...Renaissance Art American InterContinental University Abstract Following the Middle Ages, Europe saw a great revival in the interest of classical learning and in the interest of ancient Greece and Rome. From this came the discovery of new technologies, new continents through exploration, and the emergence of the arts of philosophy, literature, and art. From this time came some of the most world renowned pieces of art, many of which are still on display today, with two such pieces being “The Arnolfini Portrait” by Jan Van Eyck and “Giorgione” by Giorgio da Castelfranco. Renaissance Art From roughly 1400 to 1600 Europe experienced a rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman culture and with this rediscovery came wealth, both in the monetary fashion and in the art sense. With increasing trade, the discovery of new continents, and new inventions such as the printing press, there was also an increase in the arts. This increase brought about some of the most well known literature, philosophy, and art that is still studied and admired today. Although there are more well known names in the field of art such as DaVinci and Michelangelo there were many more that still have their art on display today such as Jan Van Eyck and Giorgio da Castelfranco. Giorgio da Castelfranco created a painted entitled “Judith” in the year 1504 and is one of many portraits that depicts the scene of Judith of Holofernes from the Biblical legend of Judith. The tale states that...
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...Shannon Wilds Renaissance Art- Unit 4 HUMA205-1403A-05 AIU Online The Renaissance was a time to give new life to art, music, science, etc. It was unlike any other era, in the fact that artist were going beyond their boundaries to depict a beautiful masterpiece. Michelangelo’s piece named David, to represent the biblical hero, was the first piece like itself since the Greeks. This sculptor captured the eye of many and the general populations were in awe at powerful expression that David had. Another piece that brought upon a new perspective is The Holy Trinity. This painting accurately defines space within a painting, giving it somewhat of a three dimensional look. When looking at the painting, viewers can grasp why it was named The Holy Trinity. At the top we see God, the Holy Father. Then we see Jesus, the son of God. Then between them, a dove to represent The Holy Spirit; thus creating The Holy Trinity. Other characters in this painting are at different levels giving the viewer the perspective of the three dimensions. Another similar work of art is Leonardo’s The Last Supper. This painting also portrays a third dimension. In the center, Christ is shown with his arms outstretched in a gesture of acceptance, his image a stable triangle. Michelangelo’s sculpture, David, is an empowering symbol of courage, civic duty, and freedom from tyranny for Florence. The image of David has been done multiple times but never with such power and grace as Michelangelo’s piece. The stance...
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...will be focussing on the comparison between two paintings from the Renaissance period. The two paintings that will be discussed are The Birth of Venus by Sandro Boticelli and The Feast of the Gods by Giovanni Bellini. The comparison will be mainly based on the form of work that includes elements such as materials used, technique and colors, and also on the interpretations of the artwork. We will first look at Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus. It is probably considered to be Boticelli’s most famous piece of artwork. The painting is believed to have been produced between the periods of 1485-1486 (wikipaintings.org, 2013), making it from the Middle Ages Renaissance. He started the painting after being commissioned by the Medici family of Florence, Lorenzo di Pierfrencesco de Medici to be specific (Italian-renaissance-art.com, 2013). The painting portrays the birth of the goddess Venus, emerging from the sea as a fully grown women and being afloat on a seashell. The painting also shows a couple symbolizing the wing blowing her towards the shore. Venus is also seen to be greeted by a woman who seems to represent the spring. The painting is now displayed in Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The Feast of the Gods by Giovanni Bellini was Bellini’s last great painting (Kren & Marx, 2013). It is among the very few paintings that he worked on canvas. The Feast of the Gods was completed in 1514 (National Gallery of Art, 2013) after being commissioned by the Duke of Ferrara (webexhibits...
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...Characteristics of the Renaissance? In very simple terms, the Italian Renaissance re-established Western art according to the principles of classical Greek art, especially Greek sculpture and painting, which provided much of the basis for the Grand Tour, and which remained unchallenged until Pablo Picasso and Cubism. From the early 14th century, in their search for a new set of artistic values and a response to the courtly International Gothic style, Italian artists and thinkers became inspired by the ideas and forms of ancient Greece and Rome. This was perfectly in tune with their desire to create a universal, even noble, form of art which could express the new and more confident mood of the times. Renaissance Philosophy of Humanism Above all, Renaissance art was driven by the new notion of "Humanism," a philosophy which had been the foundation for many of the achievements (eg. democracy) of pagan ancient Greece. Humanism downplayed religious and secular dogma and instead attached the greatest importance to the dignity and worth of the individual. Effect of Humanism on Art In the visual arts, humanism stood for (1) the emergence of the individual figure, in place of stereotyped, or symbolic figures. (2) Greater realism and consequent attention to detail, as reflected in the development of linear perspective and the increasing realism of human faces and bodies; this new approach helps to explain why classical sculpture was so revered, and why Byzantine art fell out of fashion...
