Fourteenth Century Art in Europe

Fourteenth Century Art in Europe

Introduction

  • The lesson focuses on 14th-century art in Europe, particularly in Italy.
  • The Scrovegni Chapel, painted in fresco by Giotto di Bondone, is an example of art from this period.
  • Topics to be covered include fresco techniques, painting techniques, and the role of Florence in the Renaissance.

Lesson Objectives

  • Evaluate Florence's key role in the beginning of the Renaissance.
  • Identify the importance of guilds in the formation of the Renaissance and in defining the concept of a masterpiece.
  • Discuss fresco and painting techniques.

Key Terms

  • Guild
  • Florence Cathedral
  • Buon Fresco
  • Fresco Secco
  • Gesso
  • Tempera

Florence: The Cradle of Renaissance

  • The Italian city of Florence, particularly the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), played a crucial role in launching the Renaissance movement in art.
  • Florence flourished due to an increase in independent wealth, leading to competition among artists and pushing art to new levels.
  • Wealthy individuals commissioned artists, leading to high demand and artistic competition.
  • Florence was known for its economic and social freedoms, allowing artists to express their personal style in their work.

Why Florence?

  • Wealth: Florence experienced an increase in independent wealth.
  • Competition: Artists competed for commissions, elevating art to new levels.
  • Economic and Social Freedoms: Artists had the ability to express personal styles.

Guilds

  • Guilds were associations of people organized by occupation, similar to modern labor unions.
  • Guilds provided:
    • Support
    • Unity
    • Training
    • Standards
    • Occupational stability
    • Market value for services
    • Economic and financial security
    • Marketing of work
  • Most artists belonged to guilds, such as the Silversmiths Guild, Silk Workers Guild, Merchants Guild, Doctors Guild, Pharmacies Guild, and Sculptors Guild.
  • Many artists belonged to the Pharmacy Guild because they prepared pigments similarly to how pharmacists prepared drugs.

Florence Cathedral (Duomo)

  • Florence Cathedral is Florence's most renowned architectural landmark.
  • Artists, rather than builders, often designed cathedrals, focusing on design rather than engineering.
  • The Renaissance (rebirth) revived Greek and Roman ideals.
  • Geometric shapes and proportions were emphasized.
  • The cathedral incorporates long rectilinear shapes and an octagonal dome, reflecting geometric design.
  • The facade features green and white marble outlining geometric shapes.
  • Original plans were developed by Arnulfo di Cambio and approved in December, but the cathedral wasn't completed until 1378.
  • The dome was conceived early on but its construction was uncertain until Brunelleschi designed it in the 15th century.
  • Brunelleschi's dome was self-supporting, an engineering marvel.

Painting Techniques: Fresco

  • Fresco is a painting technique with two main types:
    • Buon Fresco (true fresco)
    • Fresco Secco (dry fresco)
Buon Fresco
  • Water-based tempera paints are applied on wet plaster.
  • A wall is prepared with a rough coat of plaster, and the artist draws the composition using charcoal.
  • A thin layer of wet plaster is applied to a small area, called Giornata (a day's work).
  • The plaster dries quickly but cures for about a day, remaining porous.
  • Paint is absorbed into the plaster, becoming part of the wall.
  • Artists work in small sections due to the plaster's drying time. Detail determines section size.
  • Different color variations show how artists break down the creation of the wall, like puzzle pieces.
Fresco Secco
  • Paint is applied to dry plaster.
  • The paint and plaster remain separate, making Fresco Secco less durable than Buon Fresco.
  • Over time, Fresco Secco can peel off the wall.
  • Certain colors, like ultramarine blue, and techniques like gold leafing (gilding), are applied only to dry walls.

Painting Techniques: General

  • Cennino Cennini in the 14th century created a step-by-step manual for painting.
  • Creating paintings was considered a gentleman's job, reflecting the rising social status of artists.
  • Steps in creating a painting:
    1. Linen Preparation: Soak linen in gesso (thick white paint) or apply gesso with a paintbrush.
    2. Stretching: Stretch the linen over a wooden frame.
    3. Gesso Application: Apply several coats of gesso, burnishing (rubbing with a smooth stone or glass) each coat after it dries to smooth the surface.
    4. After multiple layers, the canvas should feel like ivory.
    5. Sketching: Sketch the image in charcoal.
    6. Inking: Outline the image with fine ink, then dust away the charcoal.
    7. Painting: Paint piece by piece, like paint by numbers.
    8. Faces: Always paint the face last, with an underlayer of green paint, followed by flesh tones, white, rose, and red highlights.

Review of Objectives

  • Evaluate Florence's key role in the beginning of the Renaissance.
  • Identify the importance of guilds in the formation of the Renaissance and in defining the concept of a masterpiece.
  • Discuss fresco and painting techniques of this time.

Conclusion

  • This lesson covered the early Renaissance (14th century), which laid the foundation for the High Renaissance (16th century).
  • Key topics included painting and fresco techniques, the importance of guilds, and the role of wealth in the art world's evolution.