Renaissance is a French word that means rebirth. It is a period in the history of Europe that spans from A.D. 1400 to A.D. 1600 and began in Italy (Jarus and Szalay para 1). However, many historians believe it may have begun sooner or ended later (Jarus and Szalay para 1). The Renaissance was a sign of the beginning of a new age in art, science, knowledge, religion, and culture that resurrected the classical models of the periods of Ancient Greece and Rome while using modern techniques.
Artists such as Lorenzo Gilberti, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo emerged during this time, and the Renaissance introduced groundbreaking new ways of thinking about art and design. As a result of the influence of humanist principles, artists attempted naturalistic depictions of their topics for the first time since antiquity (Tyler 1270). Sandro Botticelli completed the iconic artwork The Birth of Venus. It depicts Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, as a newborn, naked and standing in an expanded scallop shell.
The massive scale, striking composition, and enigmatic subject matter of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper enthralled viewers. To a similar extent, The Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci’s most well-known painting, became an icon of the Renaissance because it exemplified the secularism, individualism, and realism that characterized the period. For instance, this painting depicts realism due to the vibrant colors and intricate details of her clothing.
Two works of the renaissance period, Michelangelo’s Statue of David and Donatello’s Statue of David, show various similarities and differences. The similarities between them are that they both were of a nude David and were symbols of Florence. The differences include that Donatello sculpted in bronze, while Michelangelo utilized marble for his masterpiece. Donatello’s sculpture stands at five feet, while Michelangelo’s stands at seventeen. Moreover, Michelangelo’s David represents a more mature and older David, whereas Donatello’s David is youthful.
Although the Renaissance was the catalyst for significant shifts in many fields of study, including political and social upheaval, it is most known for its impact on the world of art and music. Renaissance ideals, features, and qualities have continued to be valuable and influential for centuries. The significance of this era is evident in the works of numerous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti.
The Renaissance is undoubtedly one of the most discussed periods in both art and history. The Renaissance, regarded as the most influential era in art history, produced many productive artists whose works and influences are still appreciated and admired today. Europe was reawakened during the Renaissance, characterized by a fresh surge of self-definition, music, and art. The event in my life that I consider to be a renaissance period is my graduation ceremony. I consider it to be my Renaissance period because it symbolized the beginning of a new chapter in my life. One thing that makes me consider myself classic is how I interact with others. Regardless of the age gap, I prefer to connect with people readily and mingle wherever I go.
Humanism is a humane, logical ideology influenced by art and science. It encourages the maximization of individual liberty and opportunity in the context of social and planetary responsibility while asserting the intrinsic worth of every human being. Contrapposto, which equates to “opposite” in Italian, was historically a major development in art since it was the first instance in Western art history when the human anatomy was employed to depict a more laid-back psychological viewpoint (King, 2018).
This makes the image appear more active or relaxed, depending on one’s preference. Without Sandro Botticelli, Western art history would not have been the same. Top clients of Botticelli included prominent members of the Medici family, whose works are regarded as some of the best examples of the Renaissance movement. The Birth of Venus, one of Botticelli’s most well-known pieces, is the one I liked the best since it has mythological subjects that represent the values that were prevalent in Italy at the time.
Reference
King, M. L. (2018). The Renaissance. Renaissance and Reformation. Web.
According to Ames and Mary (1998), Renaissance is described as the period in which there was great change in Europe in which people embraced different arts in life. This period is credited with having given rise to papal patronage, great development in arts like painting, advancement in science, and other life perspectives. It had a great influence in the life of the people in the whole of Europe. It is thought to be a period which had a lot of influence in the life of Middle Ages and which reflected the cultural advance in the life of Europeans. It represented a cultural advance form the middle ages which saw an advance to the classical ages.
It represented the period in which there was a break from medieval thoughts and practices and focused on continuity and advancement in human life. Its influence on different spheres of life like literature, arts, politics, religion, sciences and others is still felt even up to date.
This period was marked by great desire by the scholars of the time to dig deep into old scholarly articles in a bid to find more knowledge. They searched in all monasteries for ancient Greek texts and Latin texts to try and link the ancient knowledge with the modern life. It is to be understood that most of these scholars devoted their study to the religious view of the world although many of them added their personal interpretation of the ancient thoughts and tried to differ from the Christianity view of life in those days. It was a great attempt by the scholarly word to study, interpret and improve the secularly and worldly view of life.
Their desire was to gain more knowledge about the link between the daily life and the religious life. That is why the renaissance period was more linked to the religious life of the people. Renaissance was a movement that started from one place and spread to the rest of Europe rapidly. This movement was spread through interaction between people living in different parts of Europe. To understand the impact of individuals in renaissance, it is good to understand the origin of renaissance, look at how individuals contributed to its development and look at how it spread to other parts.
Florence as a birth place of Renaissance
This period began in the 14th century in Italy and rapidly spread to the rest of Europe. It had a great influence in the religious life of the people with the installation of the papal patronage headed at Rome in Italy. According to Cole (1938), it is believed that renaissance was born in Florence in Italy. Various scholars have tried to explain the factors leading to the rise of the renaissance with some arguing about the social and civic factors of Florence as having given birth to the period.
