Art History Part 2: Renaissance

Renaissance Art The Renaissance was roughly between 1400 A.D. to 1600 A.D.  It began in the city states of Italy.  The Renaissance means "rebirth" in French.   This art reflected back to the classical time of Rome and Greece. 

Renaissance, 2 Man began to explore himself and the world around him. Religion was still important, but man began to think for himself and about himself. One of the major influences in the Renaissance was the change in the social structure of Europe with the rise and development of a new merchant class. These wealthy merchants would often hire artists to decorate family chapels in the local church or cathedral. 

Renaissance, 3 In the Renaissance, we see the first oil painting on canvas.   It was also a time where the paintings took on three dimensions by the use of shadow and light.  The subject matter included mythical subjects and nature scenes. 

Renaissance, 4 Artists tried to show differences in proportions (meaning size and location of one thing compared to another in the painting) of their subject matter.      Leonardo DaVinici painted the Mona Lisa during this time and became known as the Renaissance man. 

Renaissance, 5 Michelangelo took over four years to paint more than 6000 square feet of the Sistine Chapel with scenes from the Old Testament Bible. 

Renaissance, 6 The Renaissance marked a new beginning for man and the world. It is often called the beginning of modern civilization.