Medieval Art

• Subject matter? Religious

• Forms serves a greater purpose / function

• Figures? Elongated / stiff/ unrealistic

• Artists? Craftsmen. Unsigned work.

HOW does the art

of the Renaissance reflect the values of the Renaissance era?

Secular -ism

Rational -ism

Individual -ism

Humanism

Dignity of Man

• Donatello’s

David 1440s

Medium: Bronze

Height: 63”

• Donatello’s

David 1440s

Medium: Bronze

Height: 63”

So, how does Donatello’s David reflect the new values / world of Renaissance Italy?

Subject? David. Hmmm

Religious (not secular)

Important point about “eras”

Form? Classical Contraposto

Humanistic!

Other Elements?Hat?

Secular element

Physique?

Rational /Realistic

So, how does Donatello’s David reflect the new values / world of Renaissance Italy?

Humanism? Check! (style)

Secularism? Check (hat)

Rationalism? Check (body)

Individualism? Not Really

Dignity of Man? Not Really

Art from an era does not need to embody every value of that era.

So, how does Donatello’s David reflect the new values / world of Renaissance Italy?

Donatello’s subject matter stays within the traditional religious subject matter of the middle ages and does not reflect the growing spirit of secularism of Renaissance Italy.

However, David’s form mimics the contraposto of the classical era and does represent a new humanistic focus.

Donatello also peppers his religious sculpture with secular elements such as modern (secular) clothing.

Donatello’s Gattamalata

Style?- Humanistic- Rational portrayal of horse

Subject Matter?Secular

Individualism ? Not reallyDignity of man?

Sandro Botticelli

Subject Matter? Greek God? Secularism?? HUMANISM!!!!

Rationalism? Realistic female? Meh.

Individualism ?? Dignity of MAN??

The High Renaissance1475 -1525

Michelangelo/Leonardo/Raphael

The Sistine ChapelCeiling

1508 – 1512

1508 - 1512

HOWEVER from 1536 to 1541

Michelangelo’s David

Sculpted 1502-1504

He was 25 when it was unveiled.

17’ Tall.

Subject? Religious (not secular, nor humanistic)

Form? Greek Contraposto? Humanistic

Dignity of Man???

15c

16c

“The Dignity of Man” ? (Heroic)

Rational depiction of human anatomy?

horizontal

vert

ical

The Last Supper - da Vinci, 1498

“Giant Saint” Mary OUT“Young Girl” Mary IN

B

“Baby-Man” Jesus OUT“Baby-Baby” Jesus IN

Ancient Middle Eastern Clothes ??

heel S

Raphael

Madonna della Sedia Alba Madonna

•Titian• Tiziano Vecelli• 1450-1576

75 Years Older Botticeli

Profane Love (vanity)

1530sOil on Canvas96 x 75 cm

The Penitent Mary Magdalene 1533

� By the mid-16c, High Renaissance art was declining.

� Mannerism became more popular.

1486

“”the foulest, the vilest, the obscenest picture the world possesses“ - Mark Twain

• Discuss how Renaissance ideas are expressed in the Italian art of the period, referring to specific works and artists. (1998)

•  • Analyze the influence of humanism on the visual

arts in the Italian Renaissance. Use at least THREE Specific works to support your analysis.

(2004)

• Analyze the ways in which the two works above, [a work you have not seen] on the left, and [a work you have seen] on the right, represent the values of Italian Renaissance culture. (2010B)