Renaissance and Baroque Art: Masters and Masterpieces

Cinquecento: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) produced few works, but of very high quality. His major technical contribution was the sfumato technique, applied in works such as The Last Supper and Mona Lisa.

Michelangelo

Michelangelo (1475-1564) displayed special interest in nudes, movement, variety of poses, drawing, and the depiction of volume. His main work was the series of frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

Raphael

Raphael (1483-1520) achieved great perfection in drawing, color, and composition. His principal work was The School of Athens.

The Birth of the Baroque

The Baroque arose during the 17th century in response to papal patronage in Rome and spread across the rest of Europe. Artists continued the artistic traditions of the Renaissance. The principal patrons were:

• The Catholic Church, which used art to promote its doctrines against Protestantism.
• The absolute monarchs, who displayed their power through art.
• The wealthy bourgeoisie, who demonstrated their economic success.

Baroque Architecture

Baroque architectonic elements were derived from classical antiquity. Curved lines were used to decorate walls and the demarcation of a building's different floors to create a sense of movement. Columns and supporting elements did not respect the proportions of the classical orders.

El Greco

Spanish Renaissance painting was influenced by the great Italian masters. El Greco's work is characterized by the depiction of figures with elongated proportions, often shown in complex postures. The subject matter of El Greco's paintings was mainly religious.

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz is also known as The Burial of the Lord of Orgaz. This work depicts the miraculous burial of Gonzalo Ruiz, Lord of Orgaz. The painting is organized in two levels: in the lower part, the burial of the Lord of Orgaz is set in the 16th century, and in the upper level, the deceased's soul is represented as a child.

The Discovery of America

The Discovery of America was made by Christopher Columbus, a sailor born in Genoa. His aim was to sail westwards across the Atlantic to reach India. He presented his project to King John II of Portugal, but the king rejected it. He then offered it to the Catholic Monarchs, who accepted it in their Capitulations of Santa Fe.