Romans, Medieval Ages, and the Renaissance

Roman Art Sculptures are derived from classical Greek art with Etruscan influences Use of bronze in sculptures. Many of which are copies of lost marble Greek sculptures Paintings have depth and realistic details

Lancoon and his Sons Roman sculptures: fully dress, not nude Portraits of real people, not of heroic ideals Less religion, more civic pride Statue of Augustus

- Initiation of a ritual -The mother cannot cross the line -A servant reads a scroll -the young girl brings offering to the gods Fresco from the Villa of Mysteries

Early Medieval Ages: Christian & Byzantium Often called medieval, middle ages, or dark ages A time where the Roman empire falls and Christianity rises to power Religious symbols come into power

Christian subterranean symbols, 300-750 “chi rho” from greek ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = KRistos = Christ “Ichytus” fish symbol Secret underground places to worship and bury loved ones OBEY Giant street sticker, Shepard Ferry

Emperor Justinian and Attendants, 395 AD Constantinople from 330-1453 becomes the capital of art with the fall of the Roman empire and the rise of Christianity Religous icons and imperial images Symbolic and stylized: no individuality of artist (they often didn’t sign their works)

Osberg Ship Viking ship for burial of high ranking females Decorations show monstrous heads and interlaced patterns Eventually influences the Romanesque style

Book of Kells -Celtic art Gospel book (shorter text of bible for missionaries) - ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT = decorative details (human head, cats and mice)

Late Medieval Period The Medieval Period in Europe, which lasted roughly from A.D. 500 to A.D. 1400, was characterized by the rise of feudalism and the controlling power of the Catholic Church in people’s lives.

Late Medieval Art Purpose: To teach religion to people who cannot read or write. Subjects mostly religious Figures look flat and stiff with little real movement Important figures are large Fully clothed, draped in deeply carved, stiff looking clothes Faces are solemn with little emotion Paintings use vibrant colors Backgrounds a single color, often gold, no interest in creating a realistic space

Cimabue’s Madonna and Child in Majesty A.D. 1280 Flat colors: blue objects are painted blue, red with red, with no consideration for color of light, linear perspective, atmosphere etc. Unnatural skin tone. Baby Jesus proportions are that of an adult

Jesus before Calf (Giotto) 1305 Linear perspective!

Renaissance Intellectual rebirth, flourishing middle class economics HUMANISM: pride in contribution to life, not just afterlife. Importance in education in law, rhetoric, and philosophy Realism: Realistic portrayal of artistic styles. Mastered perspective and anatomy as a means to achieve realism. Classical: Classical forms and realistic technique Individualism: Portrays the person as they are in an effort to describe their maximum or true potential Art as Philosophy: Symbols, structure, posture, color as a means to determine a realistic portrayal of people and places.

School of Athens, Raphael, 1509-1511 Famous greek philosophers Importance of classics and philosophy Linear perspective

Boticelli – Birth of Venus Figure on the left: representing Florence, power of the Medici’s merchant class that trades in textiles.

Mona Lisa, Da Vinci, 1503-1517 Fine art of northern, late Rennaissance: symbolism and details Dog = fidelity Clothes = rich merchant class Mirror = depicts artist, room watched over by the cross (marriage blessed by god) Slipper = domestic happiness

Duchess Battista Sforza, Piero della Francesca Fine art of northern, late Rennaissance: symbolism and details Dog = fidelity Clothes = rich merchant class Mirror = depicts artist, room watched over by the cross (marriage blessed by god) Slipper = domestic happiness Why is the Mona Lisa so famous: Compared to earlier portraits it looks natural Subtle expression Enimatic eyes and smile with use of “sfumato” ¾ view Atmospheric perspective

Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymus Bosch, 1500s (p. 159)