1. RENAISSANCE
Credit: Caroline Mc Corriston
Caroline Mc Corriston

2. Rebirth
The renaissance was an era of great advancement in the arts and science
The word ‘Renaissance’ means rebirth
A new philosophy called humanism became popular and this philosophy valued human achievements
Beauty was also highly valued as a way towards god
The invention of the printing press helped spread new ideas

3. Support for the Arts Trade guilds-patrons-wealth-power
The humanist way of thinking put more pressure on the rulers to spend generously on exquisite works of art and fine buildings
The Medici family are the most well known patron family- they ruled Florence- the arts flourished

4. High Renaissance Inspiration spread to Rome
Pope Julius II and later Pope Leo X, son of Lorenzo de Medici wanted the city to again become the main focal point of cultural and political success
They spent a great deal of money to achieve this

5. Changes in High Renaissance
More realism in figures
Lifelike facial features and expressions
Movement in the human figure
Figures related to each other more naturally in composition
**Attitude towards artists changed**

6. Leonardo Da Vinci ( )
Ultimate renaissance man-wide range of talents
He came from Vinci in the Tuscan hills
Was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence
Moved to Milan to work in the court of Ludovico Sforza-it was here that he painted the Last Supper

7. Credit: Caroline Mc Corriston

8. Credit: Caroline Mc Corriston

9. Credit: Caroline Mc Corriston

10. The Last Supper, (1495-1498) Convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie

12. The Last Supper Natural gestures and facial expressions
Silent and dramatic
“One of you will betray me”
Apostles are arranged in groups with some leaning towards Christ and some away
Jesus remains serene and dignified
Jesus is central figure-clever perspective lines

13. Fresco
A technique of mural painting  upon freshly laid lime plaster. Water is used to mix with the pigment and, with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.
Leonardo hated the fast drying fresco-he liked to add detail-mixed oil with tempura paint-problems-within 20 years it began to disintegrate.

14. An Intellectual Leonardo studied anatomy and dissected dead bodies
He made hundreds of drawings to understand
He studied perspective- he was the first to use atmospheric perspective

15. Mona Lisa, (between 1503-1506), Louvre Museum
Sfumato and chiaroscuro
Many interpretations about the work
Skilful brushwork- realistic flesh and cloth
Oil on poplar wood

16. The Mind of the Artist
Leonardo’s fascination with intellectual problems of art is one reason why his drawings outnumber his paintings.
He thought that a painter had to represent two main things: man and ‘the motions of man’s mind’.
Once Leonardo had solved the problems of composition and characterisation in his drawings, completing the job- the mere exercise of technical skill held little appeal.

17. Leonardo’s later Life
Leonardo left Milan when it was invaded by French troops in 1500
He returned to Florence and then Rome in the hope of getting work from the Pope
However the Pope was more interested in Raphael and Michelangelo his old rival
Leonardo’s work was seen as anti Christian and was forced to leave Italy.
He died in 1519 in the court of the King of France where he found refuge

18. Bibliography
Fahey, T and Geoghegan- Treacy, S. (2011). Art. Folens, Dublin.
Ni Chárthaigh, Á. (2000). Less Stress More Success, Art History revision for leaving Cert. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin.
Ni Chárthaigh, Á. (2011). Less Stress More Success, Art History revision for leaving Cert. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin.
Ni Chárthaigh, Á and O’ Sullivan, A. (2011). Appreciating Art. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin.
Ó hAodha, S. (2014). Art Works. The Educational Company of Ireland, Dublin.