Brunelleschi’s Dome (Florence
Cathedral), 1417-36; 1471, etc.
Brunelleschi was favored by the
Medici and jailed when Cosimo
was jailed.
Artist who perfected system of
mathematical perspective
Daring innovator, engineer.
Designed dome WITHOUT center
supports; architectural feat for that
time. Dome supported on lantern.
Flashcard
Applications-of-linear-perspectivein-the-renaissance go to 18:30
min
Brunelleschi designed & built the Foundling Hospital (orphanage) in 1419. The
medallions are still loved today …
Patron: Silk & Goldsmith’s Guild of Florence as a public service
Example of Renaissance style architecture-Corinthian style column with high light
arches.. Proportions in line with Renaissance art/science of proportions
flashcard
Detail of Terra
Cotta
Medallion,
1487
Foundling
Hospital,
Florence
Andrea della
Robbia
Family secret
blue and white
glazing babies show
human side of
Renaissance
humanism
Guild public
service
flashcard
Trinity with the Virgin, St. John the
Evangelist, and Donors
Masacccio, 1425
Masterpiece of perspective - 1st true
painting with linear perspective
Illusino of reality
You can see the grids and perspective lines
where he laid strings in the plaster
http://luxmedia.vo.llnwd.net/o10/clients/natio
nalgallery/illusion/02_trinity.m4v
flashcard
Expulsion from Paradise, fresco, (adam and
Eve), 1427, Masaccio
From the Brancacci Chapel
Study of anatomy & underlying muscle and
bone structure, combined with expressivism
and emotions of Adam & Even upon being
cast out of Eden
More psychological than Flemish painters
Inspired by ancient Roman sculpture
flashcard
Tribute Money, Masaccio, 1427, fresco, Brancacci chapel. flashcard
Most innovative of early early Italian Renaissance painters..3 scenes w/in one setting,
Peter catches a fish with a gold coin in its mouth to pay Caesar’s taxes on the right,
central figures around Jesus where Jesus tells them to Render unto Caesar that which is
Caesar’s (Florentines being taxed for military campaign at the time of this painting).
Integrates architecture, figures, and landscapes realistically w/perspective
Green robe shaded w/red, strong modeling of figures, consistent light source..this fresco
Annunciation, Fra Angeliao, fresco, 1438-45. Painted for a monastery in
Florence. Probably commissioned by Cosimo de’ Medici. Linear perspective,
natural light. Part of a series painted in the monastery to help guide the monks’
prayers. Columns here show new buliding technique used by Brunelleschi.
flashcard
Hercules & Antaeus, bronze
figurine, 18” tall, del Pollaiuolo, c.
1475 (early Renaissance)
Influence of classical Greek &
Roman sculpture
Study of Anatomy
Patrons: smaller statues that could
be enjoyed or placed in the homes
of middle class families
Del Pollaiulo’s patron was the
Medici family; he was trained as a
painter, sculptor, and goldsmith
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Gates of Paradise, (east doors),
Baptistry of San Giovanni,
Florence, Ghiberti 1425-52,
bronze, 15’ high (4.5 meters)
Flashcard
“I strove to imitate nature as clearly as I could,
and with all he perspective I could produce, to
have excellent compositions with many figures.”
Competition held in 1401 to
commission this prestigious set
of doors… Brunelleschi &
Ghiberti were top competitors
Patron: Wool Mfgrs. Guild
Name coined later by
Michelangelo
1 point perspective, 10 old
testament scenes
Technological advance from
earlier doors-revived LOST WAX
method of relief sculpture
Jacob & Esau,
panel from the
Gates of
Paradise,
Ghiberti 1435
Intuitive and
linear
perspective,
high and low
relief figures
give amazing
sense of depth
Jacob & Esau
story from
Genesis in
Bible
Esau
symbolizes
Jews and Jacob
Christians
Flashcard part 2
Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, 1425
Pisano’s John the Baptist doors,
1327
Donatello - New
Expressiveness
• Excelled in 3 areas:
– Human emotions & expressions
– Vision & insight in solving formal
problems
– Technical skill in various sculpture
media
• 1st life-size male nude since antiquity
• 1st life-size equestrian statue since
antiquity
• Used contrapossto, iconography, G-R
drapery
David, Donatello, Bronze, 5’2”, 1446-60, early
Italian Renaissance
1st life-size male nude statue since antituity
David shown standing on the head of Goliath
Exagerrated contrapossto position
Hat of a fashionable Renaissance young man;
David shown as adolescent
Originally stood in courtyard of Medici palaceMedici were patrons of Donatello
Inscription suggests iconography symbolizing the
victory of Florence over Milan in 1428
“The victor is whoever defends the fatherland. Alpowerful God crushes the angry enemy. Behold, a
boy overcomes the great tyrant. Conquer, O
citizens!”
