Renaissance Art: 14th-16th Century

Renaissance Art

• The Proto-Renaissance period is often considered to be the 14th century
• The term "Renaissance" literally means "rebirth" or "renewal"
• Renaissance art focused on classical Greek and Roman culture, humanism, and individualism
• During the Renaissance, cultural influences from ancient Greece and Rome merged with contemporary European culture
• Artists associated with the Proto-Renaissance period include Duccio, Cimabue, and Giotto

Renaissance Development

• The term "Rinascita" was used in the 16th century to refer to the revival of classical culture that dominated Europe
• The Proto-Renaissance break occurred in the 14th century
• The Medici family amassed significant wealth through banking and international trade during the Early Renaissance
• Artists associated with the Early Renaissance period include Masaccio, Brunelleschi, and Donatello

Renaissance Techniques

• Renaissance artists used linear perspective to create the illusion of 3D images, a technique never explored in art before
• Artists characterized by their expert understanding of human anatomy during the High Renaissance include Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci
• High Renaissance art is associated with balance, harmony, and naturalism

Renaissance and Science

• The merging of art and science benefited Renaissance artists by allowing them to create more accurate and detailed representations of the natural world

Baroque Art

• The term "Baroque" means "irregularly shaped pearl" in Portuguese
• The achievements of Baroque art occurred in Germany and colonial South America in the 17th and 18th centuries
• Characteristics associated with Baroque art include dramatic lighting, intense emotions, and ornate decoration
• The art movement that heavily influenced the Baroque era was Mannerism
• Many art history scholars argue that Baroque art was a reaction against the Renaissance, emphasizing emotion over reason

Baroque Characteristics

• Baroque art is characterized by dynamic movement, intense light and shadow, and a sense of tension
• The artistic movement that emphasized stark contrasts, passion, and tension is Tenebrism
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the leading figure of Baroque sculpture
• Rembrandt is the Italian artist associated with the painting "The Nightwatch"

Baroque Architecture

• The key similarity in the rejection of straight lines in Baroque sculpture is the use of curved lines and irregular shapes
• The architectural style developed in Rome during the era of Baroque architecture is the Baroque style
• Most Baroque painters originated from Italy

Famous Works

• "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" is a renowned work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
• "The Milkmaid" is a painting created by Johannes Vermeer
• "The Calling of St Matthew" is a famous work by Caravaggio
• "Supper at Emmaus" is a painting associated with Caravaggio

Test your knowledge about the social and cultural changes in Europe during the Renaissance period, particularly focusing on the realistic style of painting known as Renaissance art. Explore the merging of ideas and culture from ancient Greece and Rome into contemporary art.