The Renaissance

Medieval Art

Highly influenced by religion

Most artists came from monasteries

Almost all major art was commissioned by the church

Artists painted in a way that emphasized religious images and symbolism rather than realism.

Medieval Art

Painters paid little attention to making humans and animals look lifelike or creating natural looking landscapes

Images often looked flat

Human figures appeared stiff and disproportionate

- Roman art had been very realistic, and Renaissance painters developed new techniques for representing both humans and landscapes in realistic ways.1. Perspective: artistic technique used to give

drawings and paintings a three-dimensional effect

2. Shading: used to make objects look round and real

3. Painters and sculptors studied human anatomy and drew from live models - This allowed them portray the human body more

accurately than medieval artists had done

Renaissance Techniques

How is this Renaissance painting different?

The figures are more realistic, the human body is accurately depicted, and it has perspective.

The ideas of humanism, realism,

and classicism are all reflected Humanists focused on human

potential and achievements Artworks glorify the human body

and reflect classical influence. Use of perspective (3-D) New emphasis on individuals that

reveal their subject’s personality

Why was Renaissance Art revolutionary?