A Survey of Renaissance Art

A Survey of Renaissance Art

What are the characteristics of the Renaissance are reflected in its art?

These are the characteristics of Renaissance art:-

Classicism: The artists of the early renaissance period believed that the art can 't remain static; it should develop and move forward. For this, Roman and Greek classical styles in art, literature and architecture were studied. The artists of early renaissance examined the light, color and space techniques used by the ancient Greek and Roman artists. They used the successful creative processes of the ancient period artists to create a new and modern art form. The ancient past was now viewed as past, to be admired and imitated, but not to be revived. It asserted the classical style based on measure and proportion. Paintings shows reference to ancient Greece (mythological figures), Rome (especially architecture structures) and as well as Christianity (biblical figures) etc.

Humanism: The faith in human intelligence and rationality, the reverence for inherent human beauty, the belief in human perfectibility, and the glorification of the human spirit. This is shown by the idealisation of the human body, mind, and spirit in nude human form, emotional facial expressions, dramatic human settings, etc. The high Renaissance period focus on painting human anatomy for example, Michelangelo carved the statue of Moses, he included veins and muscles in the arms and legs. Another example is the "Vitruvian Man" painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, which studies the ideal proportions of a male figure. High Renaissance art focused on portraying the humans in their most natural form. Nudes were painted beautifully and aesthetically. Artists perfected the art of facial expressions. Leonardo Da Vinci 's "Mona Lisa" and the "Last Supper" are a good example of this. These artists advocated the philosophy of Humanism through their art works. Humanists believed that humanity is unparalleled as it connects the mortal world with the spiritual world. Human welfare and human values like secularism were heavily promoted. People began to focus on self improvement and started doing things according to their likings.

Individualism: The appreciation of the individual worth of each human being was shown through artists signing of paintings, the individuality of each face, or the distinguishing individuality shown in every portrait.

Secularism: Renaissance thinkers sought to make mankind and the world around them the center of the universe. It is the understanding of humanism that leads to the idea of secularism. Secularism actually focuses the understanding of all things separate from religious thought (aesthetic view). The celebration and importance of everyday life was shown through scenes showing a new importance on life through such things as money, fine clothes or anything acquired through wealth. Showing enjoyable human activities such as dancing, eating, etc.

Realism: Unlike the artists of the medieval period, who painted heavenly creatures, the focus of the artists shifted to the human body. Realistic expressions were given to the human figures, be it in painting, architecture or sculpture, and the concept came to be known as Realism. Painters like the famous Masaccio still painted religious themes, but the saints in the paintings wore common people 's clothes and had natural expressions. The artworks of early Renaissance depicted people carrying on with their everyday activities like eating, dancing, etc. This attention to detail is made through observance of the real world shown through the use of new techniques in painting such as linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, use of light and shadow, etc

Mannerism: From 1525 to 1600 (the late Renaissance), concentrated more on style or manner and less on the substance. There was no newness in the Italian art as the artists of this period only wanted to outdo the artists of the high renaissance period. Mannerists used loud colors and strange themes. They depicted humans with unnaturally long limbs. The sacking of Rome (which was part of Papal States) in 1527 is believed to have caused a major impact on the painters. Painting anguished people became one of strangest Italian renaissance art characteristics. Even the Nudes were painted in such positions that they seemed very ungraceful. Prominent artists of this period included Giorgio Vasari and Giovanni da Bologna. Michelangelo was the artist of high Renaissance who continued painting during this period.

The innovations in paintings during the Renaissance are highlight below as it complementary to the characteristics of the art at this period:-
1. The introduction of oil painting on stretched canvas became the medium of choice replacing water-based and tempera paints on wood.
2. Linear perspective was used to give the illusion of depth. By utilizing this, the artists were able to create the illusion of space and distance on a level surface. "Statue of Brunelleschi" by Filippo Brunelleschi, "Trinity" painted by Masaccio, "St. James before Herod Agrippa" by Andreas Mantegna and "Metal Recto" by Alberti utilized linear perspective beautifully.
3. The use of light and shadow to give a sense of rounded, sculpted shapes. There is perfect harmony and balance in all aspects of painting, i.e. use of color and light, perspective, technical precision, imagination and composition. Leonardo da Vinci 's The Last Supper painting, Michelangelo and Raphael 's Vatican City paintings are the epitome of creativity that existed in this era.

Renaissance art characteristics show the kind of intellectual development that took place during those golden years of art

Are there noted similarities/differences between the two groups of artists?

The Renaissance began in Italy and had almost run its course before it spread to northern Europe. As such, some form of Gothic style remains in the northern Renaissance as against the Roman style of the Renaissance in Italy.

Italian Renaissance emphasized classicism imitating ancient Greece and Rome often in mythological settings. Lacking the Roman example, the North looked more to early Church history paying more attention to early Christianity in Palestine, Rome, and Greece.

Human figures depicted in Northern Renaissance art, although very realistic, were unlike the ones used in the Italian art. There is almost no abstraction or distortion of either human forms or objects in Northern Renaissance art. Every detail, no matter how small, is painstakingly painted. Human figures are painted with intense realism even though they often look thin and pale. There is almost no Classical influence here at all versus the Italian art.

Symbolism i.e. objects used to denote an altogether different meaning, was widely used whereas it is not present in Italian Renaissance. The Northern Renaissance also showed greater attention to the appreciation of nature.

Prints i.e. use of woodcut to create images was also a very prominent feature of the northern Renaissance art. The artists used to make drawings on wood. The untouched part of the wood was then cut off. The raised portions were inked and pressed against a paper or fabric to create paintings.

