Renaissance Art: Masters, Styles, and Roman Influence

Renaissance Art: Masters and Styles

Italian Renaissance

Sculpture

• Donatello: Revived the classical Greco-Roman style of sculpture that was realistic and could be viewed from all sides. Donatello's David was the first free-standing human sculpture in this period.
• Michelangelo: Painter, sculptor, architect, and poet. Characteristics: Realism, details of the human body, expression, emotion. His works: Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with biblical images of amazing detail, beauty, and power. Creation of Man, Pieta was his most important sculpture.
• Leonardo da Vinci: Painter and sculptor. Characteristics: Incredible realism, emotion, depth, details, expression. His works: The Last Supper shows Jesus' last meeting with the 12 apostles before the crucifixion. This painting was painted using frescoes. Mona Lisa.
• Raphael: He improved the perspective and realism of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Characteristics: Combination of famous Greek and Roman paintings. His works: School of Athens, which blends classical figures from Greece and Rome with important people.
• Botticelli: Painted the Birth of Venus. Italy 1445. Known for painting. Movement: Italian Renaissance.

Northern Renaissance

It refers to artistic happenings outside Italy.

• In France, it was most known for its unique architecture.
• In England, it was known for literature.
• In the Netherlands, realism in art.

Roman Architecture: Functionality and Aesthetics

Architecture

Utilitarian Purposes

• Public works, two types: To supply something and to entertain someone.
• It is practical because the Romans were pragmatic in spirit. Most of the Roman buildings were for civil use, not religious.
• Romans invented materials and construction techniques that allowed them to build multi-story buildings.
• Roman engineers developed, and they no longer depended on the landscape; they could alter it to their needs.
• Materials: Bricks and ceramic.
• Roman utilities: Aqueducts, bridges (amphitheaters and baths), and roads.
• Political buildings: Forum (obelisks, triumphal arches, columns).
• Private architecture: Roman house and Roman villa.

Artistic Purpose

• Religious buildings.
• Based on Greek art.
• Artistic architecture: Mixture of Roman engineering improvements and Greek artistic concepts.
• Best examples of Roman temples: They had to be useful, but since they were for goddesses, they had to be beautiful.