The Italian Renaissance
Renaissance means REBIRTH in French
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In the early 1400s (15th century) a cultural rebirth occurred
that would last 200 years.
Florence, Italy was the centre of the Renaissance.
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Florence was politically ruled by the Medici family who were
not only powerful, but great patrons of the arts.
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During this period, Florence had to fight off conquering
armies from the north and south of Italy.
Characteristics and beliefs of Florentine Art
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Artwork seems calm and harmonious, because of a need to
create serenity in the midst of stress and conflict.
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Florentines saw themselves as a small city, but proud, selfsufficient and disciplined.
There was a renewed interest in Ancient Greece and Rome.
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Science and math were used as tools for artists.
E.g. the invention of 1-Pt Perspective
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Magnificent architecture and sculpture were created, but
painting dominated.
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Consequently, Florence became a city of extraordinary beauty.
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The Medici Family
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Three generations of princes were patrons of the arts:
Giovanni, Cosimo, and Lorenzo who was the biggest patron
and encouraged Michelangelo and Botticelli.
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The commissions provided to artists by the Medici family
provided artists with the income and freedom to explore and
reinvent art.
Important Artists
ARCHITECT
FILIPPO BRUNELLESCHI (1377-1446)
Brunelleschi was trained as a goldsmith, sculptor, mathematician,
clock builder and architect!
Credited with:
1. Inventing scientific perspective. E.g. one-point perspective
2. Initiating a new style of building
Artwork:
Dome, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, 1420-1436. Florence.
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The Cupola or Dome of the Cathedral of Florence is
considered the crowning jewel of the Florentine cityscape. The
Cathedral was Gothic in style, but Brunelleschi’s dome was
simplified.
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ca. 1402 - Brunelleschi went to Rome to study and measure
the remains of Ancient Roman buildings, which inspired his
own architecture.
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1418 – He won a competition to design the dome.
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The Dome was built in two shells, one inside the other, which
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supported each other through 8 ribs and supports.
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Huge! 140 feet in diameter and 300 feet above the floor.
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He designed a new way to lift heavy building materials by
using hoists, instead of having to construct ramps and
scaffolding.
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He believed science was the answer to solving architectural
problems, instead of looking at earlier structures. This
influenced succeeding generations of architects.
Artwork:
Church of San Lorenzo, 1421-1469, Florence.
Commissioned by Giovanni de Medici for the Medici family.
Gothic (previous art period) interiors were decorative and
elaborate, while the Church of San Lorenzo was simplified.
Brunelleschi’s characteristics
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Basic geometrical shapes and simple proportions
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Lines are clean
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Walls uncluttered
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Discipline of thought
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Clarity of design
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Proportion of one part to another
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Visual rhythm
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SCULPTORS
Sculptors were interested in representing humans and their
achievements in a realistic style therefore they looked to antiquity.
They were commissioned to create works for public buildings,
homes, palaces and churches.
Renaissance sculptors began to emphasize the following
characteristics of Ancient Rome & Greece:
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Large
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Life-like
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Celebration of beauty, harmony & proportion of the
human figure
LORENZO GHIBERTI (1381-1455)
Artwork:
Sacrifice of Isaac, 1401-1402
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Before Brunelleschi was famous for the Cathedral of Florence,
he entered another competition for the design of the north doors
of the Baptistry of Florence.
Among the competitors was Lorenzo Ghiberti
Seven final contestants were assigned to sculpt the sacrific of
Isaac
Brunelleschi’s panel is energetic and dramatic but lacks
harmony and balance.
21-year old Ghiberti’s design was chosen due to its balance,
classical proportioned representation (Isaac is nude like a Greek
sculpture)
The two 28-paneled doors took more than 20 years to
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complete.
They featured illustrated stories from the New Testament.
As a result, he was commissioned to do the final set of doors
on the east side, which is considered his masterpiece.
Artwork:
The Gates of Paradise, 1425-1452. Gilt bronze relief.
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10 large square panels cast in bronze and covered with gold
(gilt)
Ghiberti’s Characteristics:
 Use of pictorial space
 1-pt perspective
 Relief surfaces
 Details get simpler and smaller as they get farther away
(atmospheric depth)
DONATELLO (1386-1466)
Emerged as the greatest sculptor of his time and one of the greatest
ever to live.
Artwork:
David, 1430-1432. Bronze
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Commissioned by Cosimo de Medici to be viewed from all
angles not as part of architecture.
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Unique!
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First life-size freestanding statue since ancient times
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Classic contrapposto
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Left foot weighs on the severed head of Goliath
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David’s face is calm and serene (unlike Donatello’s expressive
statues) because he is making it more classical.
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Crowned with contemporary fighting head gear AND a
Roman laurel wreath (combo!)
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During the Middle Ages David’s victory over Goliath used to
be depicted symbolically as Christ’s victory over sin and death.
But
Donatello depicts it differently, because to the Florentines it
became symbolic of their victory (as the small and selfsufficient) over the brute force of larger Italian kingdoms.
Donatello’s Characteristics:
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a combination of classic style and Renaissance expression.
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Contraposto of the Greeks to suggest action
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Facial expressions of pride, dignity, and self-reliance
(Renaissance attitude).
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Marble or bronze sculptures
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