November 9, 2009

Around 1350 A.D., art and architecture still dominated by Medieval styles and church

the Gothic Style

lack of perspective: vanishing point: problem solving the two dimensional aspect

Two Questions:

Why Italy?

Why after 1350?

Hint: Art imitates life.

The right conditions…of course

Geography: Italy was ideally situated on the Mediterranean—on trade routes and Roman ruins

Politics: competition between leaders of many proximate city-states; by 1350, 1 in 7 Italians lived in cities as compared to 1 in 10 throughout western Europe

Socioeconomic: the Bubonic plague continually returned, resulting in greater work opportunities and greater concentrations of wealth—conspicuous consumption and noblesse oblige—10% of the families controlled 90% of the wealth

Religion: the church more tolerant than previous

Remember that Artists captured the social mood Few artists limited themselves to one area of artistic

expression Surviving Roman and Hellenic statues influenced

revival of classical art, as well as surviving classical texts

Use of linear perspective along with shading of light and shadow created the illusion of three dimensions on a flat surface—themes of Nature, Classicism, and Humanism

ArtistLast SupperVirgin of the RocksMona LisaInventorDesigned a tank and an airplaneScientistAn accomplished botanistVitruvian Man

-The Mond Crucifixion-The Sistine Madonna-The Betrothal of the Virgin-The School of Athens-Disputa-The Transfiguration

-Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel-La Pieta-David

-Written in 1550 A.D.-Still referenced by historians-Considered both a primary and secondary source

Why did the Renaissance begin in Italy after 1350?

What were the artistic ideas of the Renaissance?

…Thanks!!!