Gattamelata (Equestrian Monument
of Erasmo da Narni), Donatello,
Bronze, about 12 feet high, 1443
1st life size bronze equestrian
statue since antiquity
Shows General of Venetian army
Self-made man of the
Renaissance, powerful condottieri
Sources: Marcus Aurelius &
another ancient Roman equestrian
statues.
Donatello stayed in Padua
(northern Italy) for years and
founded a school of sculpture.
flashcard
Mary Magdalen, Donatello, wood, 6’ tall, 1450s
Extremely expressive statue of the saint, who
became a hermit after Jesus’ death.
Shows her emaciated and aged, clothed in her
own hair, after years of wandering in the
wilderness.
Donatello rejected classical form in this figure.
Vision of the hereafter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekkOfn002tI&f
eature=PlayList&p=6F27851475601E03&index=
9
Flemish influence
seen in oil paint &
luminous colors;
also landscape
background.
Strict profile
tradition makes
subjects seem
distant from
viewers
Painting on reverse
side shows
humanistic interests
of Montefeltro’s
court and is full of
iconography.
Battista Sforza & Federico da Montefeltro, oil on wood, 1474. Piero della
Francesca painted this dual portrait of the Duke of Urbino & his wife
Battista. flashcard
Reverse side of dual
portrait by della
Francesca,
Triumph of Federico
and Battista
Inscriptions praise Battista’s restraint and virtues, and
Federico’s moderation and fame.
Duke is crowned by
a winged Goddess
(either Victory or
Fortune); also shown
are Justice,
Prudence, Fortitude,
and Temperance.
Battista’s cart is
pulled by a Cherub
and driving a team of
unicorns.. Faith &
Charity hold a
pelican, symbol of
maternal sacrifices.
Camera Picta (Newlywed
Ceiling), Andrea Mantegna,
fresco, 1465-74, Mantua.
Flashcard
Mantegna studied in Padua
with influence of Donatello.
Patron was the Gonzaga
family, painted this for their
palace ceiling.
False oculus, trompe l’oeil
effect.
Di sotto in su… Shows
radical perspective views
and foreshortening.
BEGAN LONG TRADITION
OF ILLUSIONISTIC
CEILING PAINTING.
Interested in classical
literature & archaeology.
In Venice, the Bellini brothers created many OIL paintings inspired by the Flemish
Procession of the Relic of the True Cross before the Church of St. Mark, Gentile Bellini,
oil on canvas, 1496, Galleria dell’ Accademia, Venice. Narrative of annual festival
celebrating a 1444 miracle recovery of a dying child. Father in red robe kneeling is
praying for his child’s recovery. perspective
Primavera, Sandro Botticelli, 1482, Florence. Tempera on wood. Allegory combining
Christianity with classical stories, Venus of Earth, Venus of Heaven. Orange trees mean
fertility. Revived female nude in art. Figures seem to float. Secular painting of religious
subject made for Lorenzo Medici’s wedding. Inspired by Flemish tapestry. flashcard
Birth of Venus, Botticelli, tempera, 1484. Flashcard. Based on modest Venus classic
statue, philosophy of beauty=birth of beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5LB_fW7Ow
Ghirlandio
Painted frescos in Sassetti
chapel in Florence
Showed poetic, mystical
spirit
Religious fervor at end of
15th century
Ghirlandaio painted
this after viewing van
der Goes’ altarpiece,
which came to
Florence from Bruges
in 1483.
He even copies some
of Hugo’s flowers, the
iris, and has Jesus on
the ground. However,
he puts in classical
Roman pilasters
instead of a medieval
setting. Linear &
aerial perspective.
Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds, Sassetti Chapel
Altarpiece, Florence, Ghirlandaio, 1485. flashcard