Art of the Renaissance 1400 -- 1599

Birth and spread of Renaissance Art Renaissance art began in Florence Italy, spread to Rome and Venice and then to the rest of Europe (known as the Northern Renaissance.)

Renaissance Traits Illustrated in Art Renaissance interests such as humanism, scientific research and exploration found expression in Renaissance art. While religious themes were still explored, Renaissance artists were equally interested in delving into life on earth. Portraits became detailed and realistic, with emotions being clearly visable on subjects’ faces.

Four Renaissance Innovations Oil Paint & Stretched Canvases: oil paint allowed a greater range of richer colors and smooth gradations of tone Perspective: the illusion of depth on a flat surface; lines appear to converge at a single point known as the vanishing point. The size of objects was reduced, colors muted and detail blurred the further away the objects grew.

Four Renaissance Innovations Cont. Use of Light and Shadow: Chiaroscuro (light/dark) made lighter forms seem to emerge from darker areas, thereby producing the illusion of rounded relief on a flat surface. Pyramid Configuration: portraits and groupings were presented in a three dimensional pyramid configuration.

Early Renaissance Tommaso Masaccio (1401-1428) Founder of early Renaissance painting, Masaccio was known for his use of perspective and chiaroscuro. Vasari said “Masaccio made his figures stand on their feet.”

Donatello (1386-1466) “Father” of Renaissance Sculpture. His sculpture used contrapposto; weight concentrated on one leg with the rest of the body relaxed. His figures gave a sense of the underlying skeletal structure.

Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510) Paintings used vivid color and often portrayed classical scenes. “Primavera” is an allegorical work representing the coming of spring. Botticelli also painted religious images.

High Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) A true “Renaissance man,” Leonardo was a painter, scientist, and inventor, who could also climb mountains and sing. Leonardo was instrumental enhancing the social status of artists. Due to his curious nature, many of Leonardo’s works are unfinished.

Two of Leonardo’s most famous paintings are “The Last Supper” and “La Gioconda”, also known as “Mona Lisa.” In “The Last Supper’ Leonardo captures the emotions and character of each disciple. Excellent use of perspective, with the diagonal lines converging on Christ’s head, places Christ at the apexof the pyramidal composition. “Mona Lisa” shows the subject in a relaxed, natural pose with a slight smile on her face, quite unlike the traditional stiff, full profile poses.

Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) A sculptor, painter, architect, engineer and poet Michelangelo is arguably the greatest artist of all time. Michelangelo believed that all creativity was “divinely inspired.” Michelangelo, like Leonardo, studied anatomy. He wanted to make his subjects appear as forms in motion.

Michelangelo felt that he was primarily a sculptor Michelangelo felt that he was primarily a sculptor. He said that he could see the figure in a block on stone waiting to be released. Michelangelo’s work demonstrates his study of anatomy. The folds of Mary’s dress and Christ’s shroud show a realistic quality, while Mary’s hand portrays motion. Moses seems to be ready to stand and explain the Ten Commandments.

Raphael Santi (1483-1520) Well-known for his humanized Madonnas, Raphael utilized pyramidal composition and chiaroscuro. His work expresses his strong interest in classical antiquity and in Christianity. Raphael was universally popular during his lifetime.

Giovanni Bellini (c. 1430-1516) A prominent Venetian artist. Venetian artists frequently painted on canvas since the city’s damp climate damaged frescos. The oil paints used by Bellini and others are known for their vivid, rich color.

Titian (1477-1576) Titian was a prolific Venetian painter renowned for his use of warm, vivid color, especially red and purple. He painted many religious themes and portraits of famous people including Philip II of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

Italian vs. Northern Renaissance Speciality Style Subjects Figures Portraits Technique Emphasis Idealized beauty Simplified forms, measured proportions Religious & mythological scenes Heroic male nudes Formal, reserved Fresco, tempera & oil paintings Underlying anatomical structure Intense realism Lifelike features, unflattering honesty Religious & domestic themes Prosperous citizens, peasants Reveal individual personality Oil paintings on wood panels Visible appearance

Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441) Along with his brother Hubert, Jan developed oil painting. Other masters, including Leonardo, learned this technique from them. The van Eycks’ work shows great attention to minute detail and a mastery of perspective.

Hieronymous Bosch (c. 1450-1516) A Flemish painter, known for moralistic paintings and fantasy images. His “Garden of Earthly Delights” can be seen as an allegory, warning against eroticism.

Pieter Bruegel, c. 1525-1569 A Flemish painter Bruegel (BROY gull) used peasant life as their subject. One of Bruegel’s most famous paintings “Hunters in the Snow” demonstrates his interest in peasant life. Atmospheric perspective is evidentin the sharp foreground giving way to hazy background. Bruegel’s paintings often show a satiric edge, as can be seen in “The Peasant Wedding.”

Hans Holbein (1497-1543) A German artist who worked extensively in England, Holbein painted realistic portraits of prominent people. Holbein included items which told much about the subject. The faces of Holbein’s subjects show a neutral expression, often characteristic of Italian art.

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) Known as the “Leonardo of the North,” Durer created woodcut engravings of great beauty. He used a variety of lines and shading to show differences in texture and tone. Durer painted his own image many times. Additionally, he wrote numerous works about perspective and proportion .

El Greco (1541-1614) Influenced by Tintoretto, Titian, Michelangelo, Raphael and the Mannerists, El Greco created emotional and intense paintings. El Greco painted many religious images while he lived in Spain during the Inquisition and the Counter Reformation. His paintings show an inner light and an almost mystical style.

Bibliography www.art of colour.com www.knua.ac.kr www.loyno.edu metalab.unc.edu/ wm/paint/auth/greco/ Strickland, Carol. The Annotated Mona Lisa. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel, 1992. www.uidaho.edu www.uie.edu