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