Early Renaissance Art
The word, Renaissance means “rebirth”. This period lasted
200 years. Sculpture and architecture were created
during this period but painting dominated the arts. The
center of the Renaissance was Rome and the Pope
commissioned artists to create expressive art work.
During the early Renaissance there was stress and
conflict. FLorence was the political and intellectual
leader, “a new Athens. “ Armies threatened Florence from
the north and the south. The focus was on building
cathedrals, and homes to create beautiful work. The
Medici family ruled Florence and were patrons of the
arts. The artists they commissioned included
Brunelleschi, Donatello, Michelangelo and Botticelli.
Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446 created a cupola or dome on his cathedral that he
built which became the “jewel” of Florence cityscape and considered an engineering
wonder. 1418 he designed the dome which was built with two shells (one inside the
other) and a system for hoisting materials
without ramps or scaffolding. He used
scientific approaches to solve problems. He
was a goldsmith, sculptor, mathematician,
clockmaker, and an architect. He discovered
linear perspective showing 3D space in a 3D
plane.
Sculptors looked at Romans sculpture for
influence. They used realism, emotion and large
life like human forms as subjects. Sculptures
were created for public buildings, homes,
palaces and churches. A sculptor, Lorenzo
Ghibherti, 1381 - 1455 was influenced by Greek
sculpture. It was not as expressive but it was
unified. This casting in bronze for reliefs on
doors were covered in gold. The figures were in
perspective shown by their placement.
A famous sculptor, Donatello, 1386 - 1466 was
designated as the best sculptor ever. He used the
Classical style and the Renaissance expressionism. He
also used contrapasto to show action in his figures.
The portraits were expressive and often showed
confidence and pride. He carved statues from marble
and bronze. Donatello used detail and smoothness. He
sculpted figures “in the round.” In his sculpture of
David it also tells the story of how David almost
plays with the severed head of Goliath. Donatello also
created the first equestrian statue of the
Renaissance. The mammoth size horse sculpture was
commissioned by a Venetian general and he died before
the sculpture was completed. It is a Classical style
sculpture and represents power. The portrait is
idealized.
Fabriano used the new style of realism in his paintings
being influenced by the “International Style,” which was a
blend of the French and Italian Gothic ideas. Renaissance
painting was believed to have begun when Masaccio, 1401 1428 painted a chapel wall in Florence. Masoccia studied
the International Style used by Fabriano with perspective,
texture, and large forms as the work of Giotto. The fresco,
Tribute Money was painted in the church of Santa Maria
del Carmine. The painting shows three stories. One is
Christ and the disciples
being confronted by the
Roman tax collection to
pay tribute to Caesar.
Christ sends Peter to the
sea of Goliath to find
money in the mouth of a
fish (second story). Then
Peter pays the collector
which is the third story.
The light is on the right side and allows the figures to have form. He used
atmospheric perspective to create depth. The vanishing point is above Christ’s head
for evidence of linear perspective. There is a halo around Christ’s head but the
bodies are more natural than stylized.
Paolo Uccello, 1397 - 1475
used the scientific methods to
approach his painting. He
created a 72 sided polyhedron
showing his fascination. In his
Battle of San Romano he used
pattern, values, principles of
perspective and
foreshortening (the slain
figure coming out towards the
viewer). The bottom of the
painting shows action and the
landscape shows distant figures to create depth.
Piero della Francesca, 1420 - 1492 was a student of Mascaccio and learned how to
create form and from Fra Angelica he learned about light. He wrote a book on
perspective. He painted like a Classical Greek sculptor and a contemporary abstract
artist. He used mathematics and his painted subjects did not show emotions. His
work could be described as, “freeze frames.” His style was somewhat geometric in
form.
Sandro Botticelli, 1445 1510 studied scientific
methods, nature and the
human body. His subjects
were based in poetry,
myths, and allegories. One
of his most famous works
was the Birth of Venus. It
was a large painting based
on mythology. Venus was
the goddess of love. She
rises from the sea and a
shell. The angels on her
left seem to blow her towards the land and the figure on the right tries to cover
her with a robe. The subject is a metaphor for Christian ideas. Venus, water and the
spring representing Christ, baptism and the rebirth of humanity. He used delicate
lines and soft colors with some stylization as seen in the waves. It is painted on
canvas, not wood. He added gold for emphasis and spirituality.
In the early 15th Century Venice dominated the economic and politics of the period.
Art was a blend between Byzantine and Gothic. Venetian artists were influenced by
Donatello’s perspective, form, anatomy, class traditions and expressionism.
Andrea Mantegna, 1431 - 1506 was 17
years old when he mastered form and
anatomy. He used perspective and
foreshortening to the extreme. This
can be seen in his work, Dead Christ.
The strong realism and unusual
perspective is phenomenal.