Renaissance Art Class images

Images and class notes

Palazzo Vechio in piazzo signoria Firenze- the parliament/republic building designed by Arnolfo di Cambio

This building had statues all around it like hercules, david, and the neptune fountain. The florentine republic as well as the medichi family all commisioned these to show the political power of florence.

What are the 4 major symbols of the republic of florence? Florence lily, Hercules, David, and lion

Fun fact- donatellos bronze david was in the piazza before michealangelos david

In the late 13th century-medieval/gothic

Everything before the 14th century was more gothic. Gothic style was different in italy than compared to other parts of europe, because of its slight connection to roman style.

The birthplace of the gothic style was more in France, Germany, and Spain

Loggia della Signoria- Francesco talenti, lorenzo pucci

Finished at the beginning of the renaissance and you can tell because of the arches which are a key part of the renaissance

You see two important figures under the arches

1- perseus killing medusa: this represents power with a monster slayer

2- The rape of the sabian women- really translates to “kidnap” - by Giambologno

3 figures carved out of a marble block- 360 view shows perspective

Grand Duke medichi commisioned both of these

Death of savonarola- savonarola is burned at the stake but this photo is interesting because it shows piazza signoria without statues!

Santa Maria del fiore- what I think of as the duomo

A combination of Arnolfo di cambio, francesco talenti, and brunelleschi

This was built from 1296 to 1436- so finished at the beginning of the renaissance but is designed to be gothic

It is built from local marble

The houses around santa maria del fiore are for lay people who are responsible in keeping up the duomo

The dome itself was the last part from 1420-1436 and was done by fillippo brunelleschi- was the largest dome yet

There is also a baptistry that has 8 sides which is true of all baptistries

Painting- Dante and Firenze

Artist- Domenico di michelino

Location- Santa maria del fiore

Dante was a famous medival italian poet who was born in florence

Painting- Lorenzo the magnifico

Artist- Verrocchio

Location- Met museum New York

A bust of lorenzo medici who was a powerful member of medici family

Fun fact lorenzo medici died in 1492 when the new world was started

painting- San Gerolamino

Artist- Domenico Ghirlandaio

San gerolamo is a father of the church and is depicted as having dominance over a work with his studying at the table

Shows a bishop studying ancient islamic texts which is important instead of depicting this figure in a holy way

Engraving- a portrait of Baccio Bandinelli

Artist- niccolo della casa

this is done on an engraving which means you can print it and mass produce it as well

Bandinelli became an aristocrat after his work making the statue hercules and cacaus that is in piazza signoria- and his work holding a sculpture shows how this is his powerful tool of his art, instead of something like a sword

The medici family gave him this higher status

Sculpture- Pieta

Sculptor-Michelangelo

Location- St. Peters in the Vatican

This is the only sculpture that michelangelo ever signed

It depicts Mary only looking a few years older than Jesus

He did this to match his patrons views who was Cardinal Bilheres

Painting- The school of Athens (actually a fresco)

Painter- Raffaello, early 16th century

Location- the vatican in Rome

This painting depicts the intellectuals and philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome

It shows Plato pointing up and carrying a metaphysics book (focused on heavens) and Aristotle pointing out (focused on reality carrying an ethics book)

Sculpture- Victory

Sculptor- Michelangelo

Location- Palazzo Vecchio

Note- this is an unfinished piece by michelangelo-could be due to problems with the patron or with michelangelo himself

The man on top of an older man was taken to be sexually suggestive but it is more of a sign of military victory of florence over pisa

Sculpture- Night

Sculptor- Michelangelo

Location- In san lorenzo basillica (the old church by medici palace)

This depicts a nude woman which is interesting because michelangelo didn’t have a wife or children so thats why the proportions are off

Usually female models for sculptors were escorts

This is controversial because it is nudity in a church- only after council of trent was nudity not allowed in the church which happend in mid 15th century

Sculpture- Hercules and Cacus

Sculptur- Baccio Bandinelli

Location- right outside palazzo vecchio

Bandinelli did this for the florentine republic to show political victory

Hercules is a figure of the republic and of christ defeating cacus, a symbol of evil

Stunning because his posture showed that he just killed cacus

Building- The pantheon

Location- Rome

Pantheon means to honor all gods in greek and so this temple is meant to honor all the gods

It is for Santa Maria and the Martyrs is what the church is actually called

Contains a temple with a dome and a hole that shines light very beautifully

Painting- Trinity (fresco)

