Discovering Renaissance

Art

in Florence

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

I took part in one week

Erasmus+ Teacher Course

about Florence and Tuscan

Renaissance Art. I have

visited a lot of museums and

churches but it was an

integral part of the course.

The Duomo – the tallest

church in Florence was

accompanying me during

everyday excursions.

2

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

And now a bit of history:

the Renaissance (from French - the rebirth of…)

is a historical period in European Art and Culture dated

between XIV to XVI centuries.

The beginning of the Renaissance took place in Italy, in

Florence to be exact, where the Medici family was

giving patronage to local and foreign artists like

Leonardo Da Vinci or Michelangelo.

3

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

The Renaissance was a

result of stepping out from

Medieval cannons in

philosophy of life

and turning more attention to

human being and its needs.

Typical feature of these

times was a return to the

values of hellenic and roman

times with their admiration to

the beauty of human body.

4

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

Everything started in 1404 from

the competition on decorating

the bronze gates of Baptisteries

in Florence. The winner was

Lorenzo Ghiberti with his work

titled „The gates to Eden”. At

present, tourists can see in this

place only a copy. Original

gates as too precious to be

shown in open air are situated

in Opera di Duomo.

5

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

The most famous and

oldest museum not only in

Florence but as well in

Europe is The Ufizzi

Galery.

Paintings acquired in the

Gallery are characterized

by the use of perspectives

and triangle composition,

knowledge of human

anatomy and the use of

landscape as a

background. Giotto, 1265-1337,

Maesta do Ognissanti

6

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

Masaccio and Masolino

Santa Anna (1424) Bronzino,

Eleonora from Toledo (1545)

and me

Botticelli

Birth of Venus (1484)

Spring (1481)

7

The best paintings from Leonardo da Vinci (1452-

1519)

8

Discovering Renaissance Art in Florence

All classes at Centro Studi Europeo were

provided as lectures after which students

could visit museums and architectural

monuments. Very important for me was

comparative look at Renaissance artists

and their influence on art and architecture

in Siena and Florence.

Teachers taking part in this course could

compare theory from lectures with real art.

I have spent seven very interesting days in

Florence. In the mornings I have studied at

school and in the afternoons I have visited

many places discussed earlier with our

teachers.

9

And you, have you already been to Florence?

Thank you for your attention

10

Maria Jurzyk