Sister Wendyʼs Story of Painting: The Renaissance
Paintings:
Part I
1. Branacci Chapel: Masaccio - Renaissance begins with his painting “Expulsion of
Adam and Eve from the Garden”. Mankind: Suffering but responsible
2. Medici Family - patrons of arts in Florence, Italy. Cosimo builds monastery San
Marco in Florence. Painted by Fra Angelico (means Brother Angel) The
Annunciation
3. Bottecelli: “Mars and Venus”. Painting for a villa. Mars worn out from night with
Venus. Love always stronger than war. Boticelli a lonely man.
4. Andrea Mantegna, Court painter: Mantua 1450: (Gonsaga ruler). North of Italy.
Painting of the Gonaga family. Interest in sculpture. Note landscape. Ceiling,
oculus the real treasure, including “booby trap” for guests he didnʼt like.
5. Piero della Francesca “The Ideal City” Illusion of three-dimensions through use of
linear perspective. First understanding of linear perspective is during the
Renaissance.
6. Leonardo da Vinci “Mona Lisa” Secretly smiling, keeping herself a mystery.
Mysterious landscape.
7. 1500 - High Renaissance in Rome. Restoration of Rome. Pope Julius II responsible
for restoration, Rafael, painted Popeʼs apartment with story of St. Peter's
Escape from Prison.
8. Michelangelo, “The Sistine Chapel Ceiling” New life, birth of Adam. Beautiful but
had no mind yet. Human face staring at Adam daring him to respond to the
challenge. Ignudi, Beauty alone not enough.
9. Michelangelo, “The Conversion of St. Paul” Michaelangelo looking into postrenaissance world.
Part II
10. Venice 1500. Oil painting (northern invention). Giovanni Bellini, “Virgin in the
Meadow” Jolt - Dead Baby? Foreshadows Christ decent from the cross. White bird
fights with snake. Two men working in dead end jobs. Castle with walls for
protection. All unified by light. Official painter of rulers of Venice.
11. Titian, prodigy. Demanded to take Belliniʼs job. Paintings of ancient revels.
“Bacchus and Ariadne” Ariadne saves Theseus, ran away, lover abandons her.
Bacchus rescues her from utter misery to ecstasy. Makes a crown of stars for her.
12. Giorgione (c. 1477 – 1510) Brought something new to painting. Element of mystery.
Died young. “The Madona and Saints” or “The Castelfranco Madonna” is an
altarpiece for Mateo Constanza and depicts St. Francis and soldier-saint Liberale (or
Nicasius of Sicily, a Knight Templer killed on crusade in the Holy Land?), below the
Madonna on a throne. About time and loss. Tower shattered and young soldiers in
armor protecting themselves. Where are we? Not heaven, not the real world. Two
worlds coexisting, canʼt be explained.
13. Titian, rare artist to grow greater as he grows older. “The Flaying of Marsyas”,
shocking scene of torture. Poetry out of pain. Satyr challenges Apollo in music
contest. Winner could do whatever he wanted with loser. Artist always loses with the
gods. A solitary way. Three stages of artists: Child horrified. Young artist lost in music
not looking. Old man (self portrait) looks intently at scene. “Have I gone far enough
to challenge the god?” Marsyasʼ eyes bright knowing he has succeeded.
14. Nuremberg, 1500. Albrecht Durer - German artist. Shows that artists can be
aristocratic, gentlemanly in his “Self Portrait”. His work raises status of artists in
Northern Europe from that of craftsman. Background shows journey from Italy.
Gloves show that he doesnʼt really work. First portrait that is painted for no apparent
reason except to show he is a gentleman.
Influence of Protestant reformers - saw art as like false idols: idolatry - destruction
of art - end of patronage
15. Hans Holbein - Swiss painter. Left home because of Protestant reformers stand
against art, moved to England. Painted for court of Henry VIII to show his greatness.
“Portrait of Henry VIII”, paints what king really looks like, little eyes, long “sneering”
nose, rosebud mouth, great thick neck. Grace notes: hat. All says power including
real gold used in painting.
16. Veranase - Venice, Italy. painting of “The Last Supper”. He refused to repaint it and
instead renamed it “Feast at the House of Levi” when Catholic Church
representatives complained his painting was too worldly. Made a stand against the
Inquisition for artistic freedom. The artist had won. Painted for the rest of his life for
both church and state.