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...As we move into the “Renaissance” period, artists of the fifteenth-century represented a variety of textures, shapes, and spaces that they experienced around them in their lives. They developed a style of painting called “linear perspective” which would allow them to reflect simulations of three-dimensional forms arranged in space. This would give the painting a depth and realism not seen until now in the different eras. There was a heavy emphasis placed on the realistic portrait-like paintings giving a life-like sense to the images. This Humanist style of painting placed great value on science reason, and the individual while keeping an unwavering religious faith style. One of the techniques developed in Northern Europe was “oil painting”, unlike the Italian artist, the northern artists painted in oil on canvas. Oil paint takes much longer to dry allowing the painter time to easily make changes. The long drying process would allow the paint to dry smooth erasing the brush strokes. More importantly, oil paint is translucent when applied in thin layers, known as glazes. This method of built up glazes would let the light penetrate to the lower layers and then reflect back which would create the appearance of an interior glow, giving viewers the illusion that they were looking at real objects rather than painted imitations. Italian artists favored tempera, the method of suspending powered pigments in oils like linseed or sometimes walnut. One large difference from the Northern...
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...The Renaissance & Baroque Arts The Renaissance, also known as the period of “rebirth”, directly followed the Middle Ages. Some considered the Renaissance period as a bridge from the “Dark Ages” to the modern era or the “light”. This period in history lasted about four centuries—late 13th century to the early 17th century— featuring “a revival of classical art, literature, philosophy, architecture, and learning” and introduced some of “the finest artists and intellectual achievements in the history of the Western humanities” such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo Buonarroti (MindEdge, 2013). Renaissance art is traced back to Italy where artists and scholars looked to the ancient Greco-Roman culture for inspiration by reviving the language, values, and traditions that were lost after “the fall of the Roman Empire in the sixth century” (A&E Television Networks, LLC, 2013). Furthermore, Renaissance artists added individuality to their works through portraying “beauty and mystery of the natural world” (A&E Television Networks, LLC, 2013). Most of the art produced during this time showcased religious imagery, completed mostly as Catholic Mass altarpieces. Artists around these times were sponsored by patrons of the arts such as The Catholic Church and affluent families such as the Medici family in Florence. Political permanence, growing wealth, and technological advancements are some of the social conditions that may have contributed to the arts of the Renaissance era...
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...with the Renaissance the Church is no longer the only primary patron of the arts. Private families, governments and other secular (non-religious) groups begin to hire artists with greater frequency. What effect do you think this new diversity in patrons had on the arts in the 15th-18th centuries? Include some specific examples of works commissioned by these new patrons. For many, the Renaissance means the “revival of European art and literature under the influence of classical models in the 14th–16th centuries”. The Renaissance migrated into the rest of Europe and was called the northern Renaissance. Artiste of the north was more interested in things that were real oppose to classic. There were many effects as a result of the diversity of patrons. The great Renaissance artiste had their work cut out for them in different ways. Leonardo da Vinci was a real renaissance man; he was a talented painter, sculptor, scientist architect and a military engineer, who painted the most controversial and...
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...The Italian Renaissance marked the beginning of a rebirth in culture and ideas. Art was focused around interest in nature, humanism, individualism, and sometimes religion. Even though these new ideas were already present in the late medieval period, they boomed during the Italian Renaissance. During this era, artists determined how to arrange figures realistically in 3D landscapes. Sculptures were often detailed and beautiful figures that were incredibly realistic. Overall, Italian Renaissance art was beautiful, bright, and something nobody had ever seen before. Raphael is one of the most famous painters in all of history. The School of Athens is known as the most famous work by Raphael. In this fresco, Raphael creates a assembly...
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...Renaissance Reformation The Italian art produced during the Renaissance era did not show men as they really were, because their art made men look feminine as represented by their hair and their clothing. Renaissance ideas are expressed in the Italian are of the periods. The base there art of a humans features in their body and their characteristic. What that means is all there art was very vivid, because they love to draw the body of a human naked. To them it was true art, they did not put much detail into each paintings because they were not the Muslims, who drew every signal detail in an art. Men in art looked like females in the form of their face, they believe that men was so handsome that they should have the face of a female fix into the sculptor or painting. Therefore since the Italians were catholic, they to believe in God and his helpers. Francesco Mochi made a sculptor called Bust of a Youth. The Bust of the Youth was a sculptor of St. John. The sculptor was made out of marble on variegated black marble socle. The painting in people eyes looks like a young girl, but instead it was a male angle. St. John was the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord....
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...Humanism, the printing press and the Renaissance art change Europe in many ways. The printing press encouraged people to get the Bible in their language and read about God. Humanism encouraged people to want freedom of religion, and the Renaissance art changed the way people viewed art. Everything caused a new problem. The printing press was a way to copy books. They translated the bible and copied them into everyday languages. This made people want to learn more about god. Now anyone could get a bible in their own language and read about god and his history. This also encouraged people to learn how to read and maybe write their own books. Humanism opened people’s eyes to make their own decisions. They then wanted freedom of religion. Humanism...