Painter- Masaccio

Location- Santa Maria Novella

This shows the christian trinity of Jesus, God above, and the holy spirit depicted as a dove on Jesus’ head

Jesus is practically naked

Building - The colosseum

The colosseum could hold around 50,000 to 80,000 spectators whether that be for the olympic games or mass excecutions

Patron- Emperor vespasianus and his son titus

There was originally statues surrounding the colosseum and a large statue of emperor vespasianus outside of it representing the republic of Rome

GIF surroundings- important buildings to note

Botanical garden outside of school is the 3rd oldest in europe- it was used for medicinal plant studies

Piazza de San Marco and convent- there is a church (under construction) and convent attached- Cosimo medici commisioned this

The convent contains the first public library in Europe

The garden of san marco (where the modern art exhibit is) was a place that michelangleo studied

Church of San lorenzo- First cathedral of florence! Designed by brunellesci but died before he finisehd. There is a library in here by michelangelo as well.

The college for the society of Jesus is near St. Johns church. The jesuits had the church and the college. They helped get medicinal herbs for the medicis.

Medici palace/ palazzo medici is one of the first renaissance palaces due to its square/cube like structure- michelozzo designed it

Also has one of the first courtyards where donatellos bronze david was held

Piazza de SS annunziata or Santissima annunziata

This is the square with the white buildings

There is a church of SS annunziata

There is also a ospedale de innocenti

There is also an orphanage- specifically for the large amount of women who were having children out of wedlock at this time

Brunelleschi designed the orphanage/hospital and it is the first building of classical architecture/renaissance with its rounded arches and mathmatical elements- the beauty of the building hides the shame on the inside

This square provided social work, and was located in a more underdeveloped part of Florence at the time

(ospedale is considered the first building, not the orphanage, but same square. The square is mathematical itself with reflecting porches)

The columns are important as well, as gothic style had more pillars than compared to the renaissance- there are 9 column bays and the length of the colums is the same as the width between them.

The church of SS annunziata is also where st al vowed to chastity/virginity when he was living in florence for a couple years around the age of 8

Sculpture- Laocoon and his sons

Artist- 3 ancient greek artists, it was rediscovered in the 16th century

Patron- emperor titus

Here, three figures are carved out of a single stone of marble and it tells the story of the fall of troy, which is when the roman empire begins

Another roman antiquity

Sculpture- Dioscorus

Another huge sculpture that was in the piazza signoria- one of the ones that people would come from all over to see

Church-Santa Maria Novella

Artist- Made by Leon Battista Alberti

Alberti was influenced by leonardo da vincis “an ideal man” and wrote a book in latin that was published everywhere

Book- Vitruvian man

Author- Leonardo da vinci

Note that this wasn’t published until 1492

This shows the body in a perfect square and circle that puts it into geometric terms

its like Da vinci was saying that he is the ideal man

medival figures have the human body less symmetrical

Sculpture- costantino

Artist- roman antiquity

location- Rome

This head is 2 meters its huge!

Constantino is an important roman emperor because he helped religous freedom for christians in Rome

Note that this is also paired with a giant hand

Sculpture- Bartolomeo colleoni

Artist- andrea del verrocchio

This man is in venice

Venice was another republic at the time and called stato da Mar (sea state)

Michelangelo also studied in venice

There is a big church called basilica de San Marco in venice

Painting- Crucifix

Artist- Giotto

Location-church of Santa Maria Novella

This is one of Giottos famous works finished around 1300

It was surprising for people to see Jesus in this form in more of a suffering, as we know his crucifixtion was Roman capital punishment

Fresco- Francis of Assisi

Artist- Giotto

Location- Santa Croce

this is the largest franciscan church

Sculpture- crucifiction sculpture on a door in Rome

Artist- Unknow, past roman artist

This is one of the earliest pictures of the crucifiction that we have

Image- shroud of turin

This is an ancient linen from India and it is an early form of what we believe to be the crucifix

Sculpture- Christ the Good Shepard

Artist- Ancient Roman antiquity

Location- Vatican museum

Cathedral- St. Denis in France near Paris

Arcitect- Abbot Suger- a rediscovered gothic cathedral. The first one in europe was St. Etienne

There are lots of important artifacts held in St. Denis. It has a gold trophy, a bald eagle, and a stained glass window

One thing that gothic style is known for are flying buttresses

More on the Duomo from Notes and from Video on it

Arnolfo di cambio makes the design of the church as a latin cross with radiating chapels on the sides to make them look like a rose hence the “Santa Maria del fiore” (St. Mary of the flower). He also designs the facade of the church, but the one we see today was reintroduced in the 18th/19th century, making it a revivalist piece. Arnolfo also designs a section dedicated to the choir that was inspired by the pantheon.

