Transcript Renaissance Art - River Dell Regional School District

Renaissance Art
Ms. Stiles
World Civilizations
Basic Features of
Renaissance Art
• Classicism:
– Respect for Greco-Roman art, literature,
architecture & philosophy
• Ex: Michelangelo’s David
• Secularism:
– Focuses on worldly ideas & topics instead of just
religion
– Seen more in the Northern Renaissance than in the
Italian Renaissance
• Ex: Pieter Brueghel The Elder Hunters in the Snow
Basic Features of
Renaissance Art
• Scholarship:
– Dealing with reason, curiosity, and
experimentation
• Ex: Raphael’s The School of Athens
• Individualism:
– Showing the dignity & worth of individuals
• Ex: Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa
Differences Between Medieval &
Renaissance Art
• Medieval Art:
– All art is a portrait or religiously based
• Usually portraits of rich or religious figures
– Unscientific:
• No Shadows or depth
• Unrealistic figures
– No free standing sculpture
– No Nudes
Medieval Art
• Madonna & Child Giotto 1320-1330
Differences Between Renaissance Art &
Medieval Art
• Renaissance Art:
• Variety of subjects
– Doesn’t have to be religious or a portrait
– Can be anything  mostly related to human life
• Scientific:
– 3D figures
– Depth & shading
– Expressive
• Free Standing Sculptures
– Greco-Roman influence
• Nudes
Leonardo Da Vinci
The Last Supper
• Fresco-oil & tempera on plaster
– Applied to dry plaster (not wet, like it was supposed to
be) & the paint didn’t take  fresco permanently
damaged
• Located on the north wall of a Dominican
monastery  wanted the painting to look like it
was happening in the room
• Each apostle is grouped based on their reaction to
Christ saying he will be betrayed
– 4 groups (shock, anger, denial, etc.)
• Christ is the central figure
– Vanishing point is above his head
– Seated & associated with the setting sun
The Last Supper
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci
Mona Lisa
• World’s best known portrait
– Most likely the wife of Francesco del Giocondo
• Figure shaped as a pyramid
– Reflected in the mountains in the background
• Folds of her dress mimicked by roads & rivers
• Background & facial features are intentionally blurry
– Shaved eyebrows & forehead were the fashion for women
in the 15th century  makes her look age & genderless
• Smokey painting technique
– Sfumato building color on color
Mona Lisa
Leonardo Da Vinci
Donatello
David
• First life-sized free standing male nude since
ancient times
• Feminine figure
– Hands on his hips; soft features
• Shows an “underdog” story
– An unassuming boy taking down a giant
– Skill vs. strength
• Reflection of Greco-Roman influence
David
Donatello
Michelangelo
David
• Compared to Donatello’s
– Donatello: Lean & unassuming; after battle
– Michelangelo: Defiant; before battle
• Classically inspired
– Greek marble statue influence
• Carved from a massive chunk of marble that
no one else wanted to touch
• 17 feet tall
– Even bigger on his platform
David
Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Creation of Adam
• Sistine Chapel; commissioned by Pope Julius
II
• Biblical narrative
– Struggle between good & evil
• Painted while standing
– Caused bodily injury & discomfort
• Adam = earthbound & uninterested
• God = actively moving towards Adam 
infuses Adam with a soul
Creation of Adam
Michelangelo
Raphael
School of Athens
• Also known as Philosophy
• Humanistic
– Continuing pursuit of knowledge & truth
• Located in St. Peter’s Basilica 26 x 18 feet
• Fresco oil & tempera on wet plaster
• Divided into 2 philosophical camps (Aristotle’s &
Plato’s; Aristotle is on the left, Plato on the right)
• Raphael used his friends as models for the philosophers
– Da Vinci = Plato, Bramante = Euclid, Michelangelo
=Heraclitus
School of Athens
Raphael
Titian
Venus of Urbino
• Painted for the Duke of Urbino
• Ambiguous meaning  she could be
a bride or a prostitute
• The flowers are a reference to the
goddess Venus
• Maids in the chest & the dog
represent fidelity
Venus of Urbino
Titian
Differences Between the Italian Renaissance
& the Northern Renaissance
• Italian Renaissance:
– Realism
– Perspective
– Classical inspiration (Greco-Roman)
– Religious influence & subject matter
– More of a focus on high society
Differences Between the Italian Renaissance
& the Northern Renaissance:
• Northern Renaissance:
– Use of oils
– Love of detail
– Landscapes
– Everyday life
– Symbolism to represent religion
– Realistic depictions of people
– Focus on peasant life
Jan Van Eyck
The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait
• Arnolfini was a representative of the Medici Bank in Bruges
• The detail in the portrait is a hallmark of Northern Renaissance
painting
• Details:
– Convex mirror (reflects the back of the couple, Van Eyck, and a
witness of the wedding)
– “Van Eyck was here”
– Fruit = wedding & the Garden of Eden
– Dog = fidelity
– Dusting brush = wife’s household duties
– Wife looks pregnant, but isn’t pulled up green dress is a symbol of
fertility
– Shoes = sacred ground & ceremony
– Candle = divine presence of Christ
The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait
Jan Van Eyck
Pieter Brueghel
Hunters in the Snow
• Northern Renaissance painting
• Shows daily peasant life
• Different from Italian Renaissance Art
Hunters in the Snow
Pieter Brueghel The Elder
Hans Holbein
Henry VIII
• Portrait of English King Henry VIII
• Painted later in his reign
• Designed to show his physical & political
power
• Holbein was famous for his portraits,
especially of Henry VIII & members of his
court
Henry VIII
Hans Holbein