Precursors of the Renaissance: Late Medieval Painting 13th and 14th century Italian art

Background Term “Renaissance” means rebirth. The term Renaissance denotes a revival of interest in ancient Greek and Roman texts and culture. Refers to time period between 13th and 16th centuries. Started in Italy Artists began to study the forms of classical antiquity by observing Roman ruins. Gradually the ideal human character and form was pursued during the Renaissance.

Main Ideas Exploration Adaptation Art as a Business Globe Intellectual Classical to modern Art as a Business Guilds Apprenticeships Contracts/Patrons Signing of works

Guilds Associations of master craftspeople, apprentices, and tradespeople Artist association Guided internships/apprenticeships Became prominent during this time Remained in effect until 18th c.

Apprentices Artists learned their trade by undertaking a long period of technical training in shops of master artists-known as an apprenticeship. Started in teens Began by doing menial jobs Eventually got their own studio Females were extremely rare mixing paints preparing pigments and painting surfaces occasionally worked on less important border areas or painted the minor figures of a master’s composition.

Patrons Religious Orders/Leaders Civic Organizations Wealthy Individuals

Black Death Bubonic Plague in 1340 Affected art by stimulating more religious themed art and architecture

St. Francis- panel from an altarpiece -Berlinghieri

Panel from an altarpiece is the earliest known pictorial of St. Francis’ life. Tempera painting on canvas with strong Byzantine influence Frontal --Gold Floating Shows detailed scenes from his life. St. Francis wears the woolen belted cloak of the Franciscans Stigmata.

St. Francis (1181-1226) Was son of wealthy merchant, threw off father’s wealth, embraced poverty. Started Franciscan Order had one strict, simple rule, insisting that his followers live by the work of their own hands or by begging. Dressed in simple habit Experienced stigmata-second coming of Christ? Big influence on art at this time

Baptistery of Pisa Pulpit-Nicola Pisano

Lions support every other column Composed of carved marble reliefs and ornamentation used for large pulpits. Lions support every other column Tri-lobed arches carry on Medieval/Romanesque traditions Ornate capitals are a Gothic variation of Corinthian capitals Arches are round and very Roman in their characteristics. (remember the number 3 was important). Nude heroic statue of Hercules that symbolized Christian bravery and strength

Large rectangular reliefs consist of densely packed/crowded figures. Three dimensional movement of the figures with convincing, organic drapery.

Madonna Enthroned With Angels and Prophets-Cimabue, 1280-1290

Last great painter in Byzantine style Gold background Lines of gold in Mary’s drapery Long, thin proportion Faces The elaborate throne has no visible support at the back but seems instead to rise upward. It’s not realistically grounded. More 3D than Byzantine in space Homunculus Jesus Byzantine Empire ended in 1453 when the Ottoman Turks took over

Giotto & Duccio Between 1290 and 1310, Duccio from Siena and Giotto from Florence redefined Western art. Duccio and Giotto began to reject Byzantine tradition.

These men began the period of transition between Byzantine art and the art of the Renaissance. They rediscovered the human form, human emotions, and the natural world. (Precursors of the new revolutionary style)

Madonna Enthroned-Giotto, 1310

Often known as the father of Western art Cimabue’s apprentice Often known as the father of Western art Displaced the flat Byzantine style with a style that emphasized the natural world Weight Light/shadow Believable sense of space

Lingering hints of the Byzantine style: gold background disproportion of Madonna and the other figures However she is on a 3-D throne and her body has volume and form. The angels surrounding her also have much more natural and realistic features two of the angels even offer Mary flowers (lilies and roses) showing a revival of the natural world.

Interior of Arena Chapel-Giotto, 1305-1306

The entire interior is made up of fresco paintings. Takes its name from the Roman amphitheater (it was constructed near the ruins) Built for Enrico Scrovegni, a wealthy Paduan merchant, on a site adjacent to his palace. Intended for his private use. Giotto may have been the architect as well because the design fits the inside so well.

