Ashley Orozco

14 October 2011

European History

Art in the Renaissance

Arts had a difficult time remaining important during the Middle Ages (which preceded the Renaissance) given all the territorial struggles throughout Europe.

With the large exception of the Catholic church, no one had much time or thought left over to devote toward the luxury of art.

Because of this, there is no clear start date, but we do know that it started first in those areas which had the highest relative levels of political stability (i.e. Florence, Italy).

The recovery of ancient manuscripts showed the humanists how the Greeks and Romans employed mathematics to give structure to their art. Proto (or Pre-) Renaissance: occurred in Northern Italy some time around 1150.

It didn’t initially represent a wild divergence from any other medieval art, but, what makes this time so important was that the area in which it began there was enough stability to allow exploration of art to develop.

15c Italy (“Early Renaissance”): Florence housed most of the artistic going-ons at this time between, roughly, 1417-1494.

16c Italy (“High Renaissance”): roughly 1495-1527, this is the time where the famous artists emerged (Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rapael).

Late Renaissance: 1527-1600, focused on “mannerism”. It thrived in Venice, which is ironic considering they were not huge fans of “mannerism”.

An Overview:

1. Realism and expression2. Perspective3. Classicism4. Geometric arrangement of figures5. Light and Shadows (chiaoscuro)6. Artists as celebrities

Characteristics of Renaissance Art:

Where it happened is crucial. Northern Italy, in the 12th century, enjoyed a relatively stable social and political structure (Remember: back then it wasn’t just Italy, but a hodge podge of different republics).

Trade flourished in this region and the various merchant families and Dukes who "ruled" these Republics and Duchies were keen on outdoing each other and impressing foreigners with whom they traded.

During this same period, the Black Death swept through Europe with devastating results. The Church underwent a crisis which saw, at one point, three simultaneous Popes excommunicate one another. The thriving economy led to the formation of merchant Guilds that, often cruelly, fought for control.

Perhaps those in charge didn't care, aesthetically, about art. They may have merely needed it to impress their neighbors and future business partners. Regardless of their motives, they had the money to sponsor art's creation, a situation guaranteed to create artists.

Proto-Renaissance:

Changes occurred: In thought, changes took place on how people

viewed the world and their respective roles in it. In art, sculptures emerged. Human figures, as seen

in the Church, became less stylized and looked more realistic. Painting soon followed, subtly. Composition-wise, things were beginning to loosen up from the rigidness of Medieval art and figures started showing capability of movement. These changes were subtle, keeping in mind the penalties involved if one angered the Church through heretical acts, but it was the beginning of an era and paved the way for “Early Renaissance”.

Proto-Renaissance (cont’d):

Niccolo di Giacomo de Bolgna

ca. 1349-1403

Tempura, gold, and ink on parchment

From a gradual created for the Carthusian monastery of the Holy Spirit at Farneta, near Lucca

Maaso di Banco

ca. 1335Panel

Madonna and Child

Giovanni D’Ambrogio

ca. 1386marble

Prudence

There were four basic “competitions” of only one was specifically about art, but all were important to art. 1- Dueling popes: in most of the 14th century, the Roman Catholic Church handled

everything. At this time, they also had two popes: on in France and another in Italy. All the money from the two papacies was flowing through one bank in Florence.

2- Florence vs. Pushy neighbors: The Black Death wiped out half of the population and two banks succumbed to bankruptcy which led to civil unrest and occasional famine, coupled with episodic, new outbreaks of plague. These calamities certainly shook Florence, and its economy was a bit wobbly for a while. First Milan, then Naples and then Milan (again), tried to "annex" Florence. The Florentines were not about to be dominated by others, though. With no alternative, they repulsed the unwelcome advances. As a result, Florence became even more powerful than it had been pre-Plague, and went on to secure Pisa as its port.

3-Humanism?: The 15th-century saw an unprecedented rise in humanist thought because the humanists began writing prolifically. More importantly, they also had the means to distribute their words to an ever-widening audience. Florence became a city in which scholars and artists freely exchanged ideas, and art became more vibrant for it.

4- The Medici: During the 15th-century, the Medici spent astronomical sums of money on architects and artists, who built and decorated Florence to the total delight of all who lived there. The sky was the limit! Florence even got the first public library since Antiquity.

Early Renaissance:

Those four brought new works to be commissioned (i.e. “nicer” churches, nudes, portraits painted of actual people, landscapes, elaborate tombs, and adorned doors).

Florence was the place to be if one wanted to launch their artistic career in 15th century Italy.

Several republics from northern Italy were quite serious in competing with one another for the most glorious civic adornment, among other things, which kept a lot of artists employed.

This earlier half didn’t produce as many artists as the “High Renaissance” did (ER Artists included: Brunelleschi, Ghibert, Donatello, Masaccio, della Francesca, Fra Angelico, etc).

Early Renaissance (cont’d):

John Van Eyck

ca. 1435Oil on panel

The Virgin and Chancellor Rollin

Fillipo Brunelleschi

ca. 1386marble

Il Duomo di Florence

Ghibertica. 14bronze

Baptistery of the Dome

Donatelloca. 1434bronze

David

This period represented culmination. The tentative artistic explorations of the Proto-Renaissance, which blossomed during the early renaissance, burst into full bloom at this time.

Artists no longer pondered the art of antiquity; they now had the tools, training and confidence to go about their way.

It is also a convergence of talent ; there was a superfluous amount of talent concentrated in the same area.

Raphael’s death and the Sack of Rome in 1527 are said to have marked the end of this period.

Mostly in Rome rather than Florence.

High Renaissance:

Leonardo da Vinci

ca. 1503-1519

Oil on panel

Mona Lisa

Michelangelo Buonarroti

ca. 1508-1512

fresco

Sistine Chapel

Raphaelca. 1507Oil on panel

Deposition of Christ

Raphaelca. 1514fresco

The Fire in the Borgo

Mannerism erupted first in Florence, then Rome, then all over Italy and, finally, all over Europe.

Mannerism (which occurred shortly after Raphael’s death) is the going out of high renaissance and into a more baroque style of art. Clashing of colors Abnormally elongated limbs Emotion Bizarre themes that combines Classicism, Christianity, and

mythology.When Rome was sacked in 1527, Charles the V declared

himself Holy Roman Emperor and got to control most happenings in Europe and the New World. He wasn’t very interested in sponsoring art or artists.

Lasted roughly eighty years.

Late Renaissance:

Parmigininoca. 1534-

1540Oil on wood

Madonna with Long Neck

Bronzinoca. 1545Oil on wood

Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time

Jacopo Pontormo

ca. 1515-1518

Oil on wood

Joseph in Egypt

Giuseppe Arcimboldo

ca. 1573Oil on

canavas

Autumn

Joachim Wtewael

ca. 1616Oil on canvas

Perseus and Anromeda

Angelo Brozino

ca. 1542Tempera on

panel

Potratit of Bia Medici, Daughter of Cosimo I