Early Renaissance in Florence, Italy Notes

Early Renaissance in Florence, Italy

Overview

• Focus on the city-state of Florence as the birthplace of the Florentine Renaissance.
• Covers material in the module labeled "early renaissance."
• Quiz due this Sunday on this topic.

Geography

• Rome is located in the center of Italy along the West Coast.
• Sicily is at the southernmost part of Italy.
• Important city-states include:
  • Siena.
  • Florence.
  • Milan (North, near the Alps).
  • Venice (Northeast).
  • Padua.
  • Mantua.
  • Urbino.
  • Pisa (leaning tower).
  • Vinci (Leonardo da Vinci).

Baptistry Doors Competition (1400)

• Florence advertises a competition for bronze plaques for the baptistry doors of the Florence Cathedral.
• The Florence Cathedral is the central cathedral for the city of Florence and is a major religious and emotional spot for the Florentine people.
• The commission is a major opportunity, promising fame and career advancement.
• Two outstanding entries:
  • Filippo Brunelleschi (young upstart).
  • Lorenzo Ghiberti (established international Gothic sculptor).

Lorenzo Ghiberti's Submission: The Sacrifice of Isaac

• Features delicate sculpting, emotional depth, and intricate details.
• The angel intervenes at the crucial moment to stop the sacrifice.

Filippo Brunelleschi's Submission:

• Considered too modern for the judges' tastes.
• Brunelleschi refuses to work with Ghiberti due to his temperament.

Significance

• Ushers in a new age of big commissions in Florence.
• Marks the evolution from the international Gothic style to the Renaissance.

Dome of the Florence Cathedral

The Challenge

• The Florence Cathedral had an embarrassing problem, it was never completed because no one could figure out how to create a dome that could span the huge space.

Lorenzo de Medici's Role

• Lorenzo de Medici, a powerful and wealthy figure, supports Brunelleschi.
• He is interested in knowledge and lost knowledge from previous times, such as the Roman Empire. He is looking back to Greek, the ancient Greeks. He's looking at Plato, things like that, and starting to read books that have been hidden away by the Catholic church over the centuries.
• Aims to remake Florence as a new modern city.
• He and Brunelleschi travel to Rome to study the Pantheon's dome.

Brunelleschi's Solution

• He said he has a solution and challenges the council to stand an egg on its end. He said he will reveal his solution if they can complete the egg standing challenge.
• Brunelleschi smashes the egg to make it stand, demonstrating the simplicity of his solution.
• Devises a double shell dome with ribs, inspired by wine barrels.
• Uses vertical wooden boards held together by transverse metal pieces.
• Employs herringbone bricks to tie everything together.

Setbacks

• Lorenzo de Medici is imprisoned and banished, halting the project.
• Brunelleschi is put in jail because he lost his support.
• Lorenzo returns, seeks revenge, and revives the project.

Church Of Or Saint Michel

• Guilds commissioned sculptures for niches in the church.
• Guilds were organizations with a membership, and to get in required you to test your skill.

Donatello's Saint George Tabernacle

• Features a naturalistic figure of Saint George.
• Originally included a sword and helmet, advertising the armorers' guild.

Evolution of Style

• Figures look very natural.
• More so than previous sculptural works.
• Donatello's sculpture is amazing, especially compared to works like those from Klaus Fluder.

Donatello's Saint Mark

• The sculpture shows Saint Mark holding the gospel.
• Employs contrapposto (counterpoise) with a twisted body and natural pose.
• Engaged leg bears the weight, while the other leg is in action.
• Inspired by ancient Greek formulas.
• Rediscovered through Lorenzo de Medici's influence.

Donatello's Temper

• Donatello has a renowned temper.
• Known for destroying works when patrons upset him.
• Lorenzo de Medici defends Donatello, recognizing his talent.
• Donatello studied under Ghiberti and surpassed him.

Nanni Di Banco's Quattro Coronati

• Represents four Christians executed for refusing to make graven images for the Roman Empire.
• Sponsored by a guild, advertising their work.
• Done in marble.

Brunelleschi's Architectural Innovations

• Inspired by ancient Rome and Greece.
• Uses columns as structural elements, a departure from Gothic architecture.
• Simplifies building styles with arches and columns.
• Employs symmetry, balance, and harmony.
• Quite different from the Gothic style.

Hospital of the Innocent

• Features ceramic pieces added above.

San Lorenzo

• Church where the Medicis go to regularly.
• Brunelleschi redesigns the interior in a classical style with columns and arches.
  • Simple columns.
  • Corinthian capitals.
  • Arches.
  • Muted colors.
  • Fluted pilasters.
• The Medici Chapel was the renovated, and then they loved it so much that then he went and completed the entire building.
• Uniform design admired for its simplicity and statement.

