Renaissance Movement People

Correggio

  • Known for dramatic and theatrical effects.
  • Most famous for The Assumption of the Virgin, a fresco on the dome of the Parma Cathedral (1526-1530).
  • Very little is known about Correggio.
  • Inspired ceiling decoration in Italy for the next century.
  • Influenced by earlier Renaissance artists, especially Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
    • Adopted Leonardo's use of light and dark (Sfumato) to create volume and a hazy appearance.
    • Reflected Raphael's idealism of the human form and religious themes.

The Assumption of the Virgin

  • Depicts Mary's bodily ascent into heaven.
  • Features a spiraling vortex emphasizing movement into the heavens.
  • Mary is accompanied by angels and saints in warm, sensuous flesh tones.
  • Figures are sensuously painted, expressing volume and curvature boldly, despite the spiritual subject matter.
  • Architecture seems to dissolve into the spiraling vortex.
  • Gives the impression of a powerful movement inspired by God.

Giorgione

  • Very little is known about him (only 4-5 paintings attributed).
  • Died early as a victim of the plague.
  • Introduced a new style where the human form dissolves into the landscape.
  • Shifted the focus to the overall composition of the landscape rather than the human figure.

Poessi

  • Giorgione introduced the enigmatic pastoral theme called Poessi or a painted poem.
  • It's an illustration of a poem inspired by the revival of poetry and mythology from classical times.
  • Moved away from historical and intellectual paintings to more imaginative works.
  • Landscapes were imaginative and not necessarily based on real places.

The Tempest

  • Features a nude woman breastfeeding a baby and a soldier/mercenary.
  • Emphasis is on the landscape rather than the figures.
  • The figures become part of the landscape.
  • The woman's nudity is maternal, not erotic.
  • Giorgione gave prominence to landscape in art.
  • Implies that nature is as important as humans.
  • Atmospheric perspective is incorporated (lines and colors fade into the background).
  • There's a distinct Da Vinci influence of that Sumato technique, the sort of hazy appearance here.

Titian

  • Greatly influenced by Giorgione, with whom he worked.
  • Very well known and received many commissions.

Venus of Urbino (1538)

  • Commissioned for the Duke of Urbino.
  • Features a prominent, sensuous nude female figure (Venus).
  • She's reclined on a bed in an erotic pose.
  • Contrasts with the symbolic fidelity of a cocker spaniel.
  • Emphasizes the human figure, unlike Giorgione's focus on landscape.
  • This style was popular with male patrons, who enjoyed images of nude Venuses under the guise of classical mythology.
  • Instrumental in exposing and exploring the sensuousness of the human form and referencing classical beauty.