Art in Transition
Middle Ages to Renaissance
During the Middle Ages many
artists were involved in
“illuminating” manuscripts.
This involved hand-copying
and illustrating books.
This example
is from a
French
manuscript
made in 1270.
It depicts a
fantastic
dragon.
This example is
from a French
Psalter, or
Psalm book,
copied in 1205.
This work was
often done in
monasteries.
Most art was
religious in
nature.
Orthodox
churches
would have a
depiction of
Jesus called a
Pantocrator.
Icons would
be gilded in
gold.
Depictions of
people were
lacking in
perspective.
Other images
also lacked the
perspective
we are used to
today.
Notice the
figures in the
background
are the same
size as those
in the
foreground.
This is the St.
Francis
Altarpiece by
Bonaventura
Berlinghieri
from 1235.
Duccio’s
Annunciation
of the Death
of Mary is an
early (1309)
attempt at
perspective.
Duccio’s
Jesus’ Calling
the Apostles
Peter and
Andrew is
another early
example.
Giotto’s
Madonna
Enthroned from
1310 shows a
more natural
view of the
people.
Giotto’s The
Meeting of
Joachim and
Anna from
1305 shows
people
processing
through a
gateway.
Giotto’s
Lamentation
from 1305
shows
people in
more natural
positions.
Lorenzetti’s
Birth of the
Virgin
Altarpiece
(1342) is a
good early
attempt at
realistic
perspective.
Martini’s Guidoriccio da Fogliano
(1328) shows an image of
medieval life, with a prince, a
village, and two castles.
Masaccio’s Holy
Trinity (1428)
gives you an
idea of the
difference onehundred years
can make in art
technique.
The next slide is Piero della
Francesca’s The Flagellation of
Christ (1455). Notice the true
perspective, with the different sizes
of people in foreground and
background.
Botticelli’s
Portraits from
the late 1400s
show the rebirth
of realism in art,
missing since
classical Roman
times.
Botticelli’s
Portraits from
the late 1400s
show the rebirth
of realism in art,
missing since
classical Roman
times.
The next slide is Perugino’s Christ
Delivering the Keys of the
Kingdom to St. Peter (1483).
Notice the perfect perspective, with
the different sizes of people in
foreground and background. This
is truly Renaissance art.
Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506)
finally achieved the realism from
the classic period without the
perfection of the earlier works. Art
has now achieved a way to show
the truth of life.
Mantegna’s
The
Martyrdom
of St. James
(1455)
Mantegna’s
ceiling of
the Camera
degli Sposi
(1474)
Mantegna’s masterpiece, The Dead Christ (1501)
Now, write a few ideas
you have about how art
changed from the Middle
Ages to the Renaissance .