It is decorated with marble inlays that come from local marble from carrerra

nanni di Banco creates door on the side that is dedicated to the virgin mary- it has a gothic pointed arch

Giovanni Tedesco creates another door on the other side that is more gothic with influence from germany with its spiral pillars

brunelleschi creates the dome from 1420-36. Therefore the creation of the dome is spanning across three centuries. Its a bridge between medival and renaissance. Brunellesci creates a support for the dome with mortar, and the dome consists of two shells with 24 ribs supporting it. It is topped with an lantern. He built the brick vertically up, as having a wood support for it would be too expensive and use too much timber

One fun fact is that the buildings surrounding the duomo house lay people dedicated to restoration, and many artists lived near here like donatello and brunelleschi as shown by donatellos bust.

Sculpture- Pulpit

Sculptor- Nicola Pisano

Location- Pisa Baptistry

This is a typical gothic sculpture while nearing the renaissance the sculptures became more focused on what was depicted in nature

Sculpture- Madonna and Child

Artist- Arnolfo di Cambio

Location- Museo del opera del duoma

We visited this on June 3rd week

You can see the glass eyes which brings in an interesting perspective and reflects the light of God passing through

It was supposed to be on the door of the duomo actually

Painting- Francis and the sultan of Egypt

Note- giotto paints Francis and the sultan of egypt and then later St. francis before the sultan of egypt. The latter is more political.

Artist- Giotto

Location- Santa Croce

Backstory- This shows a connection to the early church and Islam

St. Francis told the sultan to walk over a bunch of fire in the hopes that his God would save him to prove his faith. St. Francis was able to walk through, the sultan was not, and this shows that sultans faith was invalid. Catholics are shown as victorious as francis is raised up in a throne and islams are seen as wrong.

Fresca- maddonna and child on wood

Artist- Giotto (in addition to his sculpture with glass eyes)

Location- Uffizi

The angels around her are discussing Marys virginity. Shows importance of Mary, like when St. Augustine calls her a “pillar of the church” and the first apostle.

Giotto is good at creating depth and perspective in this one

Giotto was also very good at comanding a team of artists for his work so it could be done in different places at different times

His work was said not to be painted for the pleasing of the eye but of the mind as well- to “please” the intellectual

Painting- Death of St. Francis

Artist- Giotto

Location- Santa Croce

Giotto paints this in addition to frescos of the life of St. Francis as well

It shows friars all around him showing sadness at his death

Note- almond shaped eyes and high cheekbones are both marks of the medival/gothic period

Building- Campanile

Archetect- giotto

Location- Santa Maria del Fiore

Giotto designed this free standing bell tower for the duomo, he did die before it was finished and he planned to have a pointed top, but instead it was a square and became a little less medeval

Drawing- Study

Artist- Maso finiguerra

Diseno means drawing lines on paper

In order to do a painting, first you need to do a sketch like this one. Oftentime, painters would sketch what they see or people in the room to warm up

Sculpture- The Farresee Hercules

Artist- ancinet roman 4th century BC artist

Bandinellis Hercules and Cacus is inspired after this one, currently its in a museum in Napoli and was recovered later in like 1546 after bandinelli had made his hercules, only based off of literature of this original one

Sculpture- David

Artist- Donatello

Location-In the museum del bargello

This was going to be on the duomo, but was too small and michelangelos ended up being larger

This depicts david being young, with red curls, which was a description of him in the bible, and with goliaths head at his feet showing he just had a victory

Sculpture- Crucifix

Artist- Donatello

Location- Santa croce

This crucifix is interesting because of the shape of the face

Sculpture- Crucifix

Artist- Brunelleschi

Location- Santa Maria Florence

Jesus is shown more like a prince here- in fact brunelleschi didn’t like donatellos crucifix because he believed it made him look like a peasant

Sculpture- Annunciation

Artist- Donatello

Annunciaiton is the moment mary finds out from angel she is gonna be with child

Shows mary looking in a roman mansion which is not historically correct

Contest Panel of the sacrifice of Isaac

Ghiberti vs brunelleschi in 1401

Location- Museum dell bargelo

They both are asked to sculpt this seen with humans, landscapes, animals, etc

Ghiberti wins for his image, making brunelleschi more of a famous architect instead. Ghibertis was also more realistic as it showed witnesses behind a stone wall while brunellesci’s had witnesses looking at event. In reality there were no witnesses at this sacrifice.

