Intro to the Renaissanceand Renaissance Art

What is the Renaissance? French for “rebirth” Period in Europe from the late

fourteenth through the sixteenthcenturies, characterized by a renewedinterest in human-centered classicalart, literature, and learning

Basic Features of theRenaissance

ClassicismRespect for ancient Greek and Romanart, architecture, literature, andphilosophy

Basic Features of theRenaissance

SecularismFocus on worldly, rather than religious,matters (although this does not meanthat people during the Renaissancedenied the existence of God or theimportance of religion)

Basic Features of theRenaissance

IndividualismAn emphasis on the dignity and worth ofthe individual person

Basic Features of theRenaissance

ScholarshipAn emphasis on reason, a questioningattitude, and experimentation

What are the differencesbetween Medieval and

Renaissance art?

Medieval art All art is religious or a portrait Unscientific

– Spaceless– No shadows– Figures stiff and unrealistic

No free standing sculpture No nudes

Renaissance art More variety of subject matter

– Genre scenes of ordinary/earthly life Scientific

– Three dimensional figures– Depth of field– Human expression

Free standing sculpture Nudes

Leonardo da VinciThe Last Supper

Leonardo da VinciMona Lisa

DonatelloDavid

MichelangeloDavid

MichelangeloCreation of Adam

RaphaelSchool of Athens

TitianVenus of Urbino

Jan van EyckThe Arnolfini Wedding Portrait

Pieter BrueghelThe Return of the Hunters

Pieter BrueghelPeasant Wedding