The Renaissance Rebirth Renaissance Art 1400 1500 Rediscovery

The Renaissance “Rebirth”

Renaissance Art 1400 -1500 • Rediscovery of Greco-Roman Art • Renewed interest in realism and the present • New technical knowledge of anatomy & perspective • Prestige of artists soar • Interest in man’s ability – exploration, scientific research • Protestant Reformation begins to downplay Church

Top 4 breakthroughs • • Oil on canvas: smoother, more blending Perspective: creates depth and realism Chiaroscuro: illusion of roundness Pyramid composition: symmetrical but more 3 -D compositions

Giotto, Noli me Tangere, 1305

Massacio, Holy Trinity, 1425

Donatello, David, 1428

Botticelli, Birth of Venus, 1486

Leonardo Da Vinci • Renaissance Man • Invented parachute, helicopter, armored tank • Less than 20 complete works survive • Kept extensive diaries with notes and sketches of ideas and studies

Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, 1503

Da Vinci, The Last Supper, 1495

Michelangelo • Studied at the Medici court in Florence • Believed creativity was divinely inspired • Very solitary- did not let anyone watch him work • Architect, sculptor, painter, poet, engineer • Patrons: Medici & Pope Julius II

Michelangelo, David, 1504

Michelangelo, The Sistine Chapel, 1508

Raphael, School of Athens, 1510

The Northern Renaissance • Netherlands (Belgium & Holland) • Northern Renaissance inspired by nature • Style: – Intense realism -Oil on wood – Life-like, unflattering portraits – Religious & domestic scenes – Prosperous citizens & Peasants – Emphasis on reality, visual appearance – Based on observation, not theory – Compositions are complex and irregular

Van Eyck, Arnolfini Wedding, 1434

Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, 1500

Bruegel, Hunters in the Snow, 1565

Mannerism & The Late Renaissance • 1520 -1600 • Church lost authority during Reformation, Rome was sacked… times are unsettled

Tintoretto, The Last Supper, 1594

El Greco, Resurrection, 1597

Mannerism: The Style • “Di maniera” means art done according to a style rather than depicting nature • Figures writhe and twist unnaturally • Bodies are distorted- too long or muscular • Colors are lurid, heightening tension

Baroque Art 1600 -1700 AD

Movement to Baroque • Rome again becomes center of the art world through leadership of the Church – Papal program to beautify Rome brings artists from all over to Italy • Europe is filled with artistic energy that inspires great painting and sculptures all over Europe • Kings and developing middle class also become important patrons

Baroque: The Style “Nature is nearly always feeble and puny, so that if their students’ imaginations are filled only with natural forms, they will never be able to produce anything beautiful and grand, for these qualities are not to be found in nature” -Gianlorenzo Bernini

Bernini, Ecstasy of St Theresa (1652)

Baroque: The Style • Filled with dynamism and opulence that contrast with harmony and simplicity of Renaissance • Ovals instead of circles • Artwork is richly decorated

Caravaggio, The Supper at Emmaus (1597)

Caravaggio, Doubting Thomas (1603)

Caravaggio (1571 -1610) • Rebel against conventional society, dies at 37 running from the law • Hung out with actors (very low status at the time) • Shocked patrons by putting religious figures in common, earthly settings • Intense value contrast add to dramatic effect: chiaroscuro • Extreme Naturalism, hard-edged style

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 -1653) • • Follower of Caravaggio Raped by her teacher (also father’s friend) Well-known during her time Had to work doubly hard because she was a women in a male dominated field

Gentileschi, Judith & Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes (1625)

Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes (1620)

Peter Paul Rubens (1577 -1640) • Flanders • Produced over 2, 000 paintings • Traveled extensively, influenced by Italian style • Had several workshops in Antwerp: generally created studies and painted figures himself, but left details such as landscapes and still life objects to his assistants to finish • Amount he charged = how much work he actually did on painting

Ruebens, Lion Hunt (1616)

Jan Vermeer (1632 -1675) • Unknown during his time, now celebrated as one of Holland’s finest painters • Interested in how light reflects an refracts • Worked meticulously in layers of glaze • Camera obscura- pinhole camera that could project image onto wall behind it

Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance (1664)

Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606 -1669) One of the greatest Dutch artists of all time Son of a miller 600 paintings, 300 etchings, 2, 000 drawings Early portrait work makes him wealthy and prosperous • Group Portraiture- every person pays to be included in artwork • •

Rembrandt, Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632)

Velazquez, Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor) (1656)