Altarpiece (1432), and why important?

Jan & Hubert van Eyck; oil; incredible detail, symbolism, complex salvation narrative.

Who painted the Portinari Altarpiece (1476), and why significant?

Hugo van der Goes; oil; emotional realism, influenced Italian artists.

Who painted the Arnolfini Portrait (1434), and why significant?

Jan van Eyck; oil; symbolism (dog=fidelity, shoes=sacred ground); early secular portrait.

Who illuminated January from Très Riches Heures (1413-16), and why important?

Limbourg Brothers; manuscript; shows daily life and luxury, ties earthly time to sacred cycles.

Who painted the Mérode Triptych (1425-28), and why important?

Robert Campin; oil triptych; Annunciation in domestic interior, symbolism of everyday objects, patrons included.

Who engraved St. Anthony Tormented by Demons (1470-75), and why important?

Martin Schongauer; engraving; expressive line; first major master printmaker.

Who competed with Sacrifice of Isaac panels (1401-2), and what's the difference?

Brunelleschi = dramatic, raw energy; Ghiberti = elegant, classical calm; both bronze reliefs for Baptistery.

What is Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise (1425-52), and why significant?

Bronze relief doors for Florence Baptistery; mastery of linear perspective in sculpture.

Who sculpted the first freestanding nude since antiquity, and what was it?

Donatello; David (ca. 1440-60), bronze; contrapposto, Medici patronage.

Who painted Expulsion of Adam and Eve (1424-27), and why significant?

Masaccio; fresco, Brancacci Chapel; raw human emotion, classical anatomy, chiaroscuro.

Who painted Tribute Money (1424-27), and why important?

Masaccio; fresco, Brancacci Chapel; first clear use of linear perspective; continuous narrative.

Who painted Birth of Venus (1484-86), and why significant?

Botticelli; tempera; mythological subject, ideal beauty, Medici patronage, Neoplatonic meaning.

Who built the Dome of Florence Cathedral (1420-36), and why significant?

Brunelleschi; brick/stone; engineering feat, double-shell dome, symbol of civic pride.

Who painted the Baptism of Christ (1448-50), and why important?

Piero della Francesca; tempera; clarity, geometry, divine order through rational composition.

Who painted the Foreshortened Christ (ca. 1500), and why significant?

Andrea Mantegna; tempera; radical foreshortening, intimate devotion, realism of Christ's suffering.

Why is Limbourg Brothers, January, Très Riches Heures (1413-16) important?

Manuscript illumination; Duke of Berry patronage; shows court luxury and piety; connects earthly feasts with sacred calendar.

Why is Giotto, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem (1305) important?

Fresco, Arena Chapel; patron = Scrovegni; naturalism and spatial depth; Christ entering Jerusalem with apostles and crowds; salvation narrative for patron.

Why is Botticelli, Birth of Venus (1484-86) important?

Tempera on canvas; Medici patronage; mythological Venus, Zephyrs, attendant; Neoplatonic meaning = divine love through beauty.

Why is Campin, Mérode Triptych (1425-28) important?

Oil triptych; patron = merchant family; Annunciation in domestic home; donors included; symbolism (lilies, mousetrap); shows God entering everyday life.

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem

1305, Giotto

Lamentation

1305, Giotto

Madonna Enthroned

1310, Giotto

Maestà Altarpiece

1308-11, Duccio

St. John Baptizing the Multitudes (South Doors)

1330-36, Andrea Pisano

Well of Moses

1395-1406, Claus Sluter

Ghent Altarpiece

1432, Hubert & Jan van Eyck

Portinari Altarpiece

1476, Hugo van der Goes

Arnolfini Portrait

1434, Jan van Eyck

January, Très Riches Heures

1413-16, Limbourg Brothers

Mérode Triptych

1425-28, Robert Campin

St. Anthony Tormented by Demons

1470-75, Martin Schongauer

Sacrifice of Isaac (competition panel)

1401-02, Brunelleschi

Sacrifice of Isaac (competition panel)

1401-02, Ghiberti

Gates of Paradise (Isaac and His Sons)

1425-52, Ghiberti

David

1440-60, Donatello

Expulsion of Adam and Eve

1424-27, Masaccio

Tribute Money

1424-27, Masaccio

Birth of Venus

1484-86, Botticelli

Dome of Florence Cathedral

1420-36, Brunelleschi

Baptism of Christ

1448-50, Piero della Francesca

Foreshortened Christ

1500, Andrea Mantegna

Triptych

A three-paneled altarpiece, often hinged, used for devotion.

City-states

Independent regional powers (like Florence, Siena, Venice) whose rivalries fueled artistic innovation.

Medici Family

Powerful Florentine bankers; major patrons of Renaissance art (Donatello, Botticelli, etc.).

Humanism

Renaissance movement focused on classical antiquity, human dignity, and secular learning.

Naturalism

Art style with lifelike representation of figures and space.

Italo-Byzantine Style

Medieval Italian style with gold backgrounds, flat figures, and spiritual emphasis.

Fresco

Painting on wet plaster; durable with vivid colors (Giotto, Masaccio).

Tempera

Egg-yolk medium; dries quickly, matte finish (Botticelli).

Oil painting

Slow drying medium allowing detail, blending, luminosity; perfected by Jan van Eyck.

Engraving

Printmaking method using incised metal plates; enabled wide distribution (Schongauer).

Book of Hours

Private prayer book with lavish illustrations (Limbourg Brothers).

Contrapposto

Natural stance with weight shifted to one leg; classical revival (Donatello's David).

Foreshortening

Illusion of depth by shortening receding parts of a figure (Mantegna's Foreshortened Christ).

Aerial/Atmospheric Perspective

Depth technique with fading color and hazy backgrounds.

Linear Perspective

System of depth using vanishing points; invented by Brunelleschi, applied by Masaccio.