However it is believed that the political structure and the influence of the most dominant family in of the Medici in Florence could have been the factor that catalyzed the rise of the period. This period was marked by rebirth in all areas of art, psychology and sociology. It was time of experimentation in government and Florence was at the centre of this development.
During the middle ages, there was unusual social climate in Italy which is thought to have led to the development of the renaissance. At that time, Italy was divided into autonomous cities and other territories. There was Naples in the south, Florence, Papal States at the centre. In the North, there was Genoese and Milanese in the west. Venice occupied the eastern region. According to Burke (1999), these cities have risen after the fall of the old Roman Empire and hence most of them occupied the previous buildings which characterized the fallen empire.
It is worth noting that Venice and Florence existed as republics which had so much political structure that can be likened to the modern day democratic states. Political freedom in these two republics could have provided an enabling atmosphere for development of academic and artistic works. Both these cities were centre of trade and their contact with the outside world made it ideal to take in other people cultures.
This interbreeding of different cultures of the world could have given rise to the culture that characterized the renaissance. Being trade centers with an enabling political atmosphere and great wealth, rulers of the Medici family were able to commit huge sums to the development of the artistic works. It is also thought that the pandemic of Black Death could have led to the people of Europe to think more about the superstitious life which could have bred the renaissance. Hence renaissance in Italy could have been to interaction of many of the above given factors.
The influence of Lorenzo de Medici
There are several people who are credited with having guided Europe during the renaissance. These people have come to be called Renaissance men. They made valuable contribution in all spheres of renaissance period ranging from art, religion, science, and others. This period is associated with men like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vince, and others. There were various scholars of the time like Niccolo de Nicclie, Poggio Brancciolini, and others who made remarkable contribution to the academic world. However there is one man who is so much credit with having made an immense contribution to the development of the renaissance in terms of the artistic work. This is no other that Lorenzo de Vinci. Let us look closely to the life of Lorenzo and the contribution he made to the development of art during this period.
We have seen that renaissance began in Florence in Italy. Florence was ruled by a wealth and influential family of the Medici’s who owned and controlled the Medici Bank. The family had a lot of influence in the political life the Florence which made them become the unofficial rulers of the republic. Through marriages and trade, the family became connected to most of the royal families in Europe and hence their influence extended outside Florence.
Notable among rulers of this family was Lorenzo de Medici who later came to be known as the magnificent Lorenzo. Lorenzo was born in 1449 and brought up in a highly cultured atmosphere which made him become one of the leading intellectuals of the time. At the age of twenty, together with his brother Giulliano, they started ruling Florence. After his brother deaths, Lorenzo assumed the full leadership of Florence.
Lorenzo ensured that he maintained the five chiefs who ruled under him. He wielded a lot of power and made the republican weaker and weaker. During his rule, he had a lot of conflicts with the papacy institution. His rule was very fair and tolerated opposition to some extent. Although he wielded a lot of power, there were blinking financial fortunes for the family during his reign. However the family bank, the Medici bank, and which was the largest financial institution in Europe at the time had started to be neglected by his grandfather Cosimo de Medici as the family becomes more and more involved in the political activities of the empire. Faced by financial crisis, Lorenzo embezzled public funds which constantly undermined his rule.
Although he had little success in the business life, Lorenzo is credited with having made a contribution in the development of art. He is credited with having provided huge sums to fund the art projects which marked the renaissance. His influence was not only in the political life but also to the social and philosophical life of the people which further led to the development of arts. But his early education in humanity and arts helped him to bring together the people of Europe maintaining balance in his rule and his palace turned to be the meeting point of scholars and artists.
According to Lorenzo (2006), upon his ascension to power, he welcome the republic to a lavish wedding ceremony in which he married Clarice Orsini in a church ceremony at San Lorenzo. This perhaps showed the whole republic the need to celebrate life together with others during the times of happiness. This brought social cohesiveness to the republic. It portrayed the factor of living well amid any financial crisis facing the people. This was highly criticized by his opposers but Lorenzo stood his ground. In his artistic work, Lorenzo is credited with having spread the need for love, feast, and others. His desire for feast was not only practiced in his life alone but was expressed in his poetry works.
From earlier times, the Medici families were lovers of art. Many rulers in the family had made financial commitment to the development of art in the empire. His grand father Cosimo had established the Medici library in which had a collection of books. Lorenzo continued this trend but surplused all the other rulers in terms of his contribution to the development of art in Florence. Lorenzo expanded the Medici library by collecting classical works. He opened the library to the public.
During his rule, Florence experienced a revolution in art which was not equaled by any other state in the whole of Europe. It is clear that Lorenzo did not advance the development of Art as a matter of family continuity but because he was a true lover of art. He was highly cultured and educated with a passion for art. He had knowledge in painting, music and poetry. He is credited with having written amazing poetry work in different styles and subjects in the Tuscan art. He is also credited with being the first ruler to accept classical worked.
He also helped in grooming many artists. During his reign, the Medici palace and gardens were always open to the talented artists who came to seek for financial help in their work Lorenzo never turned them away. He helped to groom many renaissance men including Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buornarroti, Sandro Botticelli, Filippion Lipi, Domenico ghirlandaio, Andrea del Verocchio, and others.
