Renaissance (15th - 17th)
Italy
When?
14th, 15th & 16th century (rose around 1350 in Italy until mid 1600
Why Italy? Politcal, social, economical, cultural)
Non-unified states in constant turmoil over power. Had to think "what is a
state" → inspiration antiquity
Most urbanized region in Europe. 6 of 10 largest cities were in Italy.
Cosmopolitan cities. Trading hub between east and Europe, a lot of
commercial activity and economic prosperity. A lot of different influences.
"80% of Venice is not from Venice".
Plague. 2/3 population died → more free positions → larger demand labour
→ easier to climb social ladder & minimized inflation → prosperity among
classes
New class of people (i.e. merchants & bankers) that find new sources of
power and want to show off. Legitimize and show of status. Strong
consumerism. Show cultural capital.
Strong patrons of the arts: Church + old nobility + new class = good
climate for artists → draws a lot of artist → drives innovation → drives up
quality of art.
Wealthy class of people with resources and motivation to shape and
create a new culture.
Medici family converted Florence into cultural & humanist center of Europe
Merchants were sinful because made money, so they had to compensate
with good deeds i.e. funding church. Ordered Frescos, with themselves in
image, to remember them and show off. Build up holy reservoir for
judgement day.
Heirs of Roman empire. Remnants of antiquity around.
Shift of social position artists → Poeta faber (creator) Poeta virtus (skill).
Art not just a product, artist not anonymous craftsman anymore. Cult of
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, "genius".
Francesco Petrarch 1304 → Humanism → study of antique text → copy
of views antiquity
Architecture → copying styles and themes (symmetry, proportion,
geometry, logical construction) → new style: All Antica
Fall Constantinople 1453 → antique knowledge with fleeing intellectuals
to Italy
💡 Socially: Artist can make art because sponsored
Economical: Increased trade, influences from other city
Cultural: Anthropocentrism, humanism
Humanism
Individualism → worth and dignity individual - uomo universalis, uomo
singulare
Anthropocentric worldview → human centered
Better world through beauty
Absolute ideas about beauty (ideal proportions, height equals width etc.)
Types of beauty
- Forma: beauty of the face
- Pulchritudo: beauty of the body
- Venustats: female beauty
- Dignitas: male beauty
- Decus: inner beauty
Human body as standard for all (e.g. architecture)
Study antique texts critically → imitate use of words, views on world and
importance of style
New content → Biblical and secular content (e.g.
Important figures: Petrarch, Albertini, Pico della Mirandola, Vasari,
Castilione, Cellini
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, Neo-platonism
Beauty is gods way of manifesting himself on earth
Realism + divine → idealism
Human link between lower orders of nature and god
Human has free will → human responsible → responsibility be divine and
create beauty
Early renaissance
1420 - 1500
Florence Medici)
Painting
Linear perspective
Realism
Antique "pagan" Mythology
Neo-platism
Artists: Sandro Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca, Masaccio
Architecture
Absolute ideas of beauty
Mathematical ratio's & ideal proportions
Artists: Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti
Sculpture
Absolute ideas of beauty
Mathematical ratio's & ideal proportions
Inspiration antiquity → new forms and techniques
Naturalism
Contrapposto
Free-standing sculpture
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, Artists: Donatello
High renaissance
1420 1500
End of Medici → new conservative ruler Girolamo Savonarola → artists
move out of Florence → Rome
Rome: Classism ←→ Christianity
Popes (humanists) → Sixtus IV, Julius II, Leo X → "patrons of the arts"
Total rediscovery of classic civilization
Renewed interest in nature/world → perspective, landscape, human body
Improved techniques
Idealization of body
Reality → Art more beautiful than reality
Man closer/equal to god (creation of Adam)
Artist creator of Beauty
End of High renaissance: Death of Raphael 1520 , sack of Rome 1527 →
artists leave the city
Sculpture
Nude
Idealization of body
Contrapposto
Artists: Michelangelo
Painting
Chiaroscuro (strong contrast light and dark)
Sfumato (softening between colors → out of focus feel)
Balanced compostions
Clear presentation subject matter
Primary colors (preference)
Renaissance 15th - 17th) 4