Mathematical Linear Perspective:

• Brunelleschi developed mathematical linear perspective.
• Linear perspective revolutionizes art by creating realistic space on 2D surfaces.
• Alberti credits Brunelleschi with this development.

Pazzi Chapel at Santa Croce

• Designed by Brunelleschi around a circular dome.
• Symmetrical design inspired by Roman bath houses.
• Unified exterior and interior design.

Early Renaissance Painters

Masaccio

• Inspired by frescoes from churches like Saint Francis of Assisi.
• Figures look three-dimensional, with improved space representation.
• One of the best early painters in the early Renaissance.
• Paintings located in the Brancacci Chapel, also featuring works by Filippo Lippi and Mussolino.
• Convincing architecture due to linear perspective.

Donatello's Plaque in Gilt Bronze

• The plaque is large, about 23 ½ inches square.
• Bronze that has gold leaf applied.
• Presents the Feast of Herod, showing Herod's shock at the presentation of John the Baptist's head.

Donatello's Gadamalata Monument

• The monument included the life size equestrian sculpture, and it's bronze.

Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise

• Features depth and intricate details.
• The original gates are in the museum.
• Demonstrates mastery of bronze casting.
• There is a replica in place at the Baptistry.

Luca Della Robbia

• Creates works out of clay or terra cotta that that is much more easily used.
• Works with clay (terra cotta).
• Creates circular pieces for the Hospital of the Innocence.
• Affordable alternative to bronze casting.
• Terra meaning earth.

Donatello's Wooden Carving of Mary Magdalene

• Emotional and sorrowful portrayal of Mary Magdalene.
• Polychrome finish on sculpted wood.
• Over life-size at six feet one inches tall.
• Shows versatility as a sculptor.

Andrea Dela Ferrocchio's Studio

• Produced the Downing of Thomas, a bronze piece.
• Depicts Jesus inviting Thomas to touch his wounds.
• Features creative step out of the niche.
• Leonardo da Vinci worked in Verrocchio's studio, leading Verrocchio to give up painting due to da Vinci's talent.

Fra Angelico

• Paints delicate frescoes in the dormitories of the convent at San Marco.
• Reflects Brunelleschi's architectural style.

Alberti's Facade at Santa Maria Novella

• Classical facade with contrast and toned-down colors.
• Harmonizes disparate elements.

Palaces

• Families, including Medicis, Posis and Albitsis, were given large commissions for government housing and for powerful families.
• Follows Brunelleschi's classical style.
• The Medici family residence is fortified like a castle.
• Features benches for those seeking favors.
• Texture changes from rough stone on the first floor to smooth stucco on the third.
• Courtyard for private viewing of sculpture.

Donatello's David

• The life size nude is the first life size nude since the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Depicts David after slaying Goliath.
• Sensual portrayal of David, reflecting Florence's liberal culture.
• Meant for private consumption.

Hercules and Antaeus

• Story of Hercules and Antaeus.
• Mythical stories.
• Portrays Hercules defeating Antaeus by lifting him off the ground.

Engravings

• The Engravings Show Action and Human Anatomy.

Fra Filippo Lippi

• Monk who painted beautiful, delicate works.
• Patronized by Lorenzo de Medici.
• Uses tempera paint on wooden panels.

Botticelli

• Commissioned by Lorenzo the Magnificent.
• Creates large paintings blending religious and mythological themes.

Primavera

• Combines Christian and mythological elements.
• Features Cupid, dancers, and the bringing of spring.

Birth of Venus

• Sensual depiction of Venus emerging from the ocean.
• Employs a hard-edged painting style similar to Fra Lippi.

Other Works

• Old man and a young boy shows love and compassion.
• Uses both tempera and oil paint on a wooden panel.

Verrocchio's Sculpture of Lorenzo de Magnificent

• Terracotta portrait gives a likeness of Lorenzo.

Alberti's Saint Andrea at Mantua

• Unified design with geometric symmetry, both external and internal.
• Square facade with a colossal arch supported by pilasters.
• Barrel vault carried into the church.
• Longitudinal design based on the basilica form from the Roman Empire.

Venetian Influences

Architecture

• Influenced by Gothic and Islamic styles.
• Features pointed arches and unique designs.

Equestrian Statues

• Da Vinci and Verrocchio create large equestrian statues.

Verrocchio's Coleoni Monument

• Bronze commission celebrating Venetian pride.

Bellini

• The famous Bellini bright colors of beautiful painting is oil on panel
• Paints Saint Francis with oil and tempera on panel.
• Employs different light sources to represent God.
• Uses oil paints for detailed panels in churches.

Sistine Chapel Fresco

• Features one-point perspective in the delivery of the keys.

Additional Resources

• LibriText (University of the Pacific, Art History One B section).