Kemperes (1992) explains that, among all these artists, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci enjoyed most privileged in terms of support from Lorenzo in their artistic work. Although Lorenzo did not do a lot of artistic work himself, he helped all of the above artists to develop their work. Michelangelo was fine tuned to produce classical arts by his teacher Bertoldo di Giovanni. Giovanni resided in the Lorenzo de Medici house. Later Michelangelo was invited by Lorenzo to his house to live and learn art in the palace. This clearly showed the interest Lorenzo had developed on the upcoming artist. Michelangelo served in the palace and at the same time grew up to become a famous artist. Michelangelo became a famous carver accredited with carving like Madonna of the stairs and the battle of the Cenaurs.
The above artists who were groomed under the light of Lorenzo led to the revolution of art not only in the renaissance but also in the modern times. The famous works of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael represented another stage in which art was used to express beauty of nature and aesthetics expressed by fine art works. To date artistic work in places like Netherlands by Van Goes still reflect earlier aspects of art work that were brought to light by these early artists. Their works represents the high renaissance period which saw an accurate representation of figures in space in an appalling way. Their work are still considered quality and highly valued in the artistic cycle.
According to Murray (1986), there was also development of architectural structures which expressed renaissance artistic work. Among the famous structures which amazes people to date are like the church of San Lorenzo which was designed by Fillip Brunelleshci. During this period, architectural work was mostly associated with religious building. It has been argued that the whole renaissance was pegged on religion and the architectural works clearly indicates this. The new churches expressed the desire for spaciousness which manly thought was a move from darkness to enlightened Christian life. Among the notable architectural works of this period were like the Bramnantes Tempietto in San Pietro built in 1502, St. Peter Bacilian completed in 1590 which was designed by Michelangelo.
Lorenzo had also developed interest in music. His compositions are credited with having led to the early madrigal. His music composition interested many people. He patronized many musical and composers like Heinrich Isaak who became famous all over world. Their composition attracted many people who traveled to Florence to hear their composition.
Up to the time he died in 1492, Lorenzo had greatly influenced the art world and his impression still remains to date. The architectural works of his time is still felt in the modern world where many of the building built during his time are still standing today and are land marks for many places. The architectural designs of his time are still evident as many religious organizations employ these designs even in their modern churches.
His poetry and music composition are still influential. His compositions were famous then and are still relevant to date as bases for development of modern music. His poetic compositions are still precious to the art world.
Conclusion
The renaissance period was important in human development time line. This is the period when people became more aware of their environment and their surroundings. It is the time when human beings developed the need to understand nature and social life in details. The renaissance world can be said to have been the base for revolution of human civilization. It is a period in which human development took many turns and developed in many ways.
The development recorded at that time is the bases for development of modern human civilization. The development in art and science is still relevant to the modern day development. In deed the input of Lorenzo in the development of art can be reckoned by many who appreciate the renaissance. His contribution cannot only be attributed to art but also politically he ruled fairly and peacefully. His leadership qualities and the like for art helped him to dine with his opposers. His desire to developed art helped him interact with many people from different parts of the world.
With Florence assuming to the cradle of renaissance, Lorenzo helped to spread the wave to other cities in Europe through the influence of art. It is worth noting that art is sometimes more influential socially than any other sphere of development. This is because are more interactive than the rest. Hence it can be said that Lorenzo’s desire to spread art to other people in Europe helped to spread renaissance to the rest of the world. Lorenzo’s contribution was not only in art but also to the development of the whole renaissance.
References
Ames, F. and Mary, R. R. (1998): Concepts of Beauty in Renaissance Art. England: Ashgate.
Burke, P. (1999): The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society in Italy. Princeton: Princeton University.
Cole, B. (1938): Italian Art, 1250-1550: The Relation of Renaissance Art to life and Society. New York: Harper and Row, 1987.
Kempers, B. (1992): Painting, Power and Patronage: The Rise of the Professional Artist in the Italian Renaissance. London: Penguin Press.
Lorenzo, F. (2006): Lorenzo De Medici and the art of Magnificence. Renaissance quarterly, Vol. 59.
Murray, P. (1986): The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance. London: Thames and Hudson.
It is important to note that the Renaissance was a major turning point in the historical development of Europe after the long stagnation of the Middle Ages. The given analysis will primarily focus on the early Renaissance artwork and how it reflects the shifts in culture, society, and art of the period. Thus, the early Renaissance artwork was distinct because it was influenced by humanism, realism, naturalism, and secularism.
Overview: The Early Renaissance
It should be noted that the period of the early Renaissance was rooted in a tide of change in the stagnant Middle Ages, which was accompanied by an explosion of thought, knowledge, and creativity. It is stated:
The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages … described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century and the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art. (History.com Editors par. 1)
In other words, Europe began to birth new artists, thinkers, scientists, statesmen, and authors during this period. It was also notably unique in terms of global expeditions and explorations, which led to the discovery of new cultures and lands. Thus, it is safe to state that the Renaissance was a chronological bridge between modern-day civilization and the Middle Ages.
