(82) The Italian Renaissance

Renaissance

Translates from the Italian word "Renacimiento," meaning "rebirth"; a period marking the revival of knowledge and learning after the Dark Ages.

Early Renaissance

The phase of the Renaissance occurring in the 1300s characterized by the Church in Tow period.

Quattrocento

The term referring to the 1400s, representing the middle period of the Renaissance.

High Renaissance

The final phase of the Renaissance occurring in the 1500s, marked by the flourishing of arts and culture.

Mimesis

An artistic term meaning to replicate or reproduce nature, reflecting the realistic representation in Renaissance art.

Patrons

Wealthy individuals, families (like the Medici), and the Church that commissioned artworks during the Renaissance.

Linear perspective

A mathematical system used by artists during the Renaissance to create the illusion of depth and space.

Tempera paint

A fast-drying painting medium made from colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder, often egg yolk.

Fresco painting

A technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid wet plaster, allowing the paint to become an integral part of the wall.

Sack of Rome

The event that occurred in 1527 when Rome was attacked, leading to significant loss of life and marking the decline of the Renaissance.

The Last Supper

A famous mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting the final meal of Jesus with his apostles, notable for its linear perspective.

Pietà

A sculptural depiction of Mary holding the body of Jesus after his crucifixion, created by Michelangelo.

Madonna

A representation of Mary, the mother of Jesus, commonly depicted in various forms during the Renaissance.

Mannerism

An artistic style that emerged in the late Renaissance characterized by abnormal proportions, exaggerated poses, and unconventional spatial relationships.

Chiaroscuro

The use of strong contrasts between light and dark to give the illusion of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures.

Saint Peter

The first Pope and a central figure in Christianity, depicted in various Renaissance artworks as a symbol of church authority.

Civic bodies

Local governments or organizations that may commission art but are less frequent patrons than wealthy families or the church during the Renaissance.

Giotto

An early Renaissance artist known for his frescoes and contributions to the development of realistic painting.

Statue of David

A renowned sculpture by Michelangelo representing the biblical hero David, symbolizing the ideal human form and Renaissance ideals.

Twelve Apostles

The disciples of Jesus, depicted in various Renaissance artworks, particularly in relation to the Last Supper.

Botticelli

An artist of the early Renaissance known for works like ‘The Birth of Venus’ and significant contributions to the painting of Madonna images.