Orsanmicele History

Orsanmicele was originally a grain market. As we know, florence was run by bankers and traders. They were organized into guilds that would control different parts of commercial activity.

After being a grain market, orsanmicele was converted into a church. Different guilds of florence commisioned artists to make sculptures in different nitches. There was a total of 14 nitches.

Four Crowned Martyrs

Artist- nanni di banco

Orsanmicele, 1413, an early renaissance sculpture

Commisioned by the stone cutters and wood workers guild

This statue was very popular in florence during the time of its creation. It depicts 4 brohter artists who were told to make a statue of God. Undercover christians, they did not want to do this because it went against their faith to create this iconography. They ended up coming out as christians and were killed. However this sculpture shows them still deep in discussion

The relief is unique because it depicts a typical florentine workshop with merchants, stone cutters, wood workers, etc.

St. John the Baptist

Artist- Lorenzo Ghiberti

Orsanmichele

Commisioned by wool merchant guild

This depicts st. john the baptist (or San giovanni as italians say) in a medieval style. The almond shape eyes and high cheekbones are emphasized.

St. Matthew

Artist- Lorenzo Ghiberti

Orsanmichele

This is made years after ghibertis st. john and you can see his leave of the medival style and transitioning to renaissance. St. matthew has more of a natural face and is holding a philosophy book which is important because its one of the first times you see roman numerals.

St. George

Artist- Donatello

Orsanmicele, but now in the museum dell bargello

Commisioned by armors guild

St. George see a naked woman tied to a tree. She is supposed to be left to the dragon. He doesn’t take advantage of her and instead kills the dragon and then marries her. St. George is seen as the patron saint of christian knights/armor.

This one is 6’5 so very big, and was supposed to have a sword and helmet but instead we see his protective face grimacing a bit.

The releif under this is unique as it shows St. George slaying the dragon. It is the first time we see one-point perspective in sculpture.

Museum of the Bargello Highlights

Marzocco/Lion of the republic- Donatello. This is a lion carrying the lily/florence armor.

Donatellos marble david- this is a marble statue and came before michelangelos. Golitahs head on the floor, david with realistic visual depiction with young face and red hair. made for the republic.

Contest panels between brunellesci and ghiberti for sacrifice of isaac for baptistry st. john door

Donatellos St george- a copy from orsanmicele (built same year that brunellesci made the hopsital)

Bronze david- Donatello. This one was made for the medici family and was in their courtyard in palazzo medici. First nude bronze figure since antiquity.

Bronze david- verrochio. This is the short david that looks like a girl to me with the skirt.Created for medici family as well.

Learned about marble carving- first you had to get the right depth and width of a block. Patron payed for marble. You would start by carving out of the front first. There was also a sketch phase and then a presentation phase to the patron. Patron would make comments.

Bacchus- Michelangelo. this sclupture shows A guy holding a glass of wine and a little devil under/next to him. This is one of the start of the pieces of the “high renaissance” in the later 1400s. Bacchus is the god of wine and is offering a cup of wisdom. The monster under him hasn’t understood and stole grapes and is receiving punishment.

Museum dell opera del duomo highlights

Has a medival looking christ bust that was supposed to be looked at from down below

The sketch of the facade of the cathedral by arnolfo di cambio

A hole in the ground where michelangelo carved david

Paradise door by ghiberti- From 1425-1452- it took about 20 years to complete. The door is very gold with more square-like panels. In the museo dell opera but supposed to be for st. johns baptistry. Has the important panel of joseph with a city and many people around it.

The north door by ghiberti- from 1403-24, again 20 years to complete. This door had the contest panels we see. More figures protrude out of this one.

Note that the doors were very succesful in florence and ghiberti became famous but also put a portrait of himself on them and wrote a book about himself- all good self marketing! He also managed a team of assistants for these doors.

Saw madonna and child by arnolfo di cambio with the glass eyes. this was supposed to be on the facade of the cathedral

Madonna of San gregoria- giotto

Mary magdalen- A wood carving by donatello. mary is shown without the feminine features that made her so enticing to women. She was supposed to be stoned as we know and jesus helped her, but she also was one of the first women to see jesus after he rose. It was meant for the baptistry!