Humanism
Humanism, as a cultural movement, was the highlight of the early Renaissance and its subsequent periods, which was reflected in the artwork as well. It “promoted the idea that man was the center of his own universe, and people should embrace human achievements in education, classical arts, literature and science” (History.com Editors par. 5). People were no longer willing to remain ignorant and stagnant, suffering from constant warfare and famine. The Black Death also left its mark on humanity, providing even more basis for the explosion of the Renaissance. The role of religion in society was questioned by humanists since some attributed the Middle Ages and its stagnant nature to an excessive power held by the Catholic Church.
All of these developments are well-depicted in the artwork as well. For example, Donatello’s sculpture of David, completed in 1430-40, is a demonstration of the early Renaissance shift towards humanism shown in Figure 1 below (Graham par. 1). This was one of the first artworks after the Middle Ages, which embraced human body in its entirety exemplified by the nudity and nakedness of the exposition. It heavily focuses on “displaying accurate anatomy, the sculpture also demonstrates the growing interest in humanism” (Graham par. 5). In other words, it is a manifestation of the earliest movements toward the humanist view of the world with an emphasis on the human body as a form of art.
Fig. 1: Donatello, David
Realism
Another important aspect of the early Renaissance artwork was realism. In arts, it refers to a naturalistic or real representation of scenery or an object with minimal distortion, almost similar to photography (Stemp 86). It essentially marks the shift from idealization on the basis of religious beliefs to embracement and acceptance of reality. Figure 2 below showcases Andrea Mantegna’s early Renaissance artwork titled Lamentation of Christ and completed in 1480, which is an example of realism (Mantegna par. 2). It is stated that “whereas most other artist’s Lamentation paintings focused on the grief and lament of the distraught mourners, Mantegna presents us with the stark reality of the body after death” (Mantegna par. 2). Thus, the image illustrates the human aspect of the death of a major religious symbol, Christ. It resembles a snapshot of what the reality after Jesus’s death would have looked like instead of an idealized version of the religious depictions of the Middle Ages. The early Renaissance artwork created the groundwork for realism in the form of embracement of the real world based on relatable facts rather than fiction.
Fig. 2: Lamentation of Christ
Naturalism
Naturalism was a major emerging force behind the early Renaissance artwork as well. One should be aware that although naturalism and realism are used interchangeably in some cases, these terms are not necessarily equal. While realism is about the embracement and acceptance of reality, naturalism focuses on a realistic depiction of nature and the objects within it (Stemp 115). Therefore, in naturalism, a greater emphasis is made on beautifying nature itself by avoiding its distortion or abstract additions. A prime example of naturalist art is The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, completed in 1484-86, which depicts the goddess Venus in realistic feminine proportions shown in Figure 3 below (Botticelli par. 1). The background is composed of trees and the sea make it the staple of early Renaissance naturalist artwork.
It should be noted that the goddess is represented naked with a focus on her natural beauty within an appealing environment illustrated with no artificial distortions. Although supernatural and fictitious entities, such as angels, are shown, they have realistic human proportions. The events and actors in the image are placed in a natural environment making the scenery a remarkable demonstration of how naturalism influenced the early Renaissance naturalist artwork.
Fig. 3: Sandro Botticelli. The Birth of Venus. 1484.
Secularism
Arguably, the most profound development of the early Renaissance was the initial emergence of secularism, which heavily impacted the artwork of the period. Modern societies and democracies reached the level of advancement of modernity primarily due to the separation of religion from civic affairs. The Middle Ages were stagnant and ‘dark’ mainly because of Catholic Church used religion to control and oppress Europe, which is why secularism was a natural outcome. The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden by Masaccio, completed in 1426-27, shown in Figure 4 below, is an example of the earliest Renaissance artworks marking a secular shift in thought (Masaccio par. 1). Just like Adam and Eve were expelled from heaven and God, so did the early Renaissance artists and thinkers left the Catholic rule. Although the image contains elements of realism and naturalism as well, the main message is a separation of the divine and religion from human life. In a sense, it is a liberation of Europeans from the dogmatic rule of Rome towards a more open and creative society ruled by human laws and logic rather than the word of God.
Fig. 4: Masaccio. Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. 1427.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the key distinctive elements of the early Renaissance artwork were the forces that influenced its artists and innovators, which included humanism, realism, naturalism, and secularism. The focus was shifted from the divine dogmatic control of the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages to a freer and more open living of secular and human-centered framework. It led to the embracement of reality rather than fiction and focused on the natural than the supernatural.
Works Cited
Botticelli, Sandro. “The Birth of Venus.” ItalianRenaissance.org, 1484, Web.
It is hard to disagree that artworks that belong to various periods of time and styles can have similar and contrasting features. The use of color, lights, geometry, and other elements can tell one whether a particular painting belongs to the era of the High Renaissance or refers to the style of Baroque. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore the differences and similarities between Raphael’s Madonna of the Meadow and Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes.
To begin with, it is possible to discuss how the paintings are similar. First, both artworks are focused on depicting human figures and adhering to realism. Female figures are at the center of Raphael’s and Gentileschi’s paintings, and males are also present, although they are depicted as less significant or powerful as compared to women (Italian Renaissance, n.d.). Finally, another similarity is the use of orientations, meaning that there are clear lines emphasized in the paintings.
