The Italian Renaissance: Art
Medieval Painting: Major Styles Byzantine (iconography) Portrayed people as stiff and expressionless, with blank eyes Flat, two dimensional figures – unrealistic Human body was considered sinful; it had to be covered at all times Focus wasn’t on the individual but rather the celebration of God’ Illuminated Manuscripts Book where text is supplemented by addition of decoration (initial letters, borders, etc) Style was based on animal imagery, combined with an intricate interlacing of geometric lines Created and drawn by monks, priests Illuminated Bible page (closeup)
Medieval Art: Religious Themes St. Francis’ Rule Approved Giotto 1288-92? Tempera (egg yolk mixed with pigment) on wood and ground gold. Questions Glowing head? Realistic? Depth perception?
Medieval Art: Religious Themes The Epiphany Giotto 1320 Tempera on wood and ground gold. Questions Glowing head? Depth?
Medieval Art: Religious Themes The Crucifixion Giotto (1305) Tempera on wood and ground gold. Questions Realism? Glowing heads? Depth?
Characteristics of Italian Renaissance Art 1. Bright colors & oil paints 2. Concentrated on realism Natural poses were life-like, realistic – like the GREEKS!!! Showed personality & emotion Expulsion from the Garden Masaccio 1427 First nudes since classical times
(Della Pittura – Alberti) Perspective (Della Pittura – Alberti) • Use of perspective • Shadowing created illusion of depth • Made distant items smaller
The Dead Christ, Andre Mantegna (1501)
Betrothal of the Virgin Perspective! Betrothal of the Virgin Raphael 1504
Compare & Contrast Perspective
The “Classical Pose” Medici “Venus” (1c) 4. Classicism Greco-Roman influence. Secularism & Humanism. Individualism free standing figures. Symmetry/Balance The “Classical Pose” Medici “Venus” (1c)
5. Emphasis on Individualism Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre: The Duke & Duchess of Urbino Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.
6. Geometrical Arrangement of Figures The Dreyfus Madonna with the Pomegranate Leonardo da Vinci 1469 The figure as architecture!
Raphael’s Canagiani Madonna, 1507
Where was the Renaissance taking place?
Renaissance Florence
Lorenzo the Magnificent Cosimo de Medici 1478 - 1521 1517 - 1574
Adoration of the Magi Whole Medici family in picture Botticelli on far right looking at viewers
Florence Under the Medici The Medici Palace Medici Chapel
Filippo Brunelleschi 1377 - 1436 Architect Hired to design the dome of St. Maria del Fiore (cathedral)
Filippo Brunelleschi Used the ancient Romans’ architectural concepts Before starting, he travelled around Italy for inspiration Used the ancient Romans’ architectural concepts He studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome Used ribs to support dome
Brunelleschi – Architect Built lightweight inner dome, then exterior dome of wind resistant material Dimensions: 137 feet across Weight: 40,785 tons containing over four million bricks Time to construct: 16 years
Brunelleschi’s Dome
Dome Comparisons Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US Capitol (Florence) (Rome) (London) (Washington)
Renaissance Religious Themes Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child, Fra Filippo Lippi 1406-1469 Emotion of face -she looks like a real mother - tired, worn down
School of Athens - Raphael
The School of Athens – Raphael, details Plato: pointing to the heavens [or the IDEAL realm]. Aristotle: pointing to the earth [the here and now].
Details, School of Athens Michelangelo Details, School of Athens Raphael
Euclid- Features of Bramante \ Socrates Details, School of Athens
School of Athens-Raphael Plato and Aristotle on either side of center axis Plato points skyward to indicate his idealistic worldview Aristotle gestures to ground to show his concern with the real world Metaphysical philosophers on Plato’s side Physical scientists on Aristotle’s side Raphael on extreme right Figures grouped and placed on purpose
“Study of the Gradations Leonardo da Vinci “Self portrait” “Study of Hands” “Study of the Gradations of shadows”
Parachute “Vitruvian Man” Notebook page (written backwards!) Helicopter http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/leonardo/leonardo_narrowband.htm?middle
Leonardo, the Scientist (Biology): Pages from his Notebook An example of the humanist desire to unlock the secrets of nature.
Leonardo, the Scientist (Anatomy): from his Notebook
Leonardo, the Inventor: Pages from his Notebook Machine gun Tank Helicopter
Mona Lisa Lisa di Antonio Maria Gherandini “Mona” - Italian version of ‘Madonna’ or ‘my lady’
A Macaroni Mona
Mona Lisa – da Vinci, 1503-4 ?
A Picasso Mona
An Andy Warhol Mona
Mona Lisa OR da Vinci??
The Last Supper Original Now What original might have looked like
The Last Supper - da Vinci, 1498 vertical horizontal Perspective!
A Da Vinci “Code”: St. John or Mary Magdalene?
Michelangelo
The Pieta
David
What a difference a century makes!
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel Details The Creation of the Heavens
The Sistine Chapel Details Creation of Man
The Sistine Chapel Details The Last Judgment
The End