Art Movement blog
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The renaissance period happened from 1300s-1700s, and this is a ‘rebirth’ after the Middle Ages so a lot of that work will have the theme of moving away from the middle ages. In the middle ages a lot of the artwork depicted Jesus as an ugly baby, as he was like a mature adult at birth so did not change much through his life. But in the renaissance, the focus was on human beauty, and many were having their children drawn so wished them to be depicted as cherubs.
Byzantine art was still present at the start of the renaissance although it originated from the 300s at the start of the eastern Roman Empire, it went into decline in 1453 due to the fall of Constantinople. But it was still present at the beginning of the renaissance and the singular context was Christian teachings to keep it standardized and controlled. This reduced the risk of Christian teachings being incorrectly interpreted, which may have resulted in other versions of Christianity. All figures are symbolic and are front-facing, to supposedly invite spiritual worship, and appeared in many forms such as manuscripts and panel paintings in churches to illuminate the worship of the Christ.
Gothic art was also present around the early 1400s which was a mixture of medieval art and the traditional roman art such as Byzantine. Gothic artwork was more natural, and varied its human form and the postures they were in. Gothic artwork was more focused on detail rather than substance, so much of the artwork appeared more elegant and decorative, as opposed to being used for propaganda.
Artwork then progressed to be even more naturalistic, so broke away from the byzantine and gothic styles in the early renaissance. Figures now appeared in a landscape, and these paintings had a lot more depth. One famous artist, Giotto, altered perspectives in his paintings and placed human forms against buildings, which is a contrast to the flatter paintings of the byzantine art.
However, most of the development occurred in the high renaissance, where the ‘true’ rebirth of the classics occurred (from ancient Rome and Greece). Iconic figures such as Michelangelo and Da Vinci made their art in this period and had so much skill they were compared to, and had the status of, philosophers and scientists. Their artwork had classic ideas such as beauty and form (much alike the ancient roman and greek art work depicting the perfect form of Venus/Aphrodite). The content of their art was classic and accurately drawn, and had sophisticated composition.
At the end of the high renaissance, Mannerism occurred which illustrated how art developed from the renaissance to be exaggerated or of a particular theme. Many of the responses were more personal, instead of being true to nature as found in the bulk of the high renaissance. One of these styles that occurred was Vanitas which was very focused on death. It was inspired by events that triggered the renaissance such as the plague, to portray how people can easily die. Objects in Vanitas style are symbolic, such as skulls to represent death, but also include objects such as butterflies and fruit to symbolise the beautiful/sweet things about life- whilst illustrating that death is inevitable.
References
History -http://www.history.com/topics/renaissance-art
I did some library research and found a very useful informative book based on Leonardo Da Vinci, artist and also designer in the late 14th century.
Leonardo first experimented first with him paintings but what really changed how science progressed in the 14th century was his designs of pulleys and futuristic designs, this way of thinking was revolutionary for the time. Using his art skills it allowed Leonardo to create life like drawings of how his designs would work and put together. Also arguing the first ever designs of instructions
Leonardos drawings and thinking took him to where his designs cant be further implomented or basically work. He would have to wait another 400 years for other inventions to answer his floors in his designs. Such as the combustion engine.
I did some library research and found a very useful informative book based on Leonardo Da Vinci, artist and also designer in the late 14th century.
Renaissance painting styles, Fresco is a technique of mural painting used upon wet plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall. Sadly this style of painting is very time consuming but when used and finished very magnificent, as seen from the last supper painting.
First where pairings and art on walls were first used was by the Romans and also the Egyptians around 200 BC. How this style of design work was carried to the Renaissance was predominately when people fled the oncoming force of Attila the Hun who was to destroy the Roman Empire. Artists and designers fleeing scatter but taking there traditions and styles of art with them.
Johannes Vermeer painting based around was sixteen-year-old young lady who was forced to marry a rich noble man in Italy. Struck by the colours, as well as the expression on said girl’s face, it gave a lot of story to tell to its viewers. Showing her beauty but also showing how she is calling out for help as if she is trapped. Very innocent but painted also showing excellent levels of light and contrast on the pearl earring.
Designer Leonardo Da Vinci
Da Vinci being a artist, engineer and designer and many other very diverse skills. Most well known for his paintings but Da Vinci was very responsible for the increase in tecknoligy during the 14th and 15th century. His design such as the armoured vehicle, flying contraptions and buildings. Da Vinci's work was very much inflenced by rich dukes paying him to build defences and design weapons of destruction. Da Vinci was also inspired by the power of nature in his work. You can see this in his most famous 3 paintings, one being the Mona Lisa. In the painting in the back ground shows water braking its banks and flooding over. I find this very interesting to see because, the work is not just paintings with no thought, but he paints done use soul and also portray messages to everyone who sees his work. Leonardos study with Nature inspired a lot of his designs such as the flying contraption. He believed if one took the sky's they would be victorious. Da Vinci inspires me because he always seemed to be 10 steps ahead in his work and designs. Especially in the time he was operating at, no one was designing and thinking the way he was. As a designer this is the most incredible skill you could own as a designer, also being very realistic and a futurist.