Further, one needs to spot the differences between the two artworks in order to see how the High Renaissance and Baroque styles are not similar. It is possible to state that one of the key differences is that bright and vivid colors are used in Madonna of the Meadow, while in Judith Slaying Holofernes, the color scheme is dark and dim, with only blue, red, and yellow used to highlight the contrast between the figures. Next, while there are orientations in both artworks, as mentioned earlier, these orientations still differ. Thus, horizontal and vertical lines are found in Raphael’s painting, creating a pyramidal structure, and highly angular ones can be identified in Gentileschi’s work (Italian Renaissance, n.d.). Finally, there is more natural light in Madonna of the Meadow, but in the other painting, one may see how a technique of Baroque art is used. To be more precise, in Gentileschi’s artwork, there is a high contrast between dark and light areas, which makes the picture dynamic and highlights the calmness of Raphael’s work.
The Cleveland Museum of Art has a wide range of art created in the 15th-century Italian Renaissance. To be more precise, it has sculptures, woodwork, arms and armor, paintings, metalwork, drawings, and ceramics. Each art form in these museums is differentiated and represents unique concepts and messages. Some art pieces in this museum that one should read more about include The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist and Saint Margaret, Saint Sebastian, The Dish with a Lion, and Two-Handled ‘Oak Leaf’ Drug Jar with Male and Female Portraits.
Discussion
Similarly, the Art Institute of Chicago has multiple forms of artwork that belong to the 15th-century Italian Renaissance. Some types of artwork found in this museum are metal, paintings, and wood. Most paintings found in the Art Institute of Chicago were made through engraving on various mediums. Each of the artworks in this museum represents something unique, and while it would be best to learn about each of them, it is better to pick a few and study them thoroughly. On that note, artworks from the Art Institute of Chicago to read more about include The Inferno According to Dante, from the Campo Santo Frescos in Pisa, St. Jerome in Penitence, The Visitation, and Triumph of the Moon.
The museum’s websites illustrate that artists in the 15th-century Italian Renaissance were diverse in their visual representations. Typically, many people recognize that this historical period represented art that had major religious connotations. A significant number of art forms were based on biblical characters. However, a considerable quantity of art in the museums mentioned above represented the increase of humanism.
Therefore, artistic expression started viewing man as the center of his universe, so their achievements in science, education, classical arts, and literature became points of creative focus and expression. Viewing the various art pieces in the two museums did not change my perspective on 15th-century Italian art. My view of the 15th-century Italian Renaissance remained unaltered because the content we learned earlier made me realize that it was a period characterized by a shift in artistic expression. Therefore, it was no surprise that artists were diverse in terms of visual representations and how they used various art mediums. However, it was apparent that artists embraced fresco paintings and started using oil paint more effectively during this period.
Out of the objects I saw from both websites, I was most intrigued by the Two-Handled ‘Oak Leaf’ Drug Jar with Male and Female Portraits. The link to the particular artifact is; https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1943.54. It is found in the Cleveland Museum of Art and was made by Giunta di Tugio. This object is made from ceramics, a familiar material in Italian art. However, ceramic art in Italy became more prevalent during the Renaissance. In terms of similarities to other art forms of its time, the use of relief decoration and portraiture on a ceramic vessel is common in 15th-century Italian art. I selected this piece of art because it symbolizes the high level of craftsmanship and sophistication of ancient Roman glass production. It also represents the importance of personal grooming and medical care in Roman society, which also applies to our society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an ‘oak leaf’ motif is a common symbol used in the art of this period. In terms of differences, the specific combination of male and female portraits on a drug jar is unique. The high level of skill and craftsmanship demonstrated in the relief decoration and the intricate details of the figures’ clothing set this piece apart from other artworks. The artists’ precise intention for creating this piece of art has yet to be known. Nonetheless, the Two-Handled ‘Oak Leaf’ Drug Jar is a vessel used for storing and dispensing medicinal substances. Therefore, the jar is likely decorated with oak leaves, symbolizing strength and longevity.
Renaissance, characterized by the ideals of humanism, brought numerous innovations into the world of science, architecture, and arts. Collections emerged in cities like Florence, sponsored particularly by the Medici family, the long-time patrons of arts (“Florence”). The world-famous works of renowned artists, including Donatello, Michelangelo, and Brunelleschi, are great examples of the prevailing art ideas of fifteenth-century Florence.
Discussion
Donatello’s David is an early symbol of the art moving away from church dictate and into the realm of humanistic ideals. The 5.5 feet high bronze statue, which dates to around 1440, is one of the first sculpted male nudes in Europe since antiquity (“Florence” 03:30:00-03;40:00). Michelangelo’s 17 feet marble David sculpted between 1501 and 1504 depicts the so-called “renaissance man” (“Florence” 05:00:00-05:03:00). Donatello’s 1.7 feet wooden Mary Magdalene was created around 1454, representing a prostitute holding her hands in prayer (“Florence” 11:38:00-11:50:00). The sculpture challenges the traditional ways of representing biblical figures in art.
Florence Cathedral is the primary example of the city’s architecture. Its 376 feet dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi was completed by 1436 (Duomo di Firenze). Donatello’s marble Choir balcony, a part of its interior, was realized in the 1430s. Measuring 11.4 x 18.7 feet, it is covered with dancing figures, representing freedom and motion (“Florence” 11:14:00-11:23:00). Notable for the intricacy of its decorations, the Cathedral represents Renaissance style.
