Renaissance Art

Leonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa Lisa del Giocondo Portrait of Mona Lisa (1479-1528), also known as La Gioconda, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo; 1503-06 (150 Kb); Oil on wood, 77 x 53 cm (30 x 20 7/8 in); Musee du Louvre, Paris Leonardo da Vinci

Da Vinci—Vitruvian Man based on text written by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.

Is a more realistic painting a better painting? That painting is the most to be praised which agrees most exactly with the thing imitated. Leonardo da Vinci 5

The Last Supper—Da Vinci end wall of the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy

Looking across the picture from left to right: Bartholomew, James Minor and Andrew form a group of three. All are aghast, Andrew to the point of holding his hands up in a "stop!" gesture. Judas, Peter and John form the next group of three. Judas, you will note, has his face in shadow and is clutching a small bag (of silver?). Peter is visibly angry and a feminine-looking John seems about to swoon. Christ is the calm in the midst of the storm. Thomas, James Major and Philip are next. Thomas is clearly agitated, James Major stunned and Philip seems to be seeking clarification. Matthew, Thaddeus and Simon comprise the last group of three figures. It appears that, when a situation turns ugly, Simon is the "go to" guy for explanations.

Leonardo Da vinci Madonna (Virgin) of the Rocks The Louvre-Paris 1483-1486 Oil on panel (transferred to canvas)

Virgin of the Rocks da Vinci-London-National Gallery 1495-1508 Oil on panel

Madonna in the Meadow—Raphael John, Mary and Jesus symbols, contrapposto

(Note: the exam image will not have the helpful blue lines) The figures in this image are organized in a triangle or pyramid This is a characteristic design configuration of many paintings in the Renaissance 15

Raphael School of Athens or Philosophy

  The parenthetical names are the contemporary characters from whom Raphael is thought to have drawn his likenesses. 1: Zeno of Citium 2: Epicurus 3: unknown[13] 4: Boethius or Anaximander or Empedocles? 5: Averroes 6: Pythagoras 7: Alcibiades or Alexander the Great? 8: Antisthenes or Xenophon or Timon? 9: unknown [14][13] or the Fornarina as a personification of Love [15] or (Francesco Maria della Rovere?) 10: Aeschines or Xenophon? 11: Parmenides? 12: Socrates 13: Heraclitus (Michelangelo) 14: Plato (Leonardo da Vinci) 15: Aristotle 16: Diogenes 17: Plotinus (Donatello?) 18: Euclid or Archimedes with students (Bramante?) 19: Zoroaster 20: Ptolemy? R: Apelles (Raphael) 21: Protogenes (Il Sodoma, Perugino, or Timoteo Viti)[16]

Raphael’s Sistine Madonna

Raphael’s Cherubs

Botticelli The Birth of Venus

Botticelli portrait of a youth

David--Donatello

Michelangelo’s David depicts the moments before (or after) the battle, with the slingshot placed over the left shoulder.

 Andrea del Verrochio's David was commissioned by the Medici family, and popular legend states that the model for the statue was a young artist from Verrochio's studio, Leonardo da Vinci. The placement of Goliath's head has been the subject of debate. Some historians say that the head should be placed between David's feet while others claim that it belongs to the right. The statue has been exhibited using both placements.

Michelangelo’s Pieta

Birth of Man—Sistine Chapel Michelangelo

Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam

Duomo in Florence--Brunalleschi

Lorenzo Ghiberti Gates of Paradise

Lorenzo Ghiberti 'The Sacrifice of Abraham. 1401' (w)  This is Ghiberti's winning piece for the competition for the Baptistery doors.  The doors were began in 1403 and finished in 1424 and show the great qualities of charm and grace associated with brilliant workmanship.

Giotto’s Campanile

Giotto--Ognissanti Madonna

Jan van Eyck— The Arnolfini Wedding Flemish Painter

Jan van Eyck Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini and Giovanna Cenami, 1434 single candle = God’s eye St Margaret? crystal prayer beads oranges = fertiility, paradise Shoes: sanctity of marriage imported carpet $$$ Fido=faithfulness KEY IMAGE p. 234-5 42

ten miniature medallions depicting scenes from the life of Christ. van Eyck's own tiny self-portrait another man may have been the official witness to the ceremony.

Madonna with Chancellor Nicholas Rolin van Eyck

Madonna with Child Reading van Eyck