1.5- Visual Arts During the Italian Renaissance
Innovations in the Visual Arts of the Renaissance
Many innovations mark the differences between art of the Italian Renaissance and works from the Middle Ages. Some of these innovations were:
- The use of Greek and Roman mythology as subject matter
- Linear perspective
- The development of chiaroscuro
- The use of fresco for huge projects
- Sculpture patterned after sculptures from Greek and Roman times
- A naturalistic depiction of human anatomy
- Experiments in oil based paints
View how art has evolved by examining the depiction of the Virgin Mary.
Three Artists Everyone Should Know (Read about them)
Leonardo da Vinci (more about the man)
Important Works: Use the links below to learn more each piece
Michelangelo (more about the artist)
Important Works
- David
- Sistine Chapel Ceiling
- Pieta
- Last Judgement – A Mannerist work
Optional Material – A collection of videos on Michelangelo’s works
(Suitable for broadband connections)
Raphael – Raffaello Sanzio (more about the artist)
Important Works
- Madonna of the Meadows
- The School of Athens
- The Sistine Madonna
But wait, did you find the famous angels? - Galatea
- Castiglione – A portrait of the author of The Courtier
Mannerism – A Departure from the Renaissance
The climate of the Italian High Renaissance shifted. With it came a new, modern, and short lived style of art – Mannerism.
Madonna with the Long Neck – Parmigianino, Parma, Italy c. 1535-40
Click on Painting to hear lecture on Mannerism!
- Characteristics of Mannerism
- Not for the “Masses”
- The Sack of Rome
Get acquainted with Mannerism
- A good introduction
-
- Benvenuto Cellini
- Female Mannerist Artists
- An optional video discussion of Parmigiano’s “Madonna of the Long Neck”
The Prince is a literary work, that is the written equivalent to Mannerism in the visual arts.
- Written by Niccolo Machiavelli
- A guidebook for rulers
- Based on his observations of Florence politics
- “It is better to be feared than loved,’
- Based on unfavorable traits of human nature
- Very widely read during its day Browse parts of The Prince in English
The cover of The Prince by Machiavelli
Other Artists to Know
There were many, many other artists during the Italian Renaissance. Begin your exploration HERE with a glance at a few masterpieces.
Lorenzo Ghiberti
Gates of Paradise
Donatello
David
Mary Magdalene
Titian
Venus of Urbino
Fete Champetre
Botticelli
Primavera
Birth of Venus
Masaccio
The Tribute Money – a work that depicts all the chronological events in the story in continuous narration
Trinity with the Virgin (more about this work)
Fra Angelico
Collection
Explore Further With These Links
Tour the Louvre
A Multitude of Links – EARLY RENAISSANCE: 15th Century
Even More Links! – HIGH RENAISSANCE AND MANNERISM: 16th Century
Commercial – But Good Links on the Left
Properzia de’Rossi —A Female Artist
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No. 1 — September 9th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I never thought of churches as art. I would marvel at their architecture but never associated them as a piece of art.
No. 2 — September 11th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I was intrigued to learn that Leonardo da Vinci was allowed to stay left handed, and that he often wrote backwards. I am left handed, and my mother tells of when I began writing as a child; everything was backwards. I just thought I was strange.
When I began to learn a bit of Hebrew I found it very easy to get used to the text going from right to left, and seemed very comfortable for me. I tend to agree with he author of the article on da Vinci, I lean towards the thought that lefties often see the world a bit differently than many right handed people.
No. 3 — September 14th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
This was a very good insight in the musical era of the period.
No. 4 — September 16th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
I wonder if the mannerist style evolved as a reaction to the religious and political control of artistic expression during the renaissance. As artists gained more power to express themselves and develop their art, they must have resented the manipulation of their ideas and talents by leaders of the day. The focus on beauty of subjects but placed in unrealistic poses and settings possibly denotes this feeling among mannerist artists.
No. 5 — October 4th, 2012 at 3:19 am
The link on “Other Artists to Know” (the ‘HERE’ link) does not work.
No. 6 — October 10th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Please send me an email or a note in Blackboard. I don’t check here very often.
No. 7 — January 9th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
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No. 8 — February 8th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
good knowledge for me to learn about the artists. mannerism made me think that the artist put himself in his paintings so that the beholder would evoke thought about it
No. 9 — May 19th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
I like the picture of Trinity. It is done beautifully.
No. 10 — August 15th, 2014 at 9:50 am
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