Renaissance Art: From Italy's Masters to Europe's Golden Age

Key Characteristics of the Renaissance

• Classical Antiquity as a Model: Art and architecture drew heavily from the models of ancient Greece and Rome.
• Inspiration from Nature: Art was inspired by nature and sought to represent reality with greater accuracy.
• Return to Anthropocentrism: There was a renewed focus on human beings, their potential, and their place in the world.
• Elevated Status of Artists: Artists gained a better social status, achieving fame and recognition for their individual genius.

Italian Renaissance Art and Architecture

Architecture and Its Periods

Renaissance architecture primarily used stone as a building material. It revived Greek and Roman architectonic orders, semicircular arches, and both flat and vaulted roofs. The most celebrated buildings were often churches.

The 15th Century (Quattrocento)

Florence was the birthplace of the new architectural style. Filippo Brunelleschi inaugurated the Renaissance with the magnificent dome he built for the Florence Cathedral. Another key figure, Leon Battista Alberti, designed the iconic façade of the Church of Santa Maria Novella.

The 16th Century (Cinquecento)

During the 16th century, the center of Italian architecture moved to Rome. Popes commissioned many significant buildings, such as the Tempietto di San Pietro in Montorio.

Quattrocento: 15th-Century Art

The most celebrated 15th-century sculptors included Ghiberti and Donatello, known for masterpieces such as David and Saint George. Prestigious painters of the period included:

• Masaccio: Showed a special interest in perspective, evident in works like The Holy Trinity.
• Sandro Botticelli: Created mythological paintings filled with movement, such as the famous Primavera.

Cinquecento: 16th-Century Art

The most acclaimed sculptor of the 16th century was Michelangelo, who created works in marble that combined a powerful emotional effect with anatomical perfection.

Masters of Cinquecento Painting

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo's major technical contribution was the sfumato technique, which created soft, hazy transitions between colors and tones. His most famous works include The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa.

Michelangelo

As a painter, Michelangelo had a special interest in nudes, movement, a variety of poses, drawing, and the depiction of volume. His main work was the series of frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Raphael

Raphael achieved great perfection in drawing, color, and composition. A prime example of his work is The School of Athens.

The Northern Renaissance

The Flemish School

Painters from the Flemish school are often known as the "Flemish Primitives." They pioneered the oil technique, which involved dissolving pigments in linseed oil and using canvas as a support. Jan van Eyck initiated this regional school, and Rogier van der Weyden introduced a profound expression of feelings into his work.

The German Renaissance

The most important artistic figure in Germany was the painter Albrecht Dürer. He was a great draughtsman and engraver, known for works like Adam and Eve.

The French Renaissance

In France, the Renaissance style was established during the reign of Francis I, who built numerous castle-palaces.

The Spanish Golden Age

The Spanish Golden Age was the most thriving period of Spanish culture, beginning in the 16th century and continuing into the 17th century. During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, the most celebrated humanists were Luis Vives, a defender of Christian humanism, Beatriz Galindo, and Antonio de Nebrija.

Education and Culture

Education was provided by the prestigious universities of Alcalá de Henares, Salamanca, and Valladolid. In literature, the following genres gained great renown: Italianate poetry, theatre, picaresque novels, and mystical writings.

Scientific Advancements

In science, Miguel Servet was the first person to set out a theory of the pulmonary circulation of the blood.

Spanish Renaissance Architecture

Spanish Renaissance architecture evolved through several distinct styles:

• Plateresque Style (1500-1530): This style continued to use Gothic forms in interiors but incorporated elaborate Renaissance decorations on façades.
• Reductive Classicism (1530-1560): Employed elements of Renaissance architecture in a more simplified and restrained form.
• Herrerian Style (1560-1600): Developed by architect Juan de Herrera, this style is characterized by simple forms, slate roofs, and a sparse use of decoration.