Italy 1400 to 1500
1
Goals
• Understand the social, religious, and political influences of 15thcentury Italian art
• Discuss the increased popularity of Humanism
• Observe the influence of classical art and architecture in the
painting and architecture of Renaissance Italy.
• Discuss the role of wealthy and powerful families
• Cite and understand art and architectural terms in relation to this
historical period
• Analyze visual aspects of art and architecture
• Identify various artists of the period and their stylistic
accomplishments
• Discuss the various roles of commemorative portraits
2
Rebirth of Italian Culture
• Understand the social, religious, and political influences of
15th-century Italian art
• Discuss the increased popularity of Humanism
• Discuss the role of wealthy and powerful families
3
Artistic Achievements in 15th Century
Florence
• Cite and understand art and architectural terms in relation to
this historical period
• Analyze visual aspects of art and architecture
• Observe classical artistic and architectural features in the art
and architecture of 15th century Florence
• Identify various artists of the period and their stylistic
accomplishments
4
Important Artistic Elements to
Observe
• Attention to the human form including the return of classical
nudity and contrapposto --- influence of classical Roman statues
• Discovery and codification of linear perspective to create the
illusion of three-dimensional space, usage of aerial perspective --these values were important to classical painting
• Use of chiaroscuro to model forms, use of single light source --greater realism
• Paintings that have balanced, symmetrical compositions, often
using pyramidal composition
• Classical forms are incorporated more into architecture
(triumphal arches, domes, coffers, harmonious geometric
relationships)
5
Renaissance Florence
6
The Medici
Cosimo de Medici
(1389-1464)
• Was virtually dictator of Florence for 30
years
• Lower classes of the city LOVED him
Why???
• Spent a lot of his own money on artistic
and scholarly projects.
• Built the first free PUBLIC LIBRARY
since ancient times.
Piero the Gouty
1416-1469
• Son of Cosimo, father of Lorenzo
• Ruler for 5 years
• Success in war preserved what his
father had established
• Patron to Donatello, Andrea del
Verrocchio, and Sandro Botticelli.
Lorenzo “the Magnificent”
(1449-1492)
• Ruled with absolute power
• Kept the common people happy with
balls, festivals, carnivals,
and parties!
Figure 17-26 Baptistery of San Giovanni,
Florence, Italy, dedicated 1059.
15
Andrea
Pisano’s
Bronze
Doors
Personification of Hope
Baptism of Christ
Entombment
of St. John the
Baptist
The Combattimento
VS.
Ghiberti
Brunelleschi
Figure 21-2 FILIPPO
BRUNELLESCHI, Sacrifice of Isaac,
competition panel for east doors,
baptistery, Florence, Italy, 1401–
1402. Gilded bronze, 1’ 9” x 1’ 5”.
Museo Nazionale del Bargello,
Florence.
24
Figure 21-3 LORENZO
GHIBERTI, Sacrifice of Isaac,
competition panel for east doors,
baptistery, Florence, Italy, 1401–
1402. Gilded bronze relief, 1’ 9” x
1’ 5”. Museo Nazionale del
Bargello, Florence.
25
Ghibert vs. Brunelleschi
Ghiberti: The Gates of Paradise
Figure 21-10 LORENZO GHIBERTI, east
doors (Gates of Paradise), baptistery, Florence,
Italy, 1425–1452. Gilded bronze, 17’ high.
Modern copy, ca. 1980. Original panels in
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence.
30
Figure 21-11 LORENZO GHIBERTI, Isaac and His Sons (detail of FIG. 21-10), (Gates of Paradise), baptistery, Florence,
Italy, 1425–1452. Gilded bronze, 2’ 7 1/2” x 2’ 7 1/2”. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence.
31
Moses
Joseph
David & Goliath