Art and Power• Powerful groups commissioned works of art

– Represented merchants’ dominant influence in community• i.e. Florentine gov’t hires Michelangelo

• Despots and Oligarchs began sponsoring works of art– A way to glorify themselves or their families, show wealth

• Subject matter remained religious– Intended to spread a particular doctrine, act as a profession of

faith, or recall sinners to a moral way of life

Art and Power (cont)• As the 15th Century moved on, subject matter

becomes more secular– Pagan gods/goddesses in paintings increased– People were conscious of physical uniqueness and

wanted it immortalized– Paintings displayed wealth

• The individual portrait emerged as a distinct genre– The rich had themselves painted in a scene of

romantic chivalry or courtly society

Art and Power (cont)• Narrative artists – depicted the body in more

scientific/natural manner– Female sensual and voluptuous– Male strong and heroic

The State of the Artist• During the Renaissance, the social status of the

artist improved– Reputation depended on the support of powerful

patrons• Usually worked for commission from a prince or family

• They did not produce works for the public– Could mean loss of status

• Artists received a practical education from a master artist

The State of the Artist (cont)• Most artists began to sign their works whereas

medieval artists rarely did

• Some even painted themselves into the painting

• Renaissance artists and humanists came to think that a work of art was the deliberate creation of a new divine personality– Artist shared powers of God

The State of the Artist (cont)

• The Renaissance maintained the gap between the learned minority and the uneducated majority

• The culture of the Renaissance for the mercantile elite did not affect the middle class

1. Realism & 1. Realism & ExpressionExpression

Expulsion Expulsion fromfromthe Gardenthe Garden

MasaccioMasaccio

14271427

First nudes First nudes sincesinceclassical classical timestimes..

2. Perspective2. Perspective

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

First use First use of linear of linear

perspective!perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

The The TrinityTrinity

MasaccioMasaccio

14271427

What you What you are, I once are, I once was; what I was; what I am, you will am, you will

become.become.

See the difference???

3. Classicism3. Classicism

Greco-Roman influence.

Secularism.

Humanism.

Individualism free standing figures.

Symmetry/BalanceThe The “Classical Pose”“Classical Pose”

Medici “Venus” (1c)Medici “Venus” (1c)

4. Emphasis on 4. Emphasis on IndividualismIndividualism Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre: Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre:

The Duke & Dutchess of UrbinoThe Duke & Dutchess of Urbino

Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.

5. Geometrical 5. Geometrical Arrangement of Arrangement of

FiguresFigures The Dreyfus The Dreyfus Madonna Madonna with the with the PomegranatePomegranate

Leonardo da Leonardo da VinciVinci

14691469

The figure as The figure as architecture!architecture!

6. Light & 6. Light & Shadowing/Softening Shadowing/Softening

EdgesEdges

ChiaroscuroContrast b/w light and dark

SfumatoLayers ofcolor promote depth

7. Artists as 7. Artists as Personalities/CelebritiesPersonalities/Celebrities

Lives of the Lives of the Most Most Excellent Excellent Painters, Painters, Sculptors, andSculptors, andArchitectsArchitects

Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari

15501550

Renaissance Renaissance FlorenceFlorence

The Wool FactoryThe Wool Factoryby Mirabello Cavalori, 1570by Mirabello Cavalori, 1570 1252 – first gold 1252 – first gold

florinsflorins minted minted

Florentine lion:Florentine lion:symbol of St. symbol of St.

MarkMark

Lorenzo Lorenzo the Magnificentthe Magnificent

1478 - 15211478 - 1521

Cosimo de Cosimo de MediciMedici

1517 - 15741517 - 1574

Florence Under the Florence Under the MediciMedici

Medici ChapelMedici Chapel

The Medici PalaceThe Medici Palace

Filippo Brunelleschi• Commissioned to

build the cathedral dome.– Used unique

architectural concepts.

• He studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome.

• Used ribs for support.

Dome Dome ComparisonsComparisons

Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US Capital (Florence) (Rome) (London) (Washington)

Ghiberti – Ghiberti – Gates of ParadiseGates of ParadiseBaptistry Door, Florence – 1425 - Baptistry Door, Florence – 1425 -

14521452

David by Donatello

14301430

First free-form bronze since Roman times!

The Liberation The Liberation of Sculptureof Sculpture

Vitruvian Vitruvian Man Man

Leonardo daLeonardo daVinciVinci

14921492

TheTheL’uomoL’uomo

universauniversalele

The Renaissance “Man”The Renaissance “Man”

• Broad knowledge about many things in different fields.

