Renaissance Art: Artists, Paintings, Sculptures & Architecture

Summary

In this lesson, Jessica, a history instructor, discusses the impact of humanism on Renaissance art. Through a virtual scrapbook of famous works, she highlights key shifts in art from supernatural depictions to a focus on human experience and natural landscapes. She contrasts early religious art with later works by artists like Michelangelo, da Vinci, and Raphael, who portrayed human figures and themes with realistic accuracy. The Renaissance also revived classical Greek and Roman styles, influencing both artwork and architecture, with a focus on symmetry, proportion, and human beauty.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The Renaissance was a period of rebirth, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman culture, starting in the late 14th century.
• 👩‍👦 Renaissance art shifted focus from heavenly figures to more humanistic depictions, with an emphasis on the human individual and earthly experience.
• 👑 Early Renaissance paintings like Madonna and Child by Seoane emphasized religious figures as supernatural with large halos, while later works like Buju Dinis’ Madonna and Child with Saint John portrayed them more human-like.
• 👼 Humanism influenced art to move away from the divine glow and halos, as seen in Raphael's Deliverance of St. Peter compared to later works that emphasized realism.
• 🌍 Michelangelo's Creation of Adam and da Vinci's The Last Supper are examples of Renaissance art portraying biblical characters in human form, with no supernatural traits.
• 🗿 Humanism also impacted Renaissance sculptures, such as Michelangelo's David, where artists focused on capturing human essence without religious symbols.
• 🏛️ The Renaissance marked a revival of ancient Greek and Roman ideals of beauty and proportion, seen in works like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Raphael's School of Athens.
• 📏 Realism, perspective, and accuracy in art were reborn during this time, with examples like Piero della Francesca's Flagellation of Christ and da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
• 🏗️ Renaissance architecture embraced ancient Greek and Roman elements, such as arches and domes, exemplified by St. Peter's Basilica and the Cathedral of Florence.
• 📚 Two major effects of humanism on Renaissance art were the focus on human individuals and earthly experiences, and the imitation of classical Greek and Roman culture.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the lesson?

The main topic of the lesson is Renaissance art, including painting, sculpture, and architecture, and how the philosophy of humanism influenced this artwork.

What is the definition of the Renaissance as explained in the script?

The Renaissance is described as a period beginning in the late 14th century where people began to take an interest in the learning of earlier times, especially the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. The word 'Renaissance' itself means 'rebirth.'

How does humanism influence Renaissance art according to the instructor?

Humanism in Renaissance art shifted the focus to the human individual and the earthly experience rather than the heavenly or mystical. It emphasized human nature, realistic portrayals, and ancient Greek and Roman ideals.

What is one significant difference between the two Madonna and Child paintings presented in the lesson?

In the earlier painting by Seoane, Mary and Jesus are depicted with large halos and an ethereal background, emphasizing their supernatural status. In Buju Dinis' later painting, Mary appears more human, with a smaller halo and a natural landscape.

What common theme can be seen in Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' and Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'?

Both artworks depict human figures in a natural and humanistic manner. In 'Creation of Adam,' even God is shown in human form, and in 'The Last Supper,' Jesus is portrayed without any supernatural features.

What influence of Greek and Roman culture can be seen in Renaissance art?

Renaissance art often imitated Greek and Roman themes, such as mythology, historical events, and the idealization of human beauty. Works like Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' and Raphael's 'The School of Athens' are examples of this influence.

How did Renaissance artists improve the accuracy and realism of their work compared to earlier periods?

Renaissance artists reintroduced the use of perspective, giving objects a more realistic portrayal of height, width, and depth. This can be seen in works like Piero della Francesca's 'The Flagellation of Christ' and da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man.'

What role did architecture play in the Renaissance, and what classical elements were revived?

Renaissance architecture revived classical Greek and Roman elements, such as symmetry, proportion, columns, arches, and domes. Examples include the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and the Cathedral of Florence, engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.

What are two key effects of humanism on Renaissance art as summarized at the end of the lesson?

The two key effects of humanism on Renaissance art are: 1) Art became focused on the human individual and earthly experiences, rather than heavenly or mystical themes. 2) Artists began to imitate the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome.

How does the lesson describe Michelangelo's sculptures, like 'David,' in the context of humanism?

Michelangelo's sculptures, like 'David,' demonstrate humanism by capturing the human essence and portraying biblical figures as fully human without supernatural attributes like halos.