Arts and Literature
Uma Murphy, Sebastian Shanus, and Kawei Tan, 2
Chapters 12-14
Renaissance
-Main time period of art and literature
-Artists:
-Botticelli (Primavera)
-Michelangelo (Sistine Chapel ceiling, second David)
-Leonardo da Vinci (The Last Supper)
-Raphael (School of Athens)
-Donatello (first David)
-Writers:
-Machiavelli (The Prince)
-Castiglione (Book of the Courtier)
Art tended to imitate nature, however artists began to be more realistic
Artists celebrated the human body, creating sculptures and paintings of the naked
-examples include Donatello’s David and Botticelli’s Primavera.
-A new perspective of humanity emerged, people respected their bodies as
works of art
Early Renaissance
-Artists experimented with different techniques
-One aspect that was dabbled upon was a mathematically precise form of
painting, using geometric shapes and accurate ratios
-The other was a more emotional form of art
-example: The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian by Antonio Pollaiuolo.
-his painting tried to portray stress within the human body. in other
words, intense emotion
-portraits include:
-Botticelli’s Primavera
-Masaccio’s Tribute Money
High Renaissance
-End of 15th century, Artists have perfected the form of painting, choosing to
express individual ideas within their masterpieces
-instead of arguing whether a mathematical form of painting was better than an
emotional one, artists have agreed to express their individualism rather than
follow a manual
-art during this time included:
-Leonardo’s The Last Supper
-Rahael’s School of Athens
Difference between Early and High Renaissance Art
-halos have been erased
-more realistic
-obvious light source, one can see where the sun is and noticeable shadows
-sense of stability and order (static compositions)
Renaissance art differed from medieval art through:
-the change from religious subjects to classical ones
-this ties in with how people now respect their bodies as beautiful
specimens
-the use of proportion
-in the first painting, the baby is way too big in proportion to the rest of
the painting, while the Primavera illustrates humans in proportion to one another

Chapters 15-17
Mannerism:
The Renaissance gave way to anxiety, uncertainty, suffering, and a yearning for spiritual
experience. This allowed for mannerism to reflect this environment in its deliberate
attempt to break down High Renaissance principles.
- Mannerist painters intentionally distorted the rules of proportion set by the
Renaissance.
- Portrayed elongated figures that conveyed a sense of suffering and a strong
atmosphere filled with confusion.
- El Greco painted contoured figures, portrayed in unusual shades of yellow
and green against an eerie background of grays.
- El Greco, Laocoon
Baroque:
Mannerism was replaced by a new movement of the Baroque. This style was embraced
by the Catholic reform movement. It was resisted in France, England, and the
Netherlands, but eventually Baroque spree to all of Europe.
-Sought to bring together the classical ideals of Renaissance art with the
spiritual feelings of religious revival.
- The Baroque painting was known for its use of dramatic effects to arouse
the emotions. It reflected the search for power that was such a large part of
the 17th century ethos.
- Peter Paul Rubens, a prolific artist and exhibited Baroque styles of art. (The
Landing of Marie de' Medici at Marseilles)
- Greatest figure of the Baroque was the Italian architect and sculptor Gian
Lorenzo Bernini, and his Saint Peter's Basilica
French Classicism:
France rejected the Baroque stile as overly showy and impassioned, the French were
committed to the classical values of the High Renaissance and transitioned their work
into the French Classicism.
-It portrayed the noble subjects in society.
- Nicholas Poussin exemplified principles of French Classicism. HIs choice
of scenes from classical mythology, the orderliness of his landscapes, and
postures of his figures copied from the sculptures of antiquity.
Dutch Realism:
Wealthy patricians and burghers of Dutch urban society commissioned works of art for
their guild halls, town halls, and private properties. as well as portraits of the nobility,
group portraits of their military companies, landscapes, and interiors of residences.
- Evident in Judith Leyster, who established her own independent painting
career.
- Finest product of the golden age of Dutch painting was Rembrandt van Rijn. He
painted portraits and scenes that were often quite colorful.
Literature:
- William Shakespeare and his influence on theater.
- "Complete man of the theater"
- Best known for writing plays, he was also an actor.
- A master of the English language, he was instrumental in codifying a language that was
still in transition.
Scientific Literature:
- Copernicus, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres- based on the theory that the
earth was at the center of the universe.
- Galileo, The Starry Messenger, book published proving that the there were craters in
the moon and other planets, therefore making them "non-perfect."
- Francis Bacon- The Great Instauration- this work reconstructed sciences- arts, and all
human knowledge raised upon the proper foundation. His new foundation of the
scientific method was built upon inductive reasoning.
Enlightenment:
- James Cooks' Travels was an account of his journey around Tahiti, New Zealand, and
Australia. It also included descriptions of life in these areas, and many called the natives
"natural men."
- Montesquieu, Persian Letters, used the format of two Persian traveling in Western
Europe and send their impressions back home. He used this to criticize The Catholic
Church and French monarchy.
- Montesquieu also published The Spirit of the Laws, which tried to apply the scientific
method to the social and political arena of governing natural laws.
- Voltaire, Philosophic Letters on the English, expressed a deep admiration of English life,
especially its freedom of press, political freedom, and religious toleration.
- Diderot, Encyclopedia, used to change "general thinking." It was a combination of
sources by philosophes used to give a well rounded knowledge of current ideas and
political thoughts.
- A new style known as Rococo had begun to affect decoration and architecture all over
Europe. Rococo emphasized grace and gentle action, contrary to Baroque. Rococo
rejected geometrical patters and had fondness for curves.
- Antoine Watteau, Return from Cythera
- Despite the popular Rococo, Neo-classicism contented to maintain a strong appeal
in France.These artists wanted to recapture the dignity and simplicity of the classical
style of Greece and Rome.
- Jacqus-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii
Chapters 18-21
-1744- “Little Pretty Pocket-Book”. (example of children’s books that started to come
out in the 18th century)
-Frederich List (1789-1846) - “National System of Political Economy” (1844) (advocated
a rapid and large-scale program of industrialization as the best path to develop a nation’s
strength)
-from 1800-1850 there was an artistic movement called Romanticism, which was
generally characterized by emotional intensity and dreamlike qualities (it also included
poetry)
Artists of this movement:
-Lord Byron (poet) - Pilgrimage
-William Blake (painter/poet) - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (book)
-Francisco de Goya (painter) - “La maja vestida”
-Claude Lorrain (painter) - “Seaport”