The Renaissance 1400 1520 Renaissance means rebirth Rebirth

The Renaissance 1400 -1520

• Renaissance means “rebirth” • Rebirth of what? Culture-music, art, writing • Painting dominated as the art medium during this time

Michelangelo knew at a young age he wanted to be an artist and started working in Florence at age 13. He was accepted into the Medici family school for sculptors where he became extremely interested in Greek and Roman culture. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer.

The Pieta carved in 1498 out of a single block of marble. The marble is highly polished in the Renaissance style. It depicts Mary holding Christ’s lifeless body after his crucifixion. It used classical naturalism. The folds in the cloth and the since of flesh are handled incredibly. However, the figures are out of proportion.

The David sculpted in 1504 out of one piece of marble and is the most recognizable sculpture from history. The 17 foot statue depicts a nude David at the moment he decides to fight Goliath. He stands with a sling shot over his shoulder and a rock in the opposite hand.

It initially stood outside in a square but is now protected in a museum with a replica in its original place. His twisted body and contrapposto stance gives the since of motion. His body is not true to human proportions. His upper body is larger than this lower body and his hands are too large for his body.

The Sistine Chapel took four years and five months to complete. The large ceiling contains four large and five smaller Old Testament scenes as well as 400 other figures that fill the space. There are 9 scenes from the book of Genesis with the best know being The Creation of Adam. To paint the large Last Judgment scene Michelangelo had to climb 6 or 7 levels of scaffolding every day. He once fell and badly injured one leg.

http: //www. vatican. va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index. html

Contrary to popular belief, he painted the whole thing standing…not lying on his back. Burning candles and oil lamps created soot that darkened the images. Attempts to fix the damage simply made it worse. However, in 1979 restorers were able to clean the paintings appropriately over the course of 10 years. The room is now monitored for temperature and moisture control as well as filters that clean the air. The Sistine Chapel sees 19, 000 visitors a day.

Leonardo da Vinci Da Vinci lived and worked from 1452 -1519. He is identified as the “Renaissance Man” or known for being an expert in all subjects including painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, military science, botany, anatomy, geology, aerodynamics, and optics. He left behind 10, 000 pages of drawings, ideas, sketches and notes. He is famous for writing left-handed, in reverse, or mirrored images. However, he only left about a dozen paintings.

The Last Supper (1495 -1498) was painted on a wall in the dining hall of the monastery in Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan. The wall mural is over 15 x 28 feet. Christ and His disciples are seated at a table celebrating Passover. Christ announces “One of you will betray me” and sends everyone into shock.

Order of disciples left to right Bartholomew, James, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Thomas, James, Phillip, Matthew, Jude, Simon. Since Judas is the one who betrays Jesus, he is shown in shadow. He also is the only one featured with his elbow on the table which displays bad manners.

The painting contains several references to the number 3, which may be an allusion to the Holy Trinity. The Apostles are seated in groupings of three; there are three windows behind Jesus; and the shape of Jesus' figure resembles a triangle. There may have been many other references that have since been lost to the painting's deterioration.

The Mona Lisa (1503 -1506 The Louvre, Paris) is the world’s most famous portrait. In Italian, the painting is known as La Gioconda. She sits in a relaxed position in front of a typical Leonardo landscape. The distant hills and mountains are softened by a light haze. This technique is called sfumato. This effect creates a feeling of depth within the painting. Her smile and her identity have been speculated. Her identity is said to have the wife of a prominent Florentine merchant.

The painting is called “enigmatic” or puzzling and mysterious because she has a gentle smile yet her eyes lack the same warmth. She has plucked eyebrows and eyelashes and a shaved hairline which was popular at that time. This adds to the unsettling feeling she gives. Her direct stare at the viewer which contrasts the serenity of the background also causes allure. She is considered an ideal woman. This small work (30”x 21”) is said to have been Leonardo’s favorite because he carried it around with him until he died.