Renaissance Art: Painting & Sculpture Innovations

Renaissance Painting and Sculpture

• Painting and sculpture reflected humanism; landscapes, cities, the human body, and portraits were realistically represented. New pictorial techniques emerged, such as perspective and oil paints.

New Artistic Interests

The new interests of society were reflected in the characteristics of the style:

• Idealism and Serenity: Artists sought to reflect reality, influenced by the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato. They aimed to portray an ideal beauty, often devoid of overt emotions. This idealism can be seen in works by Botticelli, Raphael Sanzio, and Leonardo da Vinci. In contrast, Michelangelo often portrayed intense emotions in his works.

• The Human Body: There was a renewed focus on the anatomy of the human body. Artists revived the nude as a subject, exemplified by the Venuses of Giorgione and Titian, or the paintings in the Sistine Chapel and the statue of David by Michelangelo.

• The Search for Balance and Proportion: Artists meticulously studied the elements of a scene and arranged them symmetrically, often employing a pyramidal composition. Figures were consistently portrayed in proportion.

New Techniques and Materials

• Sculpture: More expensive materials like marble were increasingly used. Reliefs were largely replaced by freestanding sculptures, offering three-dimensional representations.

• Painting: Ancient techniques such as frescoes on walls and tempera on wooden panels continued to be used. However, the new oil technique was widely adopted and used to paint on canvas.

New Subjects and Themes

• Themes related to Christianity remained prominent, while mythological themes were adopted from Classical Antiquity.

• Portraits became more common due to demand from nobles, clergy, and the upper bourgeoisie. Equestrian portraits also gained popularity.

• Nature, landscapes, and buildings replaced the gold backgrounds of Gothic artists and became a defining feature of compositions. They were portrayed with enormous accuracy and detail.

The European Renaissance Beyond Italy

Flemish Painting

• The bourgeoisie in this region were very wealthy and desired to be represented, showcasing their position in society. The oil painting technique was notably used by artists such as Jan Van Eyck, Peter Brueghel the Elder, and Hieronymus Bosch.

German Painting

• Artists like Albrecht Dürer and Matthias Grünewald created significant paintings and woodcuts.

French Architecture

• Castles were transformed into luxurious palaces, adorned with opulent decorations.