Renaissance Art

The Italians

Humanism

• Renewed interest in Greek and Roman arts, philosophy, scholarly writing

• Encouraged secularism and pursuit of worldly pleasures

• Interest in beauty and aesthetics• Individual expression was encouraged

Patronage

• Medici family was most well known for their patronage

• Church continued to be the greatest patron of the arts• Wealthy patrons commissioned portraits

– Served as reminders of their worldly success– Subjects were presented in the most favorable way

possible—not always accurately– An honor to be represented as a figure from mythology or

the bible– Always shown in contemporary clothing, despite the time

period of the artwork

Depictions of Medici Family

Adoration of the Magi Sandro Botticelli

Journey of the Magi Benozzo Gozzoli

Scientific Research

• Studies in anatomy contributed to realistic portrayals of the body in art

• Studies of classical architecture and sculpture influenced proportion and balance

• Perspective and forshortening* were formulated with mathematical precision

• *Forshortening—the application of linear perspective to human and other forms to help achieve a dramatic illusion of three-dimensional space

The Dead ChristAndrea Mantegna

Notable Artists

Leonardo da Vinci

• The epitome of the “Renaissance man”– Accomplished painter, sculptor, scientist, engineer, poet,

architect– Designed public buildings, built dams and canals, invented

an aircraft and submarine– Wrote treatises on anatomy, optics, geology, physics, and

painting• Studied with Verrocchio in Florence—was introduced

to great intellectuals and artists of the time• Worked under the patronage of Ludovico Sforza, duke

of Milan and Francis I in France

The Last Supper

Mona Lisa

Ginerva de Benci

Michelangelo

• Painter, architect, and sculptor—identified himself as a sculptor first

• Lived most of his life in poverty• His paintings revealed such meticulous

attention to the human form that they are referred to as “painted sculpture”

David

Sistine Chapel

The LastJudgment

The Creation

Botticelli

• Known for his sensitivity for beauty• Created many paintings with mythical themes,

later was influenced by Florentine monk Savonarola and turned to religious subjects

• Burned some of his paintings on mythical subjects• Was commissioned to paint The Adoration of the

Magi by the Church of Santa Maria Novella—featured members of the Medici family

• The Birth of Venus remains his most popular work

Birth of Venus

Raphael

• Born into an artistic family• Epitomizes Late Renaissance painting• Was commissioned to provide murals for

papal apartments of the Vatican, of which The School of Athens is most famous

School of Athens

Donatello

• One of the premiere sculptors of 15th century Florence

• His most famous sculpture, David was commissioned by the Medici family

• David is a life-sized, youthful figure in bronze• Depicts moment after David slays Goliath• Employs contrapposto—a displacement of the

hips and straightening of leg to show weight resting on that leg

David