Renaissance Visual Art

The Rise of Humanism The rediscovery of the culture of Ancient Greece & Rome. Belief that Man is the potential master of all things. Change of focus from the afterlife to the current life. Savonarola – “Bon-fire of the vanities” The rediscovery of the culture of Ancient Greece & Rome. Belief that Man is the potential master of all things. Change of focus from the afterlife to the current life. Savonarola – “Bon-fire of the vanities”

The Quest for Virtu Virtu ≠ Virtue One who embraces skill in many fields, exceptional intelligence, physical daring and courage, and whose actions display these characteristics “Renaissance Man” Virtu ≠ Virtue One who embraces skill in many fields, exceptional intelligence, physical daring and courage, and whose actions display these characteristics “Renaissance Man”

Technology 1440s – Moveable Type Printing –Decreased illiteracy – people read more than the Bible Gunpowder imported from China –End of Feudal Age. Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal) –Improved Compass & Astrolabe All discoveries influence the arts – people experience exotic cultures and more freedom 1440s – Moveable Type Printing –Decreased illiteracy – people read more than the Bible Gunpowder imported from China –End of Feudal Age. Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal) –Improved Compass & Astrolabe All discoveries influence the arts – people experience exotic cultures and more freedom

Martin Luther &The Reformation Catholic Priests sold indulgences to absolve people of sins. Luther believed that faith alone led to salvation. 95 theses on the door of Castle Church (Schlosskirche). Catholic Priests sold indulgences to absolve people of sins. Luther believed that faith alone led to salvation. 95 theses on the door of Castle Church (Schlosskirche).

Rebirth of Greek & Roman Architecture Roman Atrium style house Arches/columns Domes Vaults & Ribbing – to build churches very tall Façade – “false fronts” of buildings Roman Atrium style house Arches/columns Domes Vaults & Ribbing – to build churches very tall Façade – “false fronts” of buildings

The Great Artists of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci & Michelangelo Leonardo da Vinci & Michelangelo

Da Vinci ( ) 1 of 15 children – grew up in a 3 room farmhouse Illegitimate and uneducated Taught himself to speak Latin and to be ambidextrous and to write backwards 1 of 15 children – grew up in a 3 room farmhouse Illegitimate and uneducated Taught himself to speak Latin and to be ambidextrous and to write backwards

Florence Moved to the city at 14 Apprenticed under Andrea Barochio Earliest dated work in 1473 (21) Works show love of nature (grew up in the country) Moved to the city at 14 Apprenticed under Andrea Barochio Earliest dated work in 1473 (21) Works show love of nature (grew up in the country)

Painting Fascinated by flight – birds wings Preferred new idea of oil paint Sfumato – light haze/foggy look Chiaroscuro – play of light and dark/shadow to create contrast and emphasis Fascinated by flight – birds wings Preferred new idea of oil paint Sfumato – light haze/foggy look Chiaroscuro – play of light and dark/shadow to create contrast and emphasis

Inventiveness Painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, military science, botany, geology, anatomy, aerodynamics, and optics Science – weapons inventor, parachute, helicopter, Waterwheel Math – loved Geometry (triangles) Planned to write a book on Anatomy but was never able (dissected at least 30 people) Painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, military science, botany, geology, anatomy, aerodynamics, and optics Science – weapons inventor, parachute, helicopter, Waterwheel Math – loved Geometry (triangles) Planned to write a book on Anatomy but was never able (dissected at least 30 people)

Earliest known work by da Vinci – Study of a Tuscan Landscape (c. 1473)

Adoration of the Magi circa

Annunciation Date: circa

Study of horse c. 1490

Madonna of the Rocks

The Last Supper, (showing Jesus, at the center, saying to his disciples, "One of you shall betray me“)

Mona Lisa (1503–1505/1507)

The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist (c. 1499–1500)

Vitruvian Man c. 1485

Vitruvian Man Based on correlations of ideal human proportions with geometry described by ancient Roman architect Vitruvius a palm is four fingers a foot is four palms a cubit is six palms four cubits make a man a pace is four cubits a man is 24 palms Based on correlations of ideal human proportions with geometry described by ancient Roman architect Vitruvius a palm is four fingers a foot is four palms a cubit is six palms four cubits make a man a pace is four cubits a man is 24 palms

Vitruvian Man the length of the outspread arms is equal to the height of a man from the hairline to the bottom of the chin is one-tenth of the height of a man from below the chin to the top of the head is one-eighth of the height of a man from above the chest to the top of the head is one-sixth of the height of a man from above the chest to the hairline is one-seventh of the height of a man the maximum width of the shoulders is a quarter of the height of a man from the breasts to the top of the head is a quarter of the height of a man the distance from the elbow to the tip of the hand is a quarter of the height of a man the distance from the elbow to the armpit is one-eighth of the height of a man the length of the hand is one-tenth of the height of a man the root of the penis is at half the height of a man the foot is one-seventh of the height of a man from below the foot to below the knee is a quarter of the height of a man from below the knee to the root of the penis is a quarter of the height of a man the distances from the below the chin to the nose and the eyebrows and the hairline are equal to the ears and to one-third of the face the length of the outspread arms is equal to the height of a man from the hairline to the bottom of the chin is one-tenth of the height of a man from below the chin to the top of the head is one-eighth of the height of a man from above the chest to the top of the head is one-sixth of the height of a man from above the chest to the hairline is one-seventh of the height of a man the maximum width of the shoulders is a quarter of the height of a man from the breasts to the top of the head is a quarter of the height of a man the distance from the elbow to the tip of the hand is a quarter of the height of a man the distance from the elbow to the armpit is one-eighth of the height of a man the length of the hand is one-tenth of the height of a man the root of the penis is at half the height of a man the foot is one-seventh of the height of a man from below the foot to below the knee is a quarter of the height of a man from below the knee to the root of the penis is a quarter of the height of a man the distances from the below the chin to the nose and the eyebrows and the hairline are equal to the ears and to one-third of the face

Studies of Embryos c. 1510

Da Vinci Helicopter

Da Vinci Parachute

Da Vinci Tank

Michelangelo Buonarroti ( ) Lived most of his life in Florence Summoned to Medici house at 14 Studied the statuary in their gardens Focused on creating movement in his art Lived most of his life in Florence Summoned to Medici house at 14 Studied the statuary in their gardens Focused on creating movement in his art

Sculpture First great work in Rome – Pieta The “giant” – David Like Ancient Greeks and Romans, he idealized beauty and perfect human form Contraposto – twisted shoulders while the hips remain frontal First great work in Rome – Pieta The “giant” – David Like Ancient Greeks and Romans, he idealized beauty and perfect human form Contraposto – twisted shoulders while the hips remain frontal

Painting Robust energy Influenced by his sculpture Humans feel 3-D Looks more like a carving than painting Robust energy Influenced by his sculpture Humans feel 3-D Looks more like a carving than painting

Architecture Dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica of Rome Inspiration for the dome of our Capitol Building Façade for basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence Dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica of Rome Inspiration for the dome of our Capitol Building Façade for basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence

Madonna of the Stairs

Battle c. 1492

Bacchus

Pieta c. 1499

David c. 1504

Madonna and Child

Doni Tondo - The Holy Family with St. John the Baptist. c

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel c

Basilique San Pietro in Vincoli c

Moses 1515

Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici

The Last Judgment c

St. Peter's Basilica in Rome c. 1546