Early Renaissance 1400’s Italy: Humanism ruled – academic study not linked to religion. Classical education for noble males – sometimes for lower classes and women. Artists traveled to Rome to sketch and learn from ruins and classical sculpture Italy was divided into states with separate courts. Each court vied for the best artists, writers, scientists, etc. Florence: financial, intellectual, and artistic center. MEDICI family of bankers IMPORTANT NEW ARTISTIC BREAKTHROUGHS: 1)Oil paint on Canvas: Wood was becoming scarce and it was hard to travel with. Also warped in warm and humid climates. 2)Linear and Aerial Perspective: Showing depth in a painting with visual and mathematical accuracy! 3) Use of light and shadow: Chiaroscuro is the term for using drastic light and dark to define figures and objects in a painting. 4) Pyramid Configuration: Using a triangle to define the hierarchical order within a painting. Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Holy Trinity, Masaccio, fresco, 1425 Pyramid Configuration: Holy Spirit and God at the top, Jesus next, Mary and John the Evangelist next, then the donors. Linear Perspective: all straight lines in a painting converge at a point on the eye level or horizon line giving the illusion of depth. This painting uses 1 point perspective. With the vanishing point being directly behind Christ’s head. Memento Mori: Reminder of death or mortality. Often a skeleton or a skull. This painting is considered the first successful use of perspective. Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Brancacci Chapel, Masaccio, fresco, c1425 All heads in central scene at the same level: isocephaly All orthogonals lead to behind Jesus’ head, accurate linear perspective Chiaroscuro: use of light and dark to create dimensional look to the shading. All shadows are consistent, light source appears to come from behind the physical alter in this church. Aerial perspective in the mountains and the people’s clothing. Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Mary Magdalene, Donatello, bronze, c1455 Donatello brought back the use of contrapposto He also re-introduced the use of the full nude figure (it had been considered evil in the earlier Christian eras) Mixed religious stories with current commentary and personal statements Was willing to depict events and stories in a manner that was not popular – proving how important artists were! David, Donatello, bronze, c1430 Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Sandro Bottecelli, Birth of Venus, tempera on canvas, 1480 First full-size female nude in a painting since Antiquity, TEMPERA on CANVAS – moving toward new techniques Shell and rose symbolic of both Venus and MaryUse of motion (fluttering drapery, waving hair, wind, etc…) hail back to the sense of motion in Greek and Roman Sculpture – like the winged Nike.Mythological subject paintings were for private residences – very limited number created – still mostly Christian subjects Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Leonardo da Vinci Baptism of Christ, Verrocchio, 1470, oil on panel ~Trained in Florence under Verrocchio ~Verrocchio turned solely to sculpture after being overshadowed by Leonardo’s talent ~12 works universally or generally accepted as completed by Leonardo (extant = still in existence) ~Prolific scientific and mechanical journals. ~ Tended to experiment and procrastinate – often did not finish work or handed it off to his workshop to finish. ~Experiments often failed (Last Supper) Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Leonardo da Vinci Last Supper, , oil and tempera on plaster ~Apostles in four groups of three (echoes four wall hanging, three windows) ~Gestures, poses, and lighting are significant (Judas on same side of table but leaning away and in darkness) ~ Orthogonals radiate from his head and he creates a triangle shape with extended arms: alludes to “Light of the World” and Holy Trinity Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Leonardo da Vinci Madonna and Child with St. Anne, 1506, oil on wood ~St. Anne is Mary’s mother (Mary is often depicted sitting on her lap) ~3 generations in pyramidical format, trinity and past, present, and future ~ Tree and lamb look forward in time to the crucifixion and Christ as the sacrificed lamb. ~ Softer, yellower light than any painter previously ~Technically unique use of chiaroscuro ~Sfumato softens the landscape ~Landscape integrated with figures Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa, , oil on wood ~Wife of Francesco del Giocondo (Lisa) ~synthesis of figure, architecture, nature ~Cubic space (she is seated in a loggia whose columns were partially trimmed away after Leonardo’s death) ~Figure bathed in deep yellow light, landscape (from her shoulders up) is a blue, smoky light. Forces viewers’ attention to her face ~Formal repeated shapes between figure’s drapery and landscape. The road and her sleeve; aqueduct and shoulder, sfumato and veil… ~Human body as metaphor for earth: flesh=soil, bones=rock, etc… ~departures from typical portraits: NO jewelry, half figure instead of quarter.