Renaissance Art vs. Medieval Art

Bell RingerTell me about these paintings. Can you find similarities

and/or differences?

Medieval Art (things to notice)• Look at the people, they all look the

same. Close to stick figures (i.e Their proportions are not accurate.

• The idea of space, there is none. Some of the people and objects look like the are floating because of the lack of light and shadow to make it look 3D.

• There is no Perspective. It looks like a bunch of randomly placed objects that are all equal in size.

• Religion, most medieval art has some sort of religious aspect to it.

• The artists normally sign their work to know who’s work it is. In this painting we do not find this.

Renaissance Art (things to notice)

-Notice the people and their faces, they look like real people with real faces. They do not look like stick figures and they all look different.

-You can defiantly see depth perception in these paintings. As people and objects are closer they appear larger and as the fade to the distance they appear smaller.

-As you can see there is defiantly linear perspective, vanishing or focus point. When you look at the painting your eyes are drawn to one point in the painting.

-The people in the painting seem to be free to do whatever they choose. There is no reference to religion in this painting.

Why?• Medieval art: Mostly religious; very focused on creating symbols of

Christian concepts/values; not concerned with realism. Statues were shallow and flat. Bodies might be out of proportion.

• Renaissance art: Very focused on realism--on portraying things as they look. Used linear perspective in painting. Not as focused on religion. Often used to show the beauty in nature (including human beings). Often depicted everyday life. Used light and shadow.

• Attention to detail is focused on more heavily during the Renaissance.

• Times were very different as well. Medieval art was heavily focused on religion and work whereas those in the Renaissance times were more open and free. People wanted the truth and focused on realism.

• Realism focuses on life and how it is truly, not imaginative at all.