Linus Otte
3/2/2010
Grade 8-a
Humanities
Comparison of Medieval and Renaissance Painting
Medieval Painting
Artist: Jan van Eyck, Netherlands (born about 1390, died 1441)
Title: The Virgin of chancellor Rolin
Year: ca 1435
Technique: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 26 x 24 in.
Current location : Musée du Louvre, Paris
In the front of this picture three characters are portrayed: Chancellor Rolin, the Virgin and a
child. The painting focus on the Chancellor and the Virgin dressed in a red cloak in a church
like building. The picture was painted in the Late Middle Ages. The Virgin is Mary (mother
of Christ) and the child represents Christ. In the Medieval times people focused on God,
church and afterlife. The picture has a religious theme with the Virgin presenting Christ to the
Chancellor Rolin. Another religious moment is in the right corner in the form of a flying angel
with hair painted like a halo which was typical for this period. The golden crown in the hands
of the Angel focus on the presence of Mary in the painting. The Angel and the
praying/worshipping of the chancellor Rolin represent also these religious beliefs in the
Medieval area. The Chancellor represents the feudalism at this time. Van Eyck painted in a
naturalistic way. This painting shows a perspective with a view over a city and river valley
through the three arcades. The landscape and the nature is detailed portrayed in the
background but the proportions are not depicted realistically. For example, the two men in the
background is proportionally too small in comparison to the surroundings. The colours are
dull and the facial expressions of the figures portrayed tend to be serious.
Renaissance Painting
Artist: Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), Italian, Venetian, born about 1488 died 1576)
Title: Madonna and Child
Year: ca 1510
Technique: Oil on wood
Dimensions: 18 x 22 in.
Current location: Museum of Art History, Vienna
This painting of Titian show Madonna with child. The paintings during Renaissance were not
as religious-based as in the Medieval times. The church-based paintings were not longer so
important. In this picture there are no halos or angels portrayed as in the Medieval times. It
was a time period when realism and people became more important. It was a kind of rebirth
from the Medieval time. During this time period people started to learn in a new way,
developed infrastructure and put more focus on the arts and literature. Renaissance represents
idealism and humanism. It was a revival of classic values. Artists portrayed human beauty and
the pictures were depicted more like in real life. Titian who painted this picture was a leader
of the 16th century Italian renaissance. The characters in the paintings are more dominant than
the surroundings which were typical for the renaissance. The colours are also richer in this
picture. Gold and red were the colours of Renaissance as can be seen in this picture. The
picture is not as static as the Medieval painting. The facial expression of the persons
portrayed are softer and not as serious as in the Medieval painting. .
Bibliography
1) Darwin, Peter. “Changes During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.” Directessays. No
publisher or sponsor, 20 Feb. 2010. Web. 20 Feb. 2010. <http://www.directessays.com/
viewpaper/16493.html>.
2) Dowling, Mike, "Renaissance Art," available from http://www.mrdowling.com/704
art.html; Internet; updated Wednesday, January 5, 2005
3) Gloria, Fossi. “Tizian.” Wikipedia Fundation. No Edition ed. 2000. Microsoft Word file
4) Hutchinson, Jane Campbell. “Jan Van Eyck.” Wikipedia Fundation. No Edition ed. 2005
Appendix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_van_Eyck_070.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Tizian_046.jpg