RENAISSANCE: INTRODUCTION

Means “rebirth” in French Term first used by Giorgio Vasari* to describe

the renewal of classical Greek and Roman arts, movement toward perfection

(* Biographer of the artists, and contemporary art historian)

THE “DIGNITY OF MAN” AND THE REVIVAL OF HUMANISM

Man is God’s most excellent creation.

Man is excellent because he alone can know God.

Man also has the ability to master his fate, and live happily in this world.

Humanism replaced Medieval Scholasticism.

Focused more on ethical and political philosophy.

Going back to the ancients

While some ancient authors, especially Aristotle, were very well known and were used for medieval thought as well as Catholic theology and cosmology, many others had fallen by the wayside.

There were several reasons for this.

There was the general decline in literacy and learning during the medieval period, but, more importantly, Greek and proper Latin were no longer spoken or read. Therefore, most people couldn’t read the ancient works even if they had them.

Going back to the ancients

Another reason is that many of the works were lost to western Europe. Once the Renaissance was under way, people

started hunting them down. Some were found in monastery libraries where

they had gathered dust for centuries. Many others came via Muslims. They had

preserved many works that started finding their way back to Europe due to trading and also because of the Reconquista of Spain.

The influence came not just from the original works, but also from Muslim commentaries on the works.

The printing press

Johann Gutenberg, born 1398, a German metal-worker Added the innovation of movable-type – metal, interchangeable

characters Replacing wood block type - expensive Borrowed from China? The Gutenberg Bibles, beginning 1455 Legacy: will allow for future “turning points” including the

Renaissance, Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution

WHY DID THE RENAISSANCE ORIGINATE IN ITALY?

Strongest urban development.

Very little distinction between landed aristocracy and wealthy merchants.

Commerce and trade created a greater demand for literacy.

Italy was littered with reminders of its classical past.

Wealthiest in Europe (trade and banking).

PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS

Demonstrating civic pride

Competition between wealthy families.

Types of works: building of palaces, chapels, decoration of churches…use of family coat of arms

RENAISSANCE PAINTINGIN SPAIN

Characteristics

Rejection of mythological themes or the cult of the nude.

Religiouse painting basically. Normally completed in oil. The figures are all of the same size and

anatomically correct. The colors and the shading are applied in tonal

ranges. To accentuate the Italian style: a candelieri and

Roman ruins on foreground.

Characteristics

The use of perspective Foreshortening (the appearance that the object of

a drawing is extending into space by shortening the lines with which that object is drawn)

Sfumato (the application of subtle layers of translucent paint so that there is no visible transition between colors, tones and often objects)

Chiaroscuro (use of exaggerated light contrasts in order to create the illusion of volume)

Balance and Proportion

Techniques

Techniques

The use of perspective

Foreshortening (the appearance that the object of a drawing is extending into space by shortening the lines with which that object is drawn)

Techniques

Sfumato (the application of subtle layers of translucent paint so that there is no visible transition between colors, tones and often objects)

Techniques

Chiaroscuro (use of exaggerated light contrasts in order to create the illusion of volume)

Techniques

Balance and Proportion

Techniques

Balance and Proportion

Techniques

Spanish RenaissanceArchitecture

1. Plateresque styleIt’s called like that because of the extremely

decorated facades, which remind the decorative motifs of the silversmiths’ work.

PLATERESQUE STYLE: Seville Town HallDiego De Riaño

2. Classical style

The decoration decreases and the influence of Italian Renaissance is more important

CLASSICISM: Palace of Charles the 5th in GrenadePEDRO MACHUCA

Cathedral of GrenadeDiego de Siloé

3. Herrerian style

The decoration disappears. Naked buildings

The Escorial (Madrid)JUAN BAUTISTA DE TOLEDO Y JUAN DE HERRERA

Historical residence of the king of SpainIt was a monastery and royal palace

The Escorial: main facade

The library

• unnaturally elongated features

•purposefully asymmetrical or unbalanced

•unusual light sources

•figura serpentina: twisting movement of body similar to that of a serpent’s

MANNERISM

MANNERISM

Renaissance painting: El Greco

LIFE AND CHARACTERISTICS His real name was Doménikos Theotokóupolos.

El Greco (The Greek) was a nickname, a reference to his Greek origin. He was an important architect, painter and sculptor.

He was born in Crete in 1541. At 26 years old he travelled to Venice, and in 1570 he moved to Rome, where he opened a workshop.

Seven years later, he moved to Toledo, in Spain, where he lived and work until his death. In Toledo he produced his most famous paintings.

He wanted to work with the King Philip the 2nd, but he couldn’t reach his dream. The King didn´t like his style.

He gave much importance to the colours and liked to elongate the figures. His style was really original.

He died in 1614

TECHNIQUE

Color have primacy over form (the painter liked "the colors crude and unmixed in great blots

as a boastful display of his dexterity“)

Tendency to dramatize rather than to describe.

Each figure seems to carry its own light within or reflects the light that emanates from an unseen source

It represents the moment before he Crucifixion.

Christ looks up to Heaven with an expression of serenity. There are a lot of people surrounding him.

His red robe symbolizes the sacrifice he’s going to do to save the Humanity.

It represents a legend of the beginning of the 14th century: the count of Orgaz was a very generous man, and because of that, when he died, Saint Stephen (Esteban) and Saint Agustine (Agustín) descended in person from the heavens and buried him by their own hands.

Upper zoneHeaven (Paradise) with Christ, the Virgin, Saint Joan and other saints.

Lower zoneThe burial of the Count with Saint Stephen, Saint Agustine and the people present at the ceremony.

The painting is divided into two zones:

Two monks Count of Orgaz

Saint Stephen Saint AgustineEl Greco’s son

Self-portrait

Christ, the Virgin, Saint Joan and the angel form an ovalSaint Peter

The angel holds in his hands the soul of the Count to take it to the Paradise.

Elongated figures