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...The idea of art has been guided by human psychological necessities and an understanding of life been escorted by religious beliefs. Throughout human history, it is easily visible the effect that human desire to define their existence have had in the development of art, social hierarchies and moral principles. High Renaissance (1490 - 1527) and Italian Baroque (late 16th century - early 18th century) are period styles greatly influence by occurrences at the time. Michelangelo’s Moses is an immense representative of the High Renaissance styles, as well as, Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne for The Italian Baroque Style. We are going to explore both artworks, comparing and contrasting the meaning behind their existence, their respective cultural and historical events as an influence on their individual time period. Initially, in 1505 Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti to build his tomb. Michelangelo consenting, dedicated 6 months choosing marble at Carrara, for his initial massive design which in theory was to have 40 statues. The project was postponed due to a lack of funds, and a new commission by the Pope, rumored to be the...
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...of Rome and that time (Hanawalt, 1998). This period was later replaced by the Renaissance period and has been described as a period of rebirth where ancient techniques were revived and new ones developed leading to more success in the art industry. Artists were inspired by the recovery of Greco-Roman heritage from the East and the importation of Byzantine examples to the West (Zirpolo, 2008). This essay discusses the relationship between the Middle Ages and Renaissance historical art periods. The Middle Ages was considered a period of ignorance, barbarism and superstition (Hanawalt, 1998). This period was called the dark ages due to the negative practices involved, but Scholars saw the period differently stating that the history was a continuous process from biblical times to their time. Most of them wrote about battles, feudalism, crusades, manorialism, kings and emperors, rise of towns, Universities and churches (Hanawalt, 1998). Representations of art during this period were modestly scaled with little creativity because artists did their work collectively and mainly for religious purposes. There was no competition in the art industry and traditional techniques were used to design objects. Art was used to spread religion in Europe and throughout other parts of the world and was viewed as a mere utilitarian object which did not have much value. The Renaissance was a historical art period that led to the abandonment of the Middle Ages practice (Zirpolo, 2008)....
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...Religious and cultural upheaval brought many changes during the 16th-century that let to High Renaissance. During this period the High Renaissance art, flourished for about 35 years and revolved around three important figures: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Leonardo da Vinci was an innovative artist, centuries ahead of time, who dramatically changed art history. One of his greatest masterpieces is the “Madonna of the Rocks,” which he started painting in 1483. In this painting, “Leonardo da Vinci achieved a revolutionary technique –the unified representation of objects in an atmospheric setting” (Kleiner 256; Marani 147). The scene takes place in a natural setting but completely idealized. “Seclusion is, in fact, the central theme of this masterpiece” (Zöllner 59). The composition is pyramidal and unites the figures. The apex is the head of the Virgin, who is kneeling with her left-hand hovering protectively above her Son. To the right, the archangel Uriel with wings spread out looks discreetly outwards. He points out the child John, whom the Virgin touches with her right hand and protects him with...
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...Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy Franciscan monastery Gothic church from the 1200’s, mammoth sized For the Glorious Mary Rood screen, choir screen, separates the clergy from the people of the mass—made by Venetian scholars Rood Screen, Church of Santa Maria Wonderful carving in marble, round arches When made the altarpiece, had to take into account the huge size of church and the Rood screen, so rounded the edges to fit it right into the Rood Screen Titian, Assumption of the Virgin, 1516-18, Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy Over 20feet high Artist simplified the altarpiece because if there were busy details, the naked eye couldn’t see the piece and understand it from all the way in the back; three simple divisions Simplified the color palette to the three primary colors Features Mary in the middle, the focal point Assumption of the Virgin: Mary is mortal; she cannot carry herself, after her funeral Assention of Jesus: Jesus is divine, can carry himself up to heaven Very vertical God is nicely foreshortened X composition here, in all of his works Mary looks very young, way younger than at her death, and looks healthy, how they wanted to remember her; he idealized Mary At the same time this is being painted, Raphael is painting Pope Leo X People are attacking the very emphasis on paintings like this History Lesson: Protestant Reformation Pope Leo X had to deal with it Before this, the whole church if all Catholic...
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...of Rome. The “Middle Ages” was later replaced by the Renaissance period. It was period of rebirth of ancient techniques and newly developed techniques that had major success in the art industry. Greco-Roman heritage and Byzantine examples inspired the artists. (Wikipedia, n.d.) This paper will discuss the relationship between Middle Age and Renaissance art periods. The middle ages also known as the dark ages were a period of barbarism, ignorance, and superstition. (Wikipedia, n.d.) The period saw a decrease in prosperity, stability and population in the first century. The period had a massive setback of population due to the Black Death plague. Invasions and incursions plagued Europeans during this period and had a major effect on art. Art was modest and had little creativity and was made mainly for religious purposes. Some art was rare and costly when associated with the church and mostly produced by monks. Since most of the art was used to spread religion it was viewed as utilitarian and not having much value. The renaissance abandoned the middle ages and its modest art and representations of monumental images. (Wikipedia, n.d.) Art became valuable, attractive, and profitable. Artists left behind the middle age thinking and broadened their horizons by developing new techniques and reviving ancient ones. Art was starting to be signed by the artist who was proud of their work and achievements. The arts industry was able to be formed out of this period due...
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