1. Art in Transition Middle Ages to Renaissance

2. During the Middle Ages many artists were involved in “illuminating” manuscripts. This involved hand-copying and illustrating books.

3. This example is from a French manuscript made in 1270. It depicts a fantastic dragon.

4. This example is from a French Psalter, or Psalm book, copied in 1205. This work was often done in monasteries.

5. Most art was religious in nature. Orthodox churches would have a depiction of Jesus called a Pantocrator.

6. Icons would be gilded in gold. Depictions of people were lacking in perspective.

7. Other images also lacked the perspective we are used to today.

8. Notice the figures in the background are the same size as those in the foreground.

9. This is the St. Francis Altarpiece by Bonaventura Berlinghieri from 1235.

10. Duccio’s Annunciation of the Death of Mary is an early (1309) attempt at perspective.

11. Duccio’s Jesus’ Calling the Apostles Peter and Andrew is another early example.

12. Giotto’s Madonna Enthroned from 1310 shows a more natural view of the people.

13. Giotto’s The Meeting of Joachim and Anna from 1305 shows people processing through a gateway.

14. Giotto’s Lamentation from 1305 shows people in more natural positions.

15. Lorenzetti’s Birth of the Virgin Altarpiece (1342) is a good early attempt at realistic perspective.

16. Martini’s Guidoriccio da Fogliano (1328) shows an image of medieval life, with a prince, a village, and two castles.

17. Masaccio’s Holy Trinity (1428) gives you an idea of the difference one- hundred years can make in art technique.

18. The next slide is Piero della Francesca’s The Flagellation of Christ (1455). Notice the true perspective, with the different sizes of people in foreground and background.

20. Botticelli’s Portraits from the late 1400s show the rebirth of realism in art, missing since classical Roman times.

22. The next slide is Perugino’s Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter (1483). Notice the perfect perspective, with the different sizes of people in foreground and background. This is truly Renaissance art.

24. Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506) finally achieved the realism from the classic period without the perfection of the earlier works. Art has now achieved a way to show the truth of life.

25. Mantegna’s The Martyrdom of St. James (1455)

26. Mantegna’s ceiling of the Camera degli Sposi (1474)

27. Mantegna’s masterpiece, The Dead Christ (1501)

28. Now, write a few ideas you have about how art changed from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.