Early and High Renaissance Art In Italy

Art and Patronage Italians were willing to spend a lot of money on art: Art communicated social, political, and spiritual values Those involved in Italian banking & international trade interests had the money Public art in Florence was organized and supported by guilds : Opportunity for artists to become well-known Essentially, the consumption of art was used as a form of competition for social & political status!

Masaccio, “Expulsion from the Garden” (1427) Fresco First nudes since classical times Masaccio, “The Trinity” (1427) Fresco First use of linear perspective

Renaissance was a “rebirth” of Greek and Rome This became a major theme in art Secularism Humanism Individualism  free standing figures Symmetry/Balance Raphael, “School of Athens”

The First Three Hall-of-Famers

Founder of early Renaissance Painting Painted human figure as a real human being (3D) Used perspective Consistent source of light (accurate shadows) “ Madonna and Child”, 1426

“ The Tribute Money”,

First free standing, life- size nude since Classical period Sense of Underlying skeletal structure He invented the shallow relief technique: the sculpture seems deep but is actually done on a very shallow plane “David”,

Rebirth of Classical mythology Art became the most recognizable voice of the Florentine Renaissance “Birth of Venus”, 1482 “Adoration of the Magi”, 1475 Notice the difference between these two images – 7 years separates them but the topic (religious vs. secular) and painting techniques are very different!

“Mona Lisa”, Click here to view a video on the achievements of da Vinci Click here to view a video on the achievements of da Vinci “The Last Supper”

Click here to view a video on the achievements of Michelangelo Click here to view a video on the achievements of Michelangelo “David”, 1504 Section of the Sistene Chapel, 1512 “The Pieta”, 1499

All art in this lesson is from Click here Click here to visit their Renaissance section to learn about more Italian Renaissance artists and Northern Renaissance artists. The information you learn from this lesson and by exploring Artchive will be used in the “Key Players of the Renaissance” discussion forum.