Conclusion
While adhering to classical ideals of human body representation and following the biblical tropes, the artist of the Renaissance managed to bring new ideas. The monarchs’ interest in religious and decorative art was of great help to the talented masters who could practice their craft under generous patrons. The Florentine Renaissance has significantly influenced the Western world as it is today.
The historical period of the High Renaissance spanned between 1490 and 1527 and characterizes the culmination of the art of Renaissance, which combined the ideas inherent to classical humanism and the linear artistic perspective inherent to realism. The period of the Early Renaissance was predominantly focused in Florence and was significantly funded by the Medici family; however, Rome was the center for High Renaissance art, which was funded by the Popes. In fact, the lavish founding of the High Renaissance made the city almost bankrupt.
Role of Art in High Renaissance
In the course of the development of the High Renaissance, Rome exceeded Florence due to the ambition of the clergy’s ambitions to reinforce the glory of Rome through art. Pope Julius II and Pope Leo X paid a significant amount of money for the services of the greatest Renaissance artist like da Vinci and Michelangelo to paint various images on religious topics. Thus, the majority of paintings or sculptures inherent to the High Renaissance were not intended for an average citizen, on the contrary, they diminished their value through uplifting the role of the Church (“High Renaissance Art” par. 5).
The realistic depiction of the main objects in the paintings was not entirely intended to present the material world, rather, it aspired to show the beauty and harmony of nature. Despite the fact that High Renaissance artists based their works on nature, they studied the classical works of Greeks and Romans to find the perfect balance, which became the heart of their aesthetics.
Leonardo da Vinci – The Lady with an Ermine
While Leonardo da Vinci was paid a lot to paint images related to religious themes, he was also appointed to paint some representatives of the upper class, like, for example, his painting of Cecilia Gallerani (Figure 1), the mistress of Ludovico, Duke of Milan. She was a daughter of a rich courtier and was described to be “as beautiful as a flower” (Wilson par. 2).
Figure 1. Cecilia Gallerani (“Leonardo da Vinci – The Lady with an Ermine”).
The painting possesses a number of hidden clues that were characteristic of Leonardo’s style. Since he was obsessed with the dynamics of movement, he introduced a new way of painting movement to the style of portraiture. In the painting, Cecilia is depicted in a half-turn, holding an ermine in her arms.
Ermine was regarded as a symbol of childbirth in art; thus, many historians believe that Cecilia was pregnant with Ludovico’s child when Leonardo painted her. Another reference Leonardo made was in the expensive Jet jewels Cecilia wore on the portrait. Ludovico was known under the nickname of ‘the Moor’ for his quite dark complexion. Thus, the black jewels make a subtle allusion to Cecilia’s lover.
When it comes to the specific artistic attributes, da Vinci used an innovative technique of adding dots of white paint to the irises of Cecilia’s eyes, creating ‘catch-lights’. This technique made Cecilia’s eyes alive as if they were reflecting the light from a candle or an open window. In addition, Cecilia has disproportionately large hands for a woman of her age and size. However, this can be explained by the fact that Leonardo practiced drawing hands separate from people’s bodies – he had numerous sketchbooks with hands drawn in different poses. Most likely, Leonardo lifted previously drawn hands from his sketchbook and completed Cecilia’s portrait.
Furthermore, Leonardo used a new method of shading, which was called smokiness. The smokiness can be seen on Cecilia’s chest and neck as subtle gradations of tone, which are typical for the technique. The Lady with an Ermine was painted with a unique medium of oil medium which came from the Netherlands to Italy in the 1470’s. The new medium can be regarded as revolutionary for the country that was captured by the classical method of mural paintings, in which paints were made from egg whites and crushed pigments.
In addition to the new technique, Leonardo used a precious pigment of ultramarine to paint the blue mantle Cecilia had on. The bright blue color was achieved by grinding the semi-precious stone ‘lapis lazull’, mined in Afghanistan, and the shipped to Europe.
The Lady with an Ermine is a painting, which showed Leonardo’s obsession with the art of drawing and the study of nature, evidenced by the detailed depiction of the ermine (Cork par. 6). Cecilia Gallerani came alive in paint, with her sparkling eyes and the folds of her dress, in the moving pose of the animal and the soft shading on her neck.
Michelangelo Buonarotti – The Creation of Adam
In contrast to da Vinci’s portrait, the second painting chosen for analysis, is Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, the most known fresco in the Sistine Chapel. Again, the fresco is different from the usual scenes that depict the Creation. God, on the right, is depicted inside a nebula that is made up of many figures of people. Furthermore, God is shown as an elderly man with a gray beard. The image of God is quite remote from the traditional images in which he wears royal garments – in the painting he only wears a light tunic that exposes his legs (Figure 2). Thus, it can be argued that Michelangelo’s depiction of the Creator is much more intimate as he is not unreachable and untouchable to a simple man, but a God that is accessible (“Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam” par. 2).
Fig. 2. The Creation of Adam (“Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam”).