Pieta- Michelangelo. This one depicts michelangelo holding mary and jesus. This comes after the one that is in st. peters basillica. It is unfinished, michelangelo made a mistake with the marble.

A line of statues that was supposed to be nitches on the bell tower by giotto

St. Johns Baptistry

is an octagon and has 8 sides. The 8th day signifies christs resurrection.

This was created in 1090 or the 11th century and we don’t know by who. The north door and paradise door obviously were decorations that came after. It was built on top of a roman house but people thought it was built by romans but it was a medieval piece.

Building- San Lorenzo

Architect- Fillipo Brunelleschi

Location- next to palazzo medici, this was the first cathedral in florence- we saw this the first week on our walking tour

You can see how brunellesci adopts the rounded arches and columns. The arches go from cube and then support the sphere

This church is a latin cross plan with radiating chapels too that families commision

The church is dedicated to San lorenzo who was a martyr (someone who is persecuted for the christian faith)

The sacristry of san lorenzo for the medicis is a chapel in this church (they funded) and here you can see the utilization of pendetives- arches that support a dome

Note- the government was supposed to help fund and take care of chruches and san lorenzo shows the meeting of the greek orthodox church and modern church??

Building- Santa Spirito

Architect- Brunelleschi

Location- In the santo spirito square where the market is (saw this with lily)

This church is built on the other side of the arno river and employs the same columns and arches that san lorenzo had, but no side chapels as families around here didn’t have as much money

Building- Pazzi Chapel

Architect- Brunellesci

Location- Santa Croce

This is a chapel funded by the pazzis and was a meeting place for friars

It has a dome with a hole at the top and employs the penditives

Santa Maria Novella Church

Leon Battista Alberti

Made for Rucellai family who was richest in that neighborhood

Islam influence as well as vitruvius influence

Established by the dominicans

Big ears are albertis creation as well as a sail to represent rucellai family

Alberti also made buildings like the palazzo rucellai and the loggia dell rucellai (similar to brunelleschi) rossellini helped him to actually build the palazzo

Alberti wrote 3 book, archetecture, scupture, and painting that was written in latin

Types of columns

Doric- Simplest design

Ionic- has the upside down violin arch at the top

Corinthian- most classical like/roman and employed most during the renaissance

Gothic columns are skinny and spiral and usually supported with a lion

Santa Maria Novella Visit- what did we see?

Old church:

There was an old church and a new one built near it- the old church has a rosary window

Dominicans were known for having missions in the schools and hospitals

Giotto had a school here

One crucifix in the old church showed missionary aspects towards the mongolians

Andrea di firenze did the chapter house

Three goals of the dominicans: missionary work, court judges, st. thomas aquinas

Images of black and white dogs that represent dogs of the lord for dominicans

Inspired by giotto

Last supper was painted by a nun and had chinese glasses

Flood fresco by paollo ucello- does a good job of showing perspective, in the green cloister

New church:

Latin cross plan

Giottos crucifix

Brunellesci designed a pulpit for the preacher

Massocios Trinity - jesus has physcial roman beatuy not as similar to giottos, employs perspective well with having three levels

Brunellescis crucifix- as compared to donatellos crucifix in santa croce

Madonna and child

Artist- Massacio and masolino together (nicknames for name thomas, just one big one little)

Location- Uffizi

Massacio paints humans

masolina paints little figures

Vasari writes the most important art history books in 1568

Saint Anna in this one

St. Peter healing sick with his shadow

Masaccio

Fresco

This depicts wealth florentines behind saint peter and saint john

Are donatello and brunellesci painted in this one??

Santa Maria del carmine (a church by the Brancacci family)

The baptism of the neophytes

Masaccio

Santa maria del carmine- brancacci family

People with different background to st. john baptizing people- francisco loves this one!

The temptaion

masolino

santa maria del carmine

Eve has her whole thang out- just the two bodies with a black background

Adam and Eve

Massacio

Santa maria del carmine

Adam and eve are suffering, running away from satan, eve covers her nudity in shame

Giovanni Acuto

Paolo ucello

In the cathedral of florence - santa maria del fiore

A painting of a statue with a man on a horse

The madonna and child with saints

Dominico veneziano

The pink one we see in the uffizi

Introduces a lighter color palate

St. Francis, St. John baptist, santa lucia, saint zenobius?? are the four important figures