1. Early Renaissance in Italy: 15th C.
Italian city-states: Ferrara, Florence, Mantua, Naples, Rome, Venice

2. Key Ideas
Fine arts is impacted by the revitalization of literature, history, and philosophy.
Renaissance courts are impacted by humanism and secularism.
Artists create realistic 3-D paintings based on new theories of linear perspective.
Italian Renaissance sculpture is marked by a greater understanding of human anatomy.
Revival of large scale nude works.
Architecture emphasizes open light spaces, balance, and symmetry.

3. Linear perspective

4. Historical Background
Wealthy families ruled the Italian city-states, controlling politics, economics, and directing art.
All of the cutting edge artist movements were coming from Italy- artists were commissioned for paintings, to build great architectural feats, etc.
Humanism- exploring the human aspect of life (specifically, studying the classic ideas from Greek and Roman philosophy, like law, logic, natural philosophy, medicine, etc.)
Exploration of the world becomes a European theme, introducing new themes in science, materials, and the arts.

5. Patronage and Artistic Life
Wealthy families typically paid to have private chapels built in local churches for their own personal use (decorated lavishly, of course).
Paintings are often identified by the patron’s chapels (Ex: Masaccio painted Tribute Money for the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine)

6. Innovations in Architecture
Greatest Technological Achievement of the period: The Florence Cathedral Dome, by Brunelleschi
Waited over 100 years for the technology to be developed.
Ogival arch that revolves into a dome
2 domes, one within the other, to maximize strength and stability (interior dome supports, exterior dome is pretty)
A lantern on top anchors the domes together

7. Characteristics of 15th C. Italian Architecture
Focus is on order, clarity, and light (as opposed to Gothic cathedrals and their dark, mysterious, and creepy vibe)
Wide open window spaces (not stained glass) and vivid wall paintings.
Stress geometric designs and Ideal proportions (thank you, Romans)
Unvaulted naves, coffered ceilings
Crossing is 2X the size of nave bays, nave 2X the width of side aisles, arches and columns make up 2/3 the height of the nave, etc.

8. Dome of Florence Cathedral
Filippo Brunelleschi
Florence

9. Pazzi Chapel Filippo Brunelleschi 1423 (designed) 1442-1465 (built)
Florence

10. Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
Michelozzo
1444
Florence

11. Palazzo Rucellai
Leon Battista Alberti
Florence

12. Sant’ Andrea
Leon Battista Alberti
1470
Mantua, Italy

13. Innovations in Painting and Sculpture
Development most characteristic of Italian Renaissance painting- linear perspective
Credit goes to Brunelleschi for bringing it back!
Object and people are draw proportionate to each other (medieval art depicted people dominating objects on the page)
Perspective is also used to fool the eye (tromp l’oeil technique) and is used in sculpture for relief castings and carving.

14. Characteristics of Early Renaissance Italian Painting
Religious paintings during early 15th C., then portrait and mythological scenes (reflecting humanism)
Nudes become common again

15. Adoration of the Magi Gentile da Fabriano 1423 Tempera on panel
Uffizi, Florence, Italy

16. Detail of Adoration of the Magi

17. Holy Trinity
Masaccio
1427
Fresco
Santa Maria Novella, Florence

18. Detail of Holy Trinity

19. Tribute Money
Masaccio
1425
Fresco
Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence

20. Battle of San Romano
Paolo Uccello
1455
Tempera on wood

21. The Last Supper
Andrea del Castagno
1447
Sant’ Apollonia, Florence

22. Battle of Ten Naked Men
Antonio del Pollaiuolo
engraving

23. Room of the Newlyweds Andrea Mantegna 1465-1474 Fresco
Ducal Palace, Mantua, Italy

25. Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to Saint Peter
Pietro Perugino
1482
Fresco
Sistine Chapel, Rome

26. Birth of Venus Sandra Botticelli 1485 Tempera on canvas
Uffizi, Florence

28. Spring
Sandro Botticelli
1482
Tempera on wood
Uffizi, Florence

29. Damned Cast into Hell Luca Signorelli 1499-1504 Fresco
Orvieto Cathedral, Orvieto, Italy

30. Characteristics of Early Renaissance Italian Sculpture
Interest in humanism leads to a rebirth of classic Greek and Roman sculptures.
Nudity
Revival or large scale nude sculptures (starting with Donatello’s David)
Increased study of human anatomy
“heroic” bodies
Often depict intense physical interaction (twisting forms, straining muscles- similar to Hellenistic Greek sculpture.

31. Sacrifice of Isaac
Lorenzo Ghiberti
Gilt bronze

32. Sacrifice of Isaac
Filippo Brunelleschi
bronze

33. Gates of Paradise
Lorenzo Ghiberti
Gilt bronze

34. Four Crowned Saints Nanni di Banco 1409-1417 Marble
Or San Michele, Florence

35. David
Donatello
Bronze
1420’s-1460’s

36. Mary Magdalene
Donatello
Wood

37. Madonna and Child Luca della Robbia 1455-1460 Terra cotta
Or San Michele, Florence

38. Colleoni
Andrea del Verrocchio
bronze