Renaissance ArtRenaissance ArtRenaissance ArtRenaissance Art

Departure from the Medieval--a new emphasis on sensual,

worldly existence…but the medieval world doesn’t

simply vanish overnight.

Departure from the Medieval--a new emphasis on sensual,

worldly existence…but the medieval world doesn’t

simply vanish overnight.

Renaissance HumanismRenaissance Humanism

• Patronage? Why was it important in the success of Renaissance art?

• 2-sentence “essay” defining humanism (in Making of the West, pp 450-451)

• “Civic Humanism”?

• Patronage? Why was it important in the success of Renaissance art?

• 2-sentence “essay” defining humanism (in Making of the West, pp 450-451)

• “Civic Humanism”?

“The Renaissance had its medieval roots in vernacular

literature like...”

“The Renaissance had its medieval roots in vernacular

literature like...”• Dante Alighieri’s (1265-1321) Divine

Comedy (1313-1321)• (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise)• Written in Florentine dialect (vernacular)• A Christian tale, heavily influenced by Greek and

Roman classical allusions.

• Dante Alighieri’s (1265-1321) Divine Comedy (1313-1321)

• (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise)• Written in Florentine dialect (vernacular)• A Christian tale, heavily influenced by Greek and

Roman classical allusions.

Values and Virtues: Classical and Medieval

See page 135 of your Reader

Values and Virtues: Classical and Medieval

See page 135 of your Reader

Classical • (Areté, Virtus):

– Moderation, Wisdom, Courage, Justice

• “Man is the Measure of all Things!” (Protagoras)

Classical • (Areté, Virtus):

– Moderation, Wisdom, Courage, Justice

• “Man is the Measure of all Things!” (Protagoras)

Medieval• “Christian” Virtues

– Seven Christian Virtues and Vices

Medieval• “Christian” Virtues

– Seven Christian Virtues and Vices

Art as a historical sourceArt as a historical source

• Style• Style • Subject• Subject

Medieval ArtMedieval Art• Emphasis on salvation and a glorious afterlife drowns out most

other concerns. • Medieval Christians viewed this earthly life and the human body

as tainted by sin and corruption. • Medieval artists focused on the soul, not the body. Nude was

shameful and usually seen in a negative light (sinners were nude)

• Christendom emphasized the community over the individual. Artists were craftsmen working for guilds, not individuals expressing themselves.

• Artists didn’t sign their work—pride was a mortal sin• Art served the needs of the church as a form of education—some

might say propaganda!

• Emphasis on salvation and a glorious afterlife drowns out most other concerns.

• Medieval Christians viewed this earthly life and the human body as tainted by sin and corruption.

• Medieval artists focused on the soul, not the body. Nude was shameful and usually seen in a negative light (sinners were nude)

• Christendom emphasized the community over the individual. Artists were craftsmen working for guilds, not individuals expressing themselves.

• Artists didn’t sign their work—pride was a mortal sin• Art served the needs of the church as a form of education—some

might say propaganda!

Illuminated Manuscript:“The Book of

Kells” (760-820)

Illuminated Manuscript:“The Book of

Kells” (760-820)

Icons: Berlinghiero’

s “Madonna and Child” (early 12th century)

Icons: Berlinghiero’

s “Madonna and Child” (early 12th century)

Mosaic: Justinian and Attendants c. 547

Mosaic: Justinian and Attendants c. 547

Gothic Churche

s

Cologne Cathedral

Gothic Churche

s

Cologne Cathedral

Gothic Sculpt

ure“Teaching Christ” 13th

Century Chartres

Cathedral…

Gothic Sculpt

ure“Teaching Christ” 13th

Century Chartres

Cathedral…

Giotto di

Bondone:

“Noli me

Tangere”

1305

Giotto di

Bondone:

“Noli me

Tangere”

1305

Renaissance Foci:Renaissance Foci:

• Humanism• Civic Humanism• Individual virtú• Importance of this world as well as the next world.

– Patronage is necessary for these beautiful works of art, so wealth can’t be all bad…

– What were the subjects of a Humanist education (Liberal Studies)?

• Humanism• Civic Humanism• Individual virtú• Importance of this world as well as the next world.

– Patronage is necessary for these beautiful works of art, so wealth can’t be all bad…

– What were the subjects of a Humanist education (Liberal Studies)?

Renaissance ArtRenaissance Art

• Rediscovery of art and literature of Greece and Rome. • The study of God and the Christian Gospels was augmented

(not replaced!) by the study of human experience and life on earth. Not only Christian virtues, but also Classical virtues!

• Informed by expansion of scientific knowledge of anatomy and perspective.

• Lifelike—no longer supernatural, but natural subjects and styles.

• Prestige of artists soared and we have our first great art “superstars”. Michelangelo was called “Divine”.

• Rediscovery of art and literature of Greece and Rome. • The study of God and the Christian Gospels was augmented

(not replaced!) by the study of human experience and life on earth. Not only Christian virtues, but also Classical virtues!

• Informed by expansion of scientific knowledge of anatomy and perspective.

• Lifelike—no longer supernatural, but natural subjects and styles.

• Prestige of artists soared and we have our first great art “superstars”. Michelangelo was called “Divine”.

Donatello“David”

c 1430-32

Donatello“David”

c 1430-32

Botticelli: “Birth of Venus” Botticelli: “Birth of Venus” 14821482

Botticelli: “Birth of Venus” Botticelli: “Birth of Venus” 14821482

Van Eyck: Van Eyck: “Arnolfini “Arnolfini

Wedding” Wedding” 14341434

Van Eyck: Van Eyck: “Arnolfini “Arnolfini

Wedding” Wedding” 14341434

Hans Holbein

the Younger

“The French Ambassadors” 1533

Hans Holbein

the Younger

“The French Ambassadors” 1533

Leonardo Da Vinci

Mona Lisa 1503-6

Leonardo Da Vinci

Mona Lisa 1503-6

Da Vinci: “in the womb”c. 1510

Da Vinci: “in the womb”c. 1510

Da Vinci: Study for “The Adoration of the

Magi” (c. 1481)

Da Vinci: Study for “The Adoration of the

Magi” (c. 1481)

Da Vinci: The Last Supper (c.1495)

Da Vinci: The Last Supper (c.1495)

Michelangelo: “The Divine”

Michelangelo: “The Divine”

• Elevated the status of the artist• Elevated the status of the artist

Pieta(1498-1500)

Pieta(1498-1500)

David (1501-1504)

• How does it reflect Renaissance Virtues?

David (1501-1504)

• How does it reflect Renaissance Virtues?

MichelangeloSistine Chapel

“The Last Judgment”

1541

MichelangeloSistine Chapel

“The Last Judgment”

1541

Creation of AdamCreation of Adam

Sistine Chapel“Libyan Sibyl”

Sistine Chapel“Libyan Sibyl”

ReviewReview1. What are the classical virtues?

2. Provide and example of how one work of art reflects humanism?

3. Provide an example of how art reflected Civic Humanism?

4. What are four techniques that Renaissance era artists used?

1. What are the classical virtues?

2. Provide and example of how one work of art reflects humanism?

3. Provide an example of how art reflected Civic Humanism?

4. What are four techniques that Renaissance era artists used?

Raphael (1483-1520): “School of Athens” 1510-1511

Raphael (1483-1520): “School of Athens” 1510-1511