III. The Renaissance and Art Introduction Following the
barbarism of the Middle Ages, men of the 15th and 16th centuries
have the impression of living an extraordinary period of renewal.
Their era is called an age of individual genius.
Slide 2
Key Questions In what ways is the Renaissance in the Arts a
Humanist Movement? How does the Renaissance movement in the arts
reflect the larger Humanists philosophy?
Slide 3
The Renaissance in Art: a return to ancient sources Just as the
Humanists return to ancient texts in Greek and Latin, the artists
of the 15th and 16th century find inspiration in the Ancient world
as a reaction against the Middle Ages. The classic influence can be
seen through architecture and painting by the decoration of
represented scenes (columns, cupolas, arches, etc.)
Slide 4
An example of Greek temple architecture. Note the triangular
pediment on top and the Greek columns below Video: The Classical
Influence on Renaissance Architecture 415
Slide 5
New Subject matter for Renaissance Artists Mythological and
ancient scenes are once again represented Renaissance artists also
paint scenes of the Old Testament which is also a focus of the
Humanists
Slide 6
Botticellis Birth of Venus, Uffizi Museum, Florence, Italy,
1486
Slide 7
Michelangelos Detail of the Sistine Chapel, Creation of Adam
1508-1512
Slide 8
IV. Italian Renaissance Art A. Patronage 1. Florence was the
leader in Renaissance art especially in the quattrocento (1400s) a.
Giorgio Vasari (1511-74): The Lives of the Artists Contemporary
Renaissance art historian who left much valuable information about
Renaissance artists and their works.
Slide 9
c. Patronage also came from local churches who increasingly saw
Renaissance art as a means of glorifying God. Some notable examples
include Brunelleschis Il Duomo built for the Santa Maria del Fiore
cathedral Ghibertis two sets of doors were created for the
baptistery opposite Il Duomo Ghibertis Gates of Paradise 1401
Ghibertis Gates of Paradise 1401
Slide 10
View of Il Duomo in Florence from the inside Video: How an
Amateur built the worlds biggest dome 349
Slide 11
Michelangelos David, 1501-1504 originally commissioned for the
cathedral (but was too heavy and thus placed elsewhere).
Slide 12
2. Rome became the center of Renaissance art in the 1500s
(cinquecento) a. With the decline of Florence in the late- 15th
century, Renaissance dominance shifted to Rome. b. Pope Alexander
VI (r. 1492-1503): most notorious of the Renaissance popes; spent
huge sums on art patronage
Slide 13
St Peters Basilica, Vatican City
Slide 14
c. A few of the notable works commissioned by the Church in
this period include : Michelangelos dome atop St. Peters Cathedral,
his paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the
sculpture Pieta that is located within the cathedral Raphaels The
School of Athens (a fresco painting inside the papal apartments)
Bramantes Tempietto, a small church that is a masterpiece in
classical architecture; and his floor plan for a newly rebuilt St.
Peters cathedral. (Much of his plans were altered after his
death)
Slide 15
B. New artistic techniques 1. Painting a.perspective: 3-D
effects on a 2-dimensional surface - Vanishing point Medieval
works, in contrast, looked flat and two- dimensional Video:
Brunelleschis experiment linear perspective 406
Slide 16
Vanishing Point of Raphaels School of Athens
Slide 17
Vanishing Point: Masolinis St Peter healing a Cripple
Slide 18
b. Massive patronage for the arts came from wealthy
merchant-families (such as the Medicis) who commissioned countless
works from the great artists. In essence, the wealth of Florence
was mirrored by the superb artistic output of the Renaissance A
good example is Donatellos David which stood in the Medici
courtyard during the wedding of Lorenzo de Medici. In Milan, the
Sforzas commissioned such works as Leonardos The Last Supper
Donatellos David Note that the subject is standing in Contrapposto
Leonardo da Vincis Last Supper c. 1493-1498
Slide 19
Slide 20
b. chiaroscuro: use of dark and light colors to create the
illusion of depth c. Faces of subjects expressed unique individual
characteristics (embodying the Renaissance ideal of individualism)
Also, more emotion was shown on human faces In contrast, medieval
paintings tended to be more stylized in their portrayal of human
faces (i.e. more generic)
Slide 21
Leonardo da Vincis portrait Lady with Ermine c. 1485
Slide 22
d. sfumato developed by Leonardo; a technique of blurring or
softening sharp outlines
Slide 23
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, 1503- 1506, Louvre Museum
Slide 24
2. Sculpture a. Medieval sculpture often appeared on buildings
and tombs, were highly detailed, and did not glorify the human
body. They were relief sculptures protruding from a surface. b.
Renaissance sculpture was often free-standing, designed to be seen
in the round Heavily influenced by ancient Greek and Roman
sculpture This was in stark contrast to medieval sculpture that
largely was done in relief
Slide 25
Donatellos David Bronze sculpture 1440s Contrapposto
Slide 26
Michelangelos Pieta c. 1498-1500
Slide 27
c. Many sculptures glorified the human body and many portrayed
nude figures (like works in ancient Greece and Rome) d. Like
Renaissance painting, many Renaissance sculptures glorified the
individual
Slide 28
3. Architecture a. The Gothic style of architecture during the
Middle Ages was highly-ornamented with pointed arches, spires,
flying buttresses, and a grand scale b. In contrast, Renaissance
architecture utilized ancient Greek and Roman forms such as Greek
temple architecture (with triangular pediments), Greek columns,
Roman arches and domes (e.g. the Pantheon in Rome) c. Renaissance
emphasized simplicity, symmetry and balance.
Slide 29
Homework Reading: Art of the Western World Chapter 6 Early
Renaissance Italy (on blog) Chapter 8 Italian High Renaissance (on
blog) Videos: (links on blog) Khan Academys Brunelleschi, Ghiberti
Sacrifice of Isaac, Competition Panels 1401-1402, Khan Academys
Brunelleschi, Dome of Cathedral in Florence 551 Khan Academys
Donatellos David in Bronze Khan Academys Leonardo da Vincis Last
Supper Khan Academys Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa Khan Academys
Michelangelos Sistine Chapels ceiling Khan Academys Raphaels The
School of Athens