renaissance art

Renaissance Overview

Definition

The Renaissance was a cultural rebirth in Europe emphasizing:

• Humanism

• Realism

• Science

• Classical Greek and Roman ideas

Phases of the Renaissance

The Renaissance is divided into:

1. Early Renaissance

2. High Renaissance

3. Late Renaissance (Mannerism)

Early Renaissance

Time and Place

• Began in Florence, Italy

• During the 1300s–1400s

Causes of Growth

Economic Recovery

Florence recovered from economic stagnation.

Wealthy Patrons

Families like the:

• Medici family

funded:

• Churches

• Palaces

• Artworks

Artists gained:

• Individual recognition

• Higher social status

Characteristics of Early Renaissance Art

Realism

Religious figures became:

• Human-like

• Emotional

• Naturalistic

Instead of:

• Flat symbolic medieval figures

Use of Nudes

Inspired by:

• Ancient Greek art

• Ancient Roman art

Represented:

• Human worth

• Divine perfection

• Immortal soul

Painting Techniques

Fresco

Definition:
Painting on wet plaster.

Characteristics:

• Watercolors applied to wet lime plaster

• Paint bonds chemically as plaster dries

Tempera

Definition:
Paint made using:

• Egg yolk binder

Used on:

• Wood panels

• Canvas

Oil Painting

Advantages:

• Brighter colors

• Better lighting effects

• More realistic shadows

Perspective

Artists developed:

• Linear perspective

Purpose:

• Create illusion of depth

• Make paintings appear three-dimensional

Architectural Backgrounds

Paintings often included:

• Churches

• Cathedrals

• Basilicas

Masaccio

Masaccio

Importance

Major Early Renaissance painter.

Famous Work

• The Trinity

Features:

• Realistic depth

• Lifelike figures

• Strong perspective

Early Renaissance Sculpture

Characteristics

• Realistic human anatomy

• Natural body posture

• Emotional expression

Sculpture Method

Artists:

1. Made nude clay models

2. Draped clay-soaked linen

3. Copied final form in marble

Donatello

Donatello

Contributions

• Studied real human bodies

• Used live models

Famous Works

• Saint Mark

• David

David

Important because:

• Depicted David as youthful adolescent

• Different from traditional heroic adult version

High Renaissance

Definition

Peak of Renaissance artistic achievement.

Main Centers

• Florence

• Rome

Characteristics

Harmony and Balance

Art emphasized:

• Perfection

• Symmetry

• Natural beauty

Subjects

Mostly:

• Christian themes

Also included:

• Classical Greek and Roman subjects

Wealthy Patrons

Commissioned:

• Sculptures

• Paintings

• Tombs

• Busts

Three Great Masters

1. Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

2. Michelangelo

Michelangelo

3. Raphael

Raphael

Other High Renaissance Artists

• Giorgione

• Titian

• Giovanni Bellini

Leonardo da Vinci

Talents

Leonardo was:

• Scientist

• Inventor

• Painter

• Engineer

• Anatomist

• Architect

• Writer

Vitruvian Man

Vitruvian Man

Represents:

• Humanist idea that man is the measure of all things

The Last Supper

The Last Supper

Features:

• Dramatic lighting

• One-point linear perspective

One-Point Perspective

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Michelangelo

Main Strength

Depiction of:

• Human anatomy

• Emotion

Famous Works

David

David

Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Sistine Chapel

Features:

• Frescoes

• Dynamic figures

• Emotional intensity

Raphael

Characteristics of His Art

• Grace

• Balance

• Clarity

• Ease of composition

Madonna Paintings

Example:

• Madonna della Sedia

Portraits

Examples:

• Julius II

• Donna Velata

• Baldassare Castiglione

Vatican Frescoes

Raphael decorated:

• Apostolic Palace rooms

The School of Athens

The School of Athens

Features

• Greek philosophers

• Three-dimensional illusion

• Linear perspective

• Celebration of knowledge

Includes:

• Philosophers

• Poets

• Musicians

• Theologians

End of High Renaissance

Two major events:

1. Raphael’s death (1520)

2. Sack of Rome (1527)

Late Renaissance (Mannerism)

Historical Background

Foreign invasions caused:

• Political instability

• Stress

• Conflict

Mannerism

Characteristics

• Artificial style

• Exaggeration

• Dramatic effects

Opposite of High Renaissance balance.

Features of Mannerist Art

• Clashing colors

• Elongated limbs

• Distorted poses

• Unrealistic proportions

• Emotional tension

Goals of Mannerism

Artists focused on:

• Visual effect
  rather than:

• Natural realism

Artists Associated with Mannerism

• Michelangelo (late works)

• Andrea del Sarto

• Correggio

Influences on Renaissance Art

Science and Mathematics

Improved:

• Perspective

• Proportion

• Anatomy

Anatomy Studies

Artists studied:

• Human bodies

• Muscles

• Bone structure

Result:

• More realistic figures

Linear Perspective

Created:

• Depth illusion

• Realistic spatial relationships

Aerial Perspective

Objects farther away appear:

• Less detailed

• Hazy

Giotto

Giotto

Contributions

• Used fresco technique

• Added emotional realism

• Observed nature closely

Medieval vs Renaissance Art

Important Vocabulary

Key Facts to Memorize