ARTS 2 -- Ms. Teal -- Lesson One -- Barstow College

Arts 2 - Chapter 12 and 13 (lesson 1)

Chapter 12

Early Renaissance In Italy

Assigned reading: pages 408-450

The social and political achievements taking place in Europe towards the end of the fourteenth century brought change and innovation to the European people. This period of innovation reflected changes in patronage, and scholastic expansion. It came to be known as the "Renaissance" period.

The humanistic ideas were based on those of the classical antiquity and served as inspiration for the artists. The artists became identified with the techniques they established.

Italian patrons commissioned large works of art including murals, altarpieces and sculpture. Often artists competed for the work (see sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti Gates of Paradise).

Renaissance architecture was led by the Florentine artist Filippo Brunelleschi, whose accomplishments included the completion of the Florence Cathedral initiated during the Gothic period. Architecture outside of Florence was led by architectural masters designing churches based on the basilican plan and the central-plan. Conventions employed by architects of previous periods (see fig.12-34 and 12-36) were incorporated.

In sculpture, Donatellos life sized bronze, marble and wood sculptures of nude figures appeared free-standing for the first time since classic antiquity ( see David).

In painting, artists developed scientific methods to represent objects and figures with accuracy and definition of space and applications of perspective. Space is clearly suggested by the use of geometric devises, volumetric form construction, and foreshortening (see Brunelleschi, Massacio, Fra Angelico and Piero della Francesca). Painters outside of Florence were applying the innovations employed in northern Italy, while other painters returned to classical and mythological themes (see Boticelli).

Terms and concepts:

Renaissance

liberal arts

Medici

Donatello. David

Lorenzo Ghiberti. Gates of Paradise

Mary Magdalen

Filippo Brunelleschi

Scientific perspective

narrative

continuous narrative

tempera, encaustic, oil painting

central-plan churches

Neo Platonism

Sandro Botticelli. Primavera and The Birth of Venus

Giovanni Bellini. Madonna and Saints

Pietro Perugino. The Delivery of the Keys

Masaccio (see fig. 12-38 through 12-44

Chapter 13

The High Renaissance in Italy

Assigned reading: pages 452-485

The Renaissance Period in the sixteenth century is considered to be one of the most famous periods of art in Italy. Italy had become one of the wealthiest countries in Europe and continued to produce great artists. It was during this century, when artists such as Michelangelo (see 13-11 through 13-27), da Vinci (see fig. 13-1 through 13-6), and Raphael emerged..

C Michelangelo is commissioned to produce mayor works including the funeral chapel for one of the members of the Medici family. Michelangelo is commissioned to redecorate the Sistine Chapel, a project which took four years to completion.

C Patronage, self expression, and the ideals of the church authority were represented (see School of Athens by Raphael).

C Replacement of the old Saint Peter's in Rome became the project of Bramante and later Michelangelo (see Saint Peter's fig. 13-9 and 13-27, and 28).

C In the sixteenth century the status of the artist changed, allowing them more freedom in the selection of commissioned work.

C Secular patronage became very important and the competition among patrons gave the artist a sense of worth (see 13-39 through 13-43).

Terms and Concepts:

High Renaissance

Leonardo da Vinci

sfumato

Leonardo da Vinci. The Virgin of the Rocks.

The Last Supper

Mona Lisa

Chiaroscure

fresco

central plan

Greek cross

Donato Bramanate. Original plan for St. Peters, Rome

The Tempietto

Julius II

Medici chapel

Michelangelo. Pieta

David

The Sistine Chapel

Rafael. The School of Athens. (see Rafael fig. 13-29 through 13-37)

Giorgione

The Tempest

Titian (fig. 13-39 through 13-43)

Discussion:

Please select and post your response to one of these questions.

In what ways may we consider da Vincis Last Supper as exemplary of High Renaissance painting?
How is the idea of "continuous narration" illustrated in The Tribute Money of Masaccio?
Identify some of the mayor figures in Raphaels painting The School of Athens and describe the characteristics of the space in which they are represented.

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