CHARACTERISTICS: Rectangular barrel-vaulted hall 6 narrow windows on southern wall One of the most impressive and complete pictorial cycles of Christian Redemption ever rendered On 3 levels

Same blue used throughout paintings to unify the entire chapel 38 framed pictures Life of Mary, Life of Christ Ceiling is bright blue Same blue used throughout paintings to unify the entire chapel

Christ Entering Jerusalem, Arena Chapel-Giotto

Giotto simplifies the theme, not adding in things that aren’t essential Focus on balance 3D quality compared to Byzantine

Lamentation, Arena Chapel-Giotto

Excellent example of Giotto’s ability to portray emotion Helpless, grief-stricken, anguished Expect it from figures you can’t see Influenced by religious plays Frescoes ushered in a new style that lasted for 7 centuries Revived the naturalistic approach of the Greeks and Romans

Backs to us=audience participating, emphasize foreground Indicated weight and depth through mastery of light and shade Light to dark in drapery Set the stage for chiaroscuro Use of dramatic light and dark to create a modeled or exceptionally 3D appearance Perspective, sense of space

Giotto’s Kiss of Judas

Can you recognize Giotto’s style? Notice the eyes Blue of Arena Chapel

Duccio From Siena, rival city of Florence Their patron saint was Mary Siena’s cathedral directors commissioned Duccio to build a two-sided freestanding altar piece in honor of Mary Worked on this altar piece for 3 yrs

Virgin & Child Enthroned with Saints -Duccio

Also known as Maesta Central and largest portion of altar piece Mary is enthroned as the Queen of Heaven, while dressed in a blue robe she towers above the surrounding saints, angels, and apostles. The gold background= splendor of Heaven. The precious materials are also meant to reinforce the work’s timeless and spiritual message.

Christ Entering Jerusalem-Duccio

on the back of the Maesta the architecture of this picture frames the crowd make it more understandable than similar Byzantine portrayals. diagonal movement into the depths of the painting, and this movement is created by walls on either side of the road leading into the city. Other than these characteristics it is very Byzantine in its style and characteristics.

Kiss of Judas (Betrayal of Jesus), Sienna Cathedral -Duccio

The figures in this piece show a wide range of emotion It shows a dramatic sequence of events triggered by Judas’ treacherous kiss. The figures in this piece show a wide range of emotion the terrified apostles flee enraged Peter cuts of the ear of the high priest’s servant Jesus, dress in a purple robe symbolizing royalty, stays calm even amidst this chaotic scene.

The robe of these figures also display a naturalistic approach Unlike the flat erect Byzantine forms Duccio’s forms seem animated and 3-dimensional Achieved this by depicting the fall of light and shade across the figure.

Palazzo Publico,Siena Italy

Gothic city hall that was built to show evidence of their confidence and stable government. The building also contains a 330 foot campanile which was used as a lookout tower for the city. The annual horserace (an event that Siena is famous for) is run every year in the courtyard of this area.

Great artist Ambrogio Lorezetti was hired to create three paintings of good and bad government to hang inside 13’ H 27’W Lorenzetti’s huge paintings were the first secular paintings in Italy since Christianity became the official religion

Peaceful City, Siena-Ambrogio Lorenzetti

Shows a realistic picture of Sienna at the time. The benefits of good government: prosperous merchants sell goods from well-stocked shops attentive students listen to knowledgeable teachers joyous maidens dance to the beat of a tambourine. The people are in high fashion. They are all celebrating the joys of a good government.

Peaceful Country, Sienna-Ambrogio Lorenzetti

Contented peasants working in terraced vineyards, bountiful fields that lead to undisturbed, distant hill sides upper left corner there is an allegorical figure that holds a scroll with an inscription promising safety to all who live under the rule of law. she provides a pictorial message showing a criminal swinging from the rope. He has been executed for violating the laws of the good government.

Allegory of Bad Government Only details left, much damaged Inhabited by fear, poverty, corruption, disease, isolation "Because each seeks only his own good, in this city, Justice is subjected to Tyranny; wherefore along this road nobody passes without fearing for his life, since there are robberies outside and inside the city gates."

Annunciation-Simone Martini

Simone Martini great artist of time, apprentice to Duccio International Gothic--brilliant colors, lavish costumes, and exquisite ornamental design Back completely in gold leaf Simone Martini great artist of time, apprentice to Duccio Angel Gabriel comes to tell Mary she will have God’s son, presents her with lilies to show innocence Mary is stunned, shy, closing Bible