On the other hand, Adam on the left is shown as a figure that responds to the touch of God. This touch can be regarded as a symbol of life which God first gave to Adam and then to the mankind overall. The shape of Adam’s body is reflective of God’s shape, which implies an idea that Man was created as an image of God – an idea which, supposedly, was supported by Michelangelo.
The Creation of Adam is instrumental in showing the main principles inherent to Michelangelo’s style of painting: the depiction of muscular bodies that twist in the movement, the juxtaposition of the images of the divine and the man, the painting of the bodies that look like live sculptures because Michelangelo was initially specializing in sculpture and had profound knowledge on the structure of the human body.
Due to the fact that Michelangelo was indeed a sculptor, there is an interesting allusion to the science of Anatomy. The nebula which surrounds God is reminiscent of a human skull and the nervous system. Through tracing imaginary lines of a frontal and temporal lobe of a human brain onto the nebula, it can be shown that the nebula is an anatomically correct representation of a human skull (Meshberger 3).
Comparative and Contrastive Analysis
The chosen artistic works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarotti are different in their techniques, themes, and ideas. While Leonardo’s the Lady with an Ermine is a portrait of a mistress of the Duke of Milan, Michelangelo’s theme is connected with the Creation of Man by God. While Lady with an Ermine was painted with an innovative medium of paint, the Creation of Adam reserved to a traditional fresco method.
However, both works of art included hidden messages that were to be disclosed. Leonardo presented his knowledge of hidden symbols as evidenced by the image of the ermine that suggested Cecilia’s pregnancy. Michelangelo also followed his aesthetic as a sculptor and connoisseur of the human anatomy, hiding an outline of a human skull in the composition of the fresco.
Thus, the ways in which the paintings are perceived by the viewer are polarly different. The Creation of Adam is seen as a scene of interaction between the divine deity and a man, reinforcing the creationist beliefs inherent to the majority of religions. In addition, the fact that the fresco is located on the high ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the observer may have a feeling of being small and powerless compared to God.
Lady with an Ermine, on the other hand, presents a much more realistic theme of a higher class. It brilliantly serves a time capsule for the modern society that is able to see the contrast between the way the members of the high class looked in the fifteenth century and the way they look today.
The Renaissance was exemplified by a highlight on the arts of Ancient Greece and Rome; this resulted in the various changes that were executed on both the technical characteristics of sculpture and painting. Furthermore, changes were also made on the subject matter.
It originated from Italy, a country that is well endowed with a valuable Roman inheritance as well as material possessions that could be used to sponsor its artists. During the Renaissance, painters started enhancing the realism of their art by employing innovative skills, thus they were able to present three-dimensional arts more authentically.
Artists were also more innovative in the use of light and started using innovative techniques to manipulate light and darkness in their artifacts. These new techniques were evident in such works as Titan’s portrait and Leonardo da Vinci’s sfumato and chiaroscuro. Sculptors were also more innovative and they rediscovered some of the early techniques such as contrapposto and the unsupported nudity.
At the onset of the humanist spirit of the age, art revolved into a secular issue that was used to depict early mythology as well as Christian themes. This genre of art was called Renaissance Classicism. The most valuable innovation that occurred in the North was the extensive use of oil paints, these permitted superior color, and intensity.
The period from the 15th century was characterized by the works of such artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Raffaello Santi. Though there was not a specific style that marked this period, the art displayed both technical and aesthetic mystery. The artistic developments in this period included; attention to perspectival systems, display of anatomy, and conventional cultures. The artists of the period elevated art to such heights that were only enjoyed by poetry; thus, sculptors, painters, and architects placed their works among the other valued fine arts.
The Neoclassicism period was marked by artists reverting to the conventional simpler art of the Renaissance. The period was marked by the intellectual movement that was referred to as the Enlightenment. The famous Neoclassicists include Ingres, Canova, and Jacques-Louis David.
This period was followed by Romanticism; this was an artistic era that was characterized by the use of color and motion to depict emotion. The phase was also manifested by the celebrity of nature to expose the splendor and supremacy of the innate world. Romanticism was also exemplified by an immense literally faction, with poetry receiving substantial attention. Among the famous Romanticism, artists include John Constable, Caspar David Friedrich, Thomas Cole, and William Blake.
19th century Europe has marked the Industrial Revolution; the working population was characterized by poverty, squalor, and desperation. Realism surfaced to counter to the ills in this civilization era; artists struggled to openly reveal the plight and circumstances of the poor to transform the society. The most prominent artists in the Realism era were: Honoré Daumier, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Thomas Eakins, among others.
The period from the 20th century was characterized by modern art; however, the period had various sub-categories. Imperialism was the first sub-category of modern art that developed from Realism. The era was exemplified by the utilization of light in paintings in an attempt to depict light as it is observed by the human eye. Famous artists in this era included: Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Imperialism was followed by Post-Imperialism which was characterized by such artists as Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Georges Seurat. Fauvism trailed Post-Imperialism; Fauvism has been considered by a majority of people to be the earliest form of contemporary art. After Fauvism, modern art developed into various forms such as Expressionism that utilized objective forms of art to evoke emotions, and Cubism which transposed three-dimensional arts into a flat canvas.
Bibliography
Maleuvre, Didier. Museum Memories: History, Technology, Art. Mexico: Stanford University Press, 1999.