• Deep knowledge/skill in one area.

• Able to link information from different areas/disciplines and create new knowledge.

• The Greek ideal of the “well-rounded man” was at the heart of Renaissance education.

1.1. Self-Portrait Self-Portrait -- da -- da Vinci, 1512Vinci, 1512

1452 - 15191452 - 1519

Artist

Sculptor

Architect

Scientist

Engineer

Inventor

Leonardo, Leonardo, the Artistthe Artist

The Virgin The Virgin of the Rocks of the Rocks

Leonardo daLeonardo daVinciVinci

1483-14861483-1486

Mona LisaMona Lisa – da Vinci, – da Vinci, 1503-41503-4

Mona LisaMona Lisa OROR da da Vinci??Vinci??

The Last Supper The Last Supper - da - da Vinci, 1498Vinci, 1498& Geometry& Geometry

horizontal

vert

ical

PerspectivPerspective!e!

The Last Supper The Last Supper - da - da Vinci, 1498Vinci, 1498

Detail of Detail of JesusJesus

The Last The Last SupperSupper

Leonardo Leonardo da Vincida Vinci

14981498

DeterioratiDeteriorationon

A Da Vinci “Code”:A Da Vinci “Code”:St. John St. John oror Mary Magdalene? Mary Magdalene?

Leonardo, the SculptorLeonardo, the Sculptor

An An Equestrian Equestrian StatueStatue

1516-15181516-1518

Leonardo, the Architect:Leonardo, the Architect:Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

Plan of the city of Imola, 1502.Plan of the city of Imola, 1502.

Leonardo, the Scientist Leonardo, the Scientist (Biology):(Biology):Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

An example of An example of the humanist the humanist desire to desire to unlock the unlock the secrets of secrets of nature.nature.

Leonardo, the Scientist Leonardo, the Scientist (Anatomy): (Anatomy):

Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

Leonardo, the Leonardo, the Inventor:Inventor:

Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

Man Can Fly?Man Can Fly?

A study of siege A study of siege defenses.defenses.

Studies of water-lifting Studies of water-lifting devices.devices.

Leonardo, the Engineer: Leonardo, the Engineer: Pages from his Pages from his

NotebookNotebook

Comparing DomesComparing Domes

2.2. Michelangelo Michelangelo BuonorratiBuonorrati

1475 – 15641475 – 1564

He He represented represented the body in the body in three three dimensions dimensions of sculpture.of sculpture.

DavidDavid

MichelangelMichelangelooBuonarottiBuonarotti

15041504

MarbleMarble

15c15c

16c16c

WhatWhat

aa

differencedifference

aa

centurycentury

makes!makes!

The Sistine The Sistine ChapelChapel

MichelangelMichelangelo Buonarrotio Buonarroti

1508 - 15121508 - 1512

The Sistine Chapel’s The Sistine Chapel’s CeilingCeiling

Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo Buonarroti1508 - 15121508 - 1512

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

The The Creation Creation

of the of the HeavensHeavens

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

Creation of ManCreation of Man

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

The Fall The Fall from from GraceGrace

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

The Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment

3.3. Raffaello Sanzio (1483- Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)1520)

Self-PortraitSelf-Portrait, 1506, 1506 Portrait of the Artist Portrait of the Artist with a Friendwith a Friend, 1518, 1518

PerspectivPerspective!e!

PerspectivPerspective!e!

BetrothBetrothal al

of the of the Virgin Virgin

RaphaelRaphael

15041504

The School of Athens The School of Athens – – Raphael, Raphael, 1510 -111510 -11• One point perspective.

• All of the important Greek philosophers and thinkers are included all of the great personalities of the Seven Liberal Arts!

• A great variety of poses.

• Located in the papal apartments library.

• Raphael worked on this commission simultaneously as Michelangelo was doing the Sistine Chapel.

• No Christian themes here.

The School of Athens The School of Athens – – Raphael, 1510 -11Raphael, 1510 -11

Raphael

Da Vinci

Michelangelo

AristotleAristotle::looks to thislooks to thisearth [theearth [thehere andhere and

now].now].

PlatoPlato::looks to thelooks to theheavens [or heavens [or

the IDEALthe IDEALrealm].realm].

The School of Athens The School of Athens – – Raphael, detailsRaphael, details

AverroesHypatia

Pythagoras

ZoroasterZoroaster

Ptolemy

Euclid

Raphael!!!Raphael!!!

The Liberation of St. The Liberation of St. PeterPeter by Raphael, 1514 by Raphael, 1514

A Portrait of SavonarolaA Portrait of Savonarola By Fra Bartolomeo, By Fra Bartolomeo,

1498.1498.

