Early Renaissance 1400’s Italy: Humanism ruled – Classical studies were approached as a separate entity instead of linking to religion. Classical education for noble males – sometimes for lower classes and women. Italy was divided into states with separate courts. Each court vied for the best artists, writers, scientists, etc…. MEDICI banking family based in Florence Florence: financial, intellectual, and artistic center Artists traveled to Rome to sketch and learn from ruins and classical sculpture Interdisciplinary studies: merged art with science, and all the other disciplines

Tomb of Leonardo Bruni (Humanist Tomb), Bernardo Rossellino, marble, 1444, HUMANIST ICONOGRAPHY: List the important imagery and conventions found in this tomb that point to its HUMANIST nature: From top to bottom: Leonardo Bruni Marzocco Putti Niche with arch and Lunette (Virgin and Child and praying angels) Effigy of Bruni (death portrait) Eagles supporting bier Corinthian Pilasters Nikes – Winged Victories Latin: Muses mourn Bruni death Lion = Leo in Leonardo…..

Bronze Panels, Brunelleschi and Ghiberti , Competition Panels: Compare and contrast each panel: Ghiberti Won: CHEAPER, less pieces,less bronze needed more graceful – less violent… Classical elements: Thorn puller, classical nude, drapery, Perspective: Altar, Foreshortening

Dome of the Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi, Dome of the Florence Cathedral Discuss what makes this DOME important and different from domes built previously Brunelleschi Won based on a model – construction tech werer not divulged…. Octagon 138 diameter Ribs (24 – 8 visible) Rings Masonry – herringbone – to displace weight evenly Working conditions and new tools and equipment specific to this site

Hospital of the Innocents, Brunelleschi, 1419 Hospital of the Innocents Why is this considered the first Renaissance Architecture? Loggia: outdoor hallway Bays: architectural space between columns Corbel: decorative support attached to a wall Transverse Arch: arches inside loggia Tondos: round format portrait – children and infants Columns: Corinthian Pediments: over second floor windows – incorporating classical details

Holy Trinity, Masaccio, fresco, 1425 Linear Perspective Who first identified it? Who actually put it in writing? Holy Trinity: Whose who? What is the lower portion (skeleton)? Where do the orthogonals lead? What type of arrangement is used for the figures? Why is it significant?

Brancacci Chapel, Masaccio, fresco, c1425 Brancacci Chapel: The Tribute Money (same wall as the Expulsion from Eden) Detail the three parts of this narrative: Tribute Money, Jesus asks Peter to to look in a fish’s mouth for coins to pay the tax collector Left to right: scenes 2,1,3 All heads in central scene at the same level: isocephaly Chiascuro: use of light and dark to create dimensional look to the shading. All shadows are consistent, light source appears to come from behind the physical alter in this church. Where do the orthogonals lead to behind Jesus’ head. All orthogonals in pictures on this wall lead to the sme location – uniting the wall. The tax collector is wearing 1400’s contemporary dress – a commentary on the possible use of taxation in Florence at the time.

Donatello, bronze, c1430 Bronze David, Donatello vs Verocchio Verocchio, bronze, c1470 What are David and Goliath types for in artwork? Jesus and Satan In Florentine art, what significance does David have? He is the underdog. As Florence was being attacked by many outside forces, Florentines identified with David. Personal interpretations by the artist appear in which statue very specifically? Homosexual references in Donatello’s work. See textbook for specifics. Stylistic differences? Feminine, introverted look vs athletic, adolescent, extrovert.

Leon Battista Alberti, Sant’Andrea Mantua, 1450 Sant’Andrea Mantua What makes this a Renaissance style structure? Strict symmetry, classical references, based on geometric shapes CLASSICAL ELEMENTS: Pediment, Frieze, Corinthian pilasters, round arches, coffered ceiling (inside large arch), tondos What made it difficult for Alberti to plan his ‘perfect” church? It was an existing church in a cruciform plan. He wanted to use the Greek cross to increase the symmetry.

Piero della Francesca, Battista Sforza and Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, oil and tempera on panel, after 1475 Portraiture What were Renaissance state portraits influenced by? What color reflects classical conventions? How does the artist connect the figures with the landscape? Pearls at same angle as white buildings in the background, hill in mirror image to the shadow under man’s chin…among others (see textbook) Landscape depicts area this man reigns over – connection to the land isa political statement How is power portrayed? Red clothing Classical references: Looks like Roman portrait busts, red color is the color of the ruling class

Fra Angelico, fresco, 1440 Annunciation: Piero della Francesca vs Fra Angelico Piero della Francesca, fresco, 1450 Classical and Humanist elements? White marble building, composite column, Mary holds book, Metaphors? Column is bulging in the center; metaphor for pregnancy, light enters window; symbolizes impregnation, open doorway symbolizes Mary’s openness to God, closed door behind Gabriel symbolizes her virginity. What style does this have some elements of? Decorative wings, Byzantine style halos, simple space – International Gothic Style (pre-renaissance style) What meaning does light have? Light is focused on the back wall, represents holy spirit in the space – this is also where the othogonals created by the floor focus our attention.

Mythological Subjects Sandro Bottecelli, Birth of Venus, tempera on canvas, 1480 Based on reading “What great painting say – list important iconography and contemporary commentary in this work: First full-size female nude since Antiquity, reminiscence of the Aphrodite sculpture. TEMPERA on CANVAS – moving toward new techniques Shell and rose symbolic of both Venus and Mary Purple cloth held by figure on the right is symbolic of meeting of two opposites (conflicting regions, birth and death, etc…) Use of motion (fluttering drapery, waving hair, wind, etc…) hail back to the sense of motion in Greek and Roman Sculpture – like the winged Nike. Mythological subject paintings were for private residences – very limited number created – still mostly Christian subjects

Changing Styles: Artists’ Old Age Donatello, Mary Magdalen, bronze, 1455 How and why is this sculpture different from Donatello’s early work? Physical changes in ability to sculpt Changing attitudes regarding subject matter and purpose of art Donatello no longer used mythological subjects and very visibly uses iconography that shows penitence for sins and despair.