From Gothic to Renaissance
14th Century Italian Art
(aka Proto-Renaissance)
Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned with
Angels and Prophets, 1280 – 1290,
Tempera on wood, app. 12’x7’
Look back to Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome, 9-13 BC: artist is
concerned with natural depiction of human beings
Ara Pacis
Medieval artists are not concerned
with naturalism – instead, they
concentrated on the spiritual
St. Gall Gospels,
7th Century
Jeremiah,
St. Pierre,
Moissac,
12th Century
St. Gall Gospels
Abstract, stylized human images
of the Middle Ages
Jeremiah
Annunciation
Visitation
Reims Cathedral, 13th Century
Northern Europe
12th Century
Romanesque
13th Century
Gothic
14th Century
Int’l Gothic
15th Century
Renaissance
Northern Europe
12th Century
Romanesque
13th Century
Gothic
14th Century
Int’l Gothic
15th Century
Renaissance
14th Century
Proto-Renaiss
15th Century
Renaissance
Gothic Nat.
12th Century
Romanesque
Italian
Peninsula
13th Century
Italo-Byzantine
Antiquity
Giotto
GOD
Spiritual Realm
(Faith & Divine Revelation)
Cathedral
MAN
Earthly World
(Reason)
GOD
Spiritual Realm
(Faith & Divine Revelation)
MAN
Earthly World
(Reason)
GOD
Spiritual Realm
(Faith & Divine Revelation)
MAN
Earthly World
(Reason)
Factors Influencing the Renaissance in Italy:
Religion
Humanism:
• power of reason
• individual achievement
• recognition of talent & genius (fame)
• civic responsibility
• love of classical culture & learning
Capitalism:
• competition among city-states
• new art patrons
The Proto-Renaissance in Italy (14th Century)
Giotto di Bondone
c. 1266-1337
Cimabue thought that in painting,
He commanded the field,
and now Giotto has the acclaim . . .
- Dante Purgatorio
Painting by Paolo Uccello, 15th Century
Madonna,
Margaritone, c. 1270
Ognissanti Madonna,
Giotto, c. 1310
Giotto, The Arena (Scrovegni) Chapel,
Padua, Italy, Fresco, c.1305
The Lamentation, Giotto, Arena Chapel
Joachim & Anna Scenes, Giotto, Arena Chapel
Joachim & Anna Scenes, Giotto, Arena Chapel
Joachim & Anna Scenes, Giotto, Arena Chapel
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints, principal
panel of Maesta altarpiece, Siena Cathedral, Siena, Italy, 1308-1311,
Tempera on wood, 7’ x13’
Betrayal of Jesus
detail from the back of Maesta