Oil paints were invented in northern Renaissance countris, so their paintings are richer, subtler colors of oils were available earlier in the North than the South.

What connections are seen or not seen between the art of the Middle Ages and the artist of the Renaissance?

The early Middle Ages art were mainly religious art in the form of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics and fresco painting in churches as most artists were members of religious houses such as monasteries. There were no portraits paintings as well sculptures as these were looked upon as a form of worship or adoration. Paintings were with dull tones and one dimensional with no perspective and no shadows i.e. muted. Figures are mostly depicted Christian figures which are front-facing with long, narrow and solemn faces with no attempt to portray realism. These methods of art form were not continued into the Renaissance period.

In the later Middle Ages art saw the emergence of Gothic Art and advances in visual art. The art form of stained glass windows emerged and sculptures are metal works in the form of bronze art but with body proportions not realistic or correct. Paintings are still generally related to Christian figures which now show creations of pictorial space and use of symmetry as well as introduction of brighter colours. There are also introduction of subject matters depicting of mythological scenes and the depiction of animals, and the use of shadows and light and toward realism. New ideas of naturalism were introduced in the art form. The artists and painters in this period were founders of the movement towards greater realism which culminated in the Renaissance art style.

The early Renaissance art saw the continuation of what the latter part of the Middle Ages left off, i.e. the similarities in so far as its introduction of naturalism is involved. Unlike the artists of the middle ages who painted heavenly creatures, the renaissance artists focus on the human body (i.e. depicting more on human emotions). Realistic expressions were given to the human form, be it in painting, architecture or sculpture (including humans forms were very natural and lifelike). For example, the famous painter Masaccio painted religious themes, but the saints in the paintings wore common people 's clothes and had natural expressions. The artworks of early Renaissance depicted people carrying on with their everyday activities like eating, dancing, etc.

The Renaissance paintings were complicated and had more depth due to the use of linear art (perspective of look of far and near) and as such are 3 dimensional and landscape background. Naturalism and realism was emphasized in paintings and at the later Renaissance period, mannerism art was introduced (which favour a more emotional approach to art at times project a distorted point of view). Characteristic paintings of mannerism included artificial colors, unrealistic proportions, off beat perspective, complex composition, and exaggerated or elongated figures. The famous Mannerist artists are Raphael and Michelangelo - artists that achieved technical accomplishments and stylised work. Figures in Mannerist paintings were often in imaginary poses creating an unsettling and strange piece of art like the Mona Lisa.

Portrait painting and oil painting become common in Renaissance period (unlike the early Middles Ages whilst uncommon in the later Middle Ages) and half body portrait paintings emerge e.g. portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Nudity (forbidden in the middle ages) and landscape in paintings becomes a norm. Sculptures are now in marble with more expression and well proportion. Lastly, during middle ages, the artworks had religious themes and were inspired by the Gothic culture especially at the latter part. Such religion themes and supernatural was rejected by Renaissance artists. The influence of Rome and Greek ancient art works was evident as Renaissance artists preferred to paint Greek gods, Greek goddesses and Greek philosophers. The influence of Christianity is seen for art works in both period but its influence was weaken by the introduction of Greek and Roman secularism (a key component of the Renaissance), this led to the downfall of the Age of Faith whilst promoting the idea that man could make a difference in their own lives and a difference in the world around them. With rethinking and reintroduction of classical works of the Greeks and Roman, the Renaissance period paved the way to human thinking, development and modernisation not seen in the Middle Ages. The Renaissance paintings depicted people studying Philosophy and Mathematics rather than worshiping, as was the trend in the medieval art.
To what extent have you discovered evidence of a “Rebirth” or a “new age” in this assignment? The Renaissance in Italy was by no means an abrupt shift in perspective. It began in the early fifteenth century and lasted several centuries and reflected a new confidence in humans rather than in God. Portraits and sculpture depicted more and more humans rather than spiritual beings and such works took on a new vitality which contrasted with the venerability of such works previously.

Renaissance is an endeavour to return to the ideas, values and art of the Greek and Roman antique. This is the evidence of a “Rebirth” of classical values in art as opposed to the arts of the dark middle ages, however, some form of the old has been retained by the artists of the northern Renaissance.

As art is the expression of a mind, and as minds changes we discover the world and have different feelings about it. The mediaeval world was a profoundly religious place and this shows in all of its arts which generally portray a deep devotion. There were also elements of great fear of violence, witches and demons. The art of Renaissance period shows the artists desire to change from this norm and their interpretation of human feeling, desire and thoughts at that time took precedence. This I think is the advert of a new age in human thinking that started from the period and lead to the mordenisation of the world.

References

"High Renaissance - High Renaissance Art." Art History. Huntfor.com, Web. 7 Feb 2010.

"ART IN THE RENAISSANCE." Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

Steven Kreis, . "Renaissance Humanism." The History Guide. 08 Nov 2008. Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

"Middle Ages Art." History of Middle Age Art. Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

"Northern Renaissance." Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

"Renaissance Art." Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

"Renaissance Art." Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

"Renaissance Art Characteristics." Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

References: "High Renaissance - High Renaissance Art." Art History. Huntfor.com, Web. 7 Feb 2010. "ART IN THE RENAISSANCE." Web. 7 Feb 2010. . Steven Kreis, . "Renaissance Humanism." The History Guide. 08 Nov 2008. Web. 7 Feb 2010. . "Middle Ages Art." History of Middle Age Art. Web. 7 Feb 2010. . "Northern Renaissance." Web. 7 Feb 2010. . "Renaissance Art." Web. 7 Feb 2010. . "Renaissance Art." Web. 7 Feb 2010. . "Renaissance Art Characteristics." Web. 7 Feb 2010. .