The Renaissance Rebirth and Renewal Why Rebirth 1400s

The Renaissance Rebirth and Renewal

Why “Rebirth”? • 1400’s = re-discovery of Greek and Roman literature and art. • Scientific study of the body (anatomy) and natural world became popular. • Exploration, and scientific research took off. • All of this means that art skills increased and became popular. The “re-birth” of classical (i. e. Greek/ Roman) studies and art.

4 Important Breakthroughs: � Oil on canvas became medium of choice � Use of perspectiveshowing depth in on a 2 -D surface � Use of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) � Pyramid composition

Why Oil Paints? • More vibrant colors • Less time consuming (tempera is a labor-intensive technique) • Paints dry over long-periods = able to go back and work over days instead needing to finish a section in one day. Tempera cross hatching vs. smoothness of oil

The Birth of Perspective From this: “Miracle of Augustine Saving the Child Falling From the Window” Simone Martini, tempera

To this: “The Tribute Money” by Masaccio, fresco

Chiaroscuro: Use of light and shadow for realism “Virgin of the Rocks”, Leonardo da Vinci

Balancing Compositions with Triangles

What made the Early Renaissance *Why was it so successful? THE MEDICI FAMILY • Super-wealthy family (bankers) who lived in Florence and LOVED the arts. • Paid and sponsored many artists & architects to decorate Florence to their tastes. People loved them for it. • They were the “unofficial” rulers of Florence (the true ruler was the pope). • Because artists knew the Medici were wiling to pay for work, artists flocked to Florence and the Renaissance began.

Early Renaissance �Began in Florence, Italy in 1400’s �Three major artists ◦ Masaccio �First artist since the Giotto to paint humans in naturalistic form, not stiff straight columns. Master of perspective, and painting natural shadows. ◦ Donatello �Known for naturalistic nude sculpture in the round. The “Masaccio” of sculpture. ◦ Botticelli �Known for rebirth of Classical mythology- no longer religious painting.

Masaccio’s “Expulsion from the Garden”

Donatello’s, “David”

Botticelli’s, “Birth of Venus”