Dominican friar who Dominican friar who decried money and decried money and power.power.

Anti-humanistAnti-humanist he saw he saw humanism as too humanism as too secular, hedonistic, and secular, hedonistic, and corrupting.corrupting.

The The “Bonfire of the “Bonfire of the Vanities,”Vanities,” 1497. 1497.

/ Burned books, artwork, Burned books, artwork, jewelry, and other jewelry, and other luxury goods in public.luxury goods in public.

/ Even Botticelli put Even Botticelli put some of his paintings some of his paintings on the fire!!on the fire!!

Pope Leo X with Cardinal Pope Leo X with Cardinal Giulio deMedici and Luigi De Giulio deMedici and Luigi De Rossi Rossi by Raphael, 1518-1519 by Raphael, 1518-1519 A Medici Pope.A Medici Pope.

He went through He went through the Vatican the Vatican treasury in a treasury in a year!year!

His extravagances His extravagances offended even offended even some cardinals some cardinals [[as well as Martin as well as Martin LutherLuther!].!].

Started selling Started selling indulgencesindulgences..

Birth of VenusBirth of Venus – – Botticelli, 1485Botticelli, 1485

An attempt to depict perfect beauty.An attempt to depict perfect beauty.

Renaissance Art in Northern Europe• Should not be considered an appendage to Italian

art.• But, Italian influence was strong.

– Painting in OIL, developed in Flanders, was widely adopted in Italy.

• The differences between the two cultures:– Italy change was inspired by humanism with its

emphasis on the revival of the values of classical antiquity.

– No. Europe change was driven by religious reform, the return to Christian values, and the revolt against the authority of the Church.

• More princes & kings were patrons of artists.

Characteristics of Northern Renaissance Art

• The continuation of late medieval attention to details.

• Tendency toward realism & naturalism [less emphasis on the “classical ideal”].

• Interest in landscapes.• More emphasis on middle-class and peasant life.• Details of domestic interiors.• Great skill in portraiture.

Hubert Van Eyck -Adoration of the Lamb, Ghent Altarpiece, 1432

Jan Van Eyck – Portrait of a Man in a Turban, 1433

Rogier van der Weyden (1399-1464)

The The DepositioDepositio

nn

1435 1435

van der Weyden’s Deposition (details)

Pieter Paul Rubens – Prometheus Bound

Hieronymus

Bosch

The Garden of

Earthy Delights

1500

Bruegel’s, Tower of Babel, 1563

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

• The greatest of German artists.

• A scholar as well as an artist.

• His patron was the Emperor Maximilian I.

• Also a scientist– Wrote books on geometry,

fortifications, and human proportions.

• Self-conscious individualism of the Renaissance is seen in his portraits.

Self-Portrait at 26, 1498.

Dürer – Self-Portrait in Fur-Collared Robe, 1500

Durer – The Triumphal Arch, 1515-1517

The Triumphal Arch, details

The Triumphal Arch, details

Dürer

FourHorsemen

of theApocalypse

woodcut, 1498

Hans Holbein, the Younger (1497-1543)

• One of the great German artists who did most of his work in England.

• While in Basel, he befriended Erasmus.– Erasmus Writing, 1523

• Henry VIII was his patron from 1536.

• Great portraitist noted for:– Objectivity & detachment.

– Doesn’t conceal the weaknesses of his subjects.

Artist to the Tudors

Henry VIII (left), 1540 Henry VIII (left), 1540 and the future Edward and the future Edward VI (above), 1543.VI (above), 1543.

The English Were More Interested in Architecture than Painting

Hardwick Hall, designed by Robert Smythson in the Hardwick Hall, designed by Robert Smythson in the 1590s, for the Duchess of Shrewsbury [more 1590s, for the Duchess of Shrewsbury [more

medieval in style].medieval in style].

Burghley House for William Cecil

The largest & grandest house The largest & grandest house of the early Elizabethan era.of the early Elizabethan era.

Mentmore Tower, Buckinhamshire

This was built in 1855 but is modeled after the Renaissance style of architecture you’ve just seen

Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco)

• The most important Spanish artist of this period was Greek.

• 1541 – 1614.• He deliberately distorts & elongates his figures, and

seats them in a lurid, unearthly atmosphere.• He uses an agitated, flickering light.• He ignores the rules of perspective, and heightens

the effect by areas of brilliant color.• His works were a fitting expression of the Spanish

Counter-Reformation.

El Greco – The Disrobing of Christ, 1577-1579