Sheehan, James J. Museums in the German Art World: From the End of the Old Regime to the Rise of Modernism. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000.
In the middle age period between thirteenth and sixteenth century, Renaissance paintings dominated the art scene. These paintings reflected themes of religious inspiration and quest to understand God. The environment, saints, and heaven were visualized in religious, law, and medicine themes.
Generally, the interest of these artists was to paint astronomy, biology, natural world and science in the most captivating ways possible. Thus, this research paper attempts to evaluate symbolism, styles, material used, meaning, and aesthetic values of two outstanding paintings as a comparison and contrast of another. In addition, the treatise classifies these paintings into their respective classes, dimensionality, nature, message, and traditional functions.
The paintings identified for this analysis are the Madonna and Child in Glory by Jacopa di Cione in the period between 1360 and 1365, and the Adoration of the Shepherds by Giovanni Agostino da Lori in 1510. The Madonna and child in Glory panting is a landscape painting.
Jacopa has successfully painted this picture of the mother in a three dimensional form. Within its frame, it is clear that the saints are standing before Madonna, and the angels behind her. With the available mathematical formulas, Jacopa uses this tool to represent a convincing three dimensional space giving an impression of the painting frame being a window frame.
Interestingly, the first impression on looking into the painting is the same as that of gazing through a window (Catholic Museum, 2009). Since Madonna and Child in Glory painting was done in the 13th century when egg tempera was the most common material, Jacopa’s painting consists of egg tempera on a golden panel (The Guardian, 2009).
The egg tempera is casted on golden panel. The colors used include blue, yellow, gold, orange, cream, grey, and red mixed. The central image is that of Madonna holding her baby and is larger than the saints standing at Madonna’s feet or the angels on the upper edges.
Specifically, Jacopa made Madonna and her child the centre of attraction to enable viewers understand her significance and importance above others. The rough texture is properly merged with an array of soft and vibrant colors to make the final product look very real.
The rough texture is as a result of the quick drying nature of egg tempera. The subject matter of this painting is revelation of the religious significance of Madonna giving birth of Messiah. Madonna is surrounded by gold background symbolizing atmospheric value of heaven and beauty.
This art is representational of religious beliefs of the Catholic community who lived in this period. The hieratic painting conforms to Catholics ways of representing heavenly beings as larger than the ordinary men. Madonna’s rank is higher than that of the saints and angels (Sammuel, 2000). This painting displays the heavenly beauty in a rich atmosphere.
On the other hand, Adoration of the Shepherds painting by Giovanni Agostino da Lodi is also a three dimensional realistic painting done with more skills than the Madonna. The material used in this painting is oil spread on panel.
Unlike Jacopa’s piece of art, Agostina manages to present finer details of the images in his painting. The images are clear and the characters similar in size apart from the little baby. The technique of brush painting with a mixture of colors reveals an active aspect of imagery and inartistic realism.
A blend of soft and vibrant colors gives this painting a soft texture and refined composition. The translucent oil paint often dries slowly. This gave Agostina ample time to work on each layer of colors. In the end, the product appears deep and of greater dimension. A blend of green, yellow, grey, red, violet, and creamy colors makes the picture very attractive (Robin, 2007).
With the emergence of humanist ideology, Agostina is influenced to adopt the earthy theme of a green natural background as opposed to Jacopa’s heavenly golden background. The landscape and background of this painting presents an impression of forest, green gardens, and dwelling places of ordinary men (Michael, 2010).
This piece of art depicts two shepherds and an angel together with baby Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph. The angel is busy playing a lute in a natural green environment.
The green landscape is symbolic of these figures in the physical being and not heavenly world. The mood of this painting is happiness. Thus, this symbolizes the possibilities of living happy and full life on earth before transitional link to heaven. The perspective used in creating this painting presents a chronological sequence of color pigmentation on a specific landscape.
Agostina and Jacopa lived in the renaissance era. Their painting styles are more or less the same. This was later adopted by the modern academic arts (Adrian, 2000). These paintings present the relationship between humanity, universe and God. Simultaneously, classical precedent architecture has facilitated acceptance of these masterpieces and study.
These paintings are of extra ordinary quality representing the Catholic Church’s doctrines and beliefs. In conclusion, these paintings intrinsically influence views and nature of life in the world and heaven. Besides, posterity and simple oil and tempera on panel paintings communicates different artistic impressions within the same theme.
a.1 Madonna and Child in Glory by Jacopa di Cione (1360-1365).
a.2 Adoration of the Shepherds by Giovanni Agostino da Lori (1510).
References
Adrian, F. (2000). Artist of the Italian Renaissance. In Chronology part one(500-1350). Web.
Michael, D. (2010). Madonna and Child. In Artlex art dictionary modules. Web.
Robin, N. (2007). Key Innovations and Artists of the Italian Renaissance. In Eyecon Art. Web.
Sammuel, K. (2000). Humanism in the Renaissance. In the Renaissnce Connection. Web.
The Guardian. (2009). Why can’t scientists date the Portland Vase? In The Guardian(newspaper). Web.
Vatican Museum. (2009). Borghase Gallary. In Vatican Museum. Web.
