Post 2

Martina Michelato


Intro Art History II


10/17/19

Professor Cacolio



This paper will discuss the four major Italian artists during the Renaissance period. The artists that will be discussed in this paper are; Michaelango, Da Vinci, Donatello, and Rafael. The work of these iconic artists left a deep influential impact in the world of art history. They were and are, to this day, major art developments. The most famous art in Europe came from these artists, people loved their paintings, sculptures and architecture. A large majority of their artworks still have meaningful impacts on today's modern cultural, economical and political issues.


The first artist that will be discussed in this paper is the notable Michelangelo. Michelangelo was from Florence, Italy. He is one of the most influential artists of the renaissance period. Not only did he work on paintings, he also worked on sculptures and was known for creating iconic artworks with marble. Michelangelo's great artworks with marble are what led him to being commissioned for one of the world's best sculptures, David. When creating David, he used a leftover block of marble, which was originally assigned to be made for the buttress of the cathedral. The sculpture David was finished between the years of; 1501 to 1504. Once the masterpiece was finished, it was extremely praised and acclaimed by the Catholic church. They used the lifesize sculpture and put it at the entrance of the Palazzo Dei Priori, as a great symbol of Florence. “There it stood as a reminder of Florence’s republican status, which was briefly reinstated” (Stokstad, 659). David is from the biblical story of ‘David and Goliath’. David has become such an important piece of art and has influenced today's artists. This iconic masterpiece has also immensely changed Florence by making their art reputation one to be reckoned with. To this day, David is still very famous, iconic and relevant now in our classrooms. The sculpture is visited and appreciated by thousands of people everyday. Michelangelo also worked on many other prominent, influential artworks, such as; the Sistine Chapel located at the Vatican City in Rome. His work is held in high regard, specifically in association to his work and attention to detail. This is what makes him a great, memorable artist, he brings his work to life.





David by Michelangelo


Donatello was another notable, significant artist from Florence region of Italy. His main artworks focused on bronze, wood and marble. One of his greatest works was the first naked bronze male sculpture, David which was made during this time period. This sculpture was also David but in this one he is holding a sword and has his foot on top of Goliath's head, showing how he defeated him. This iconic sculpture is located within the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence. Many people viewed his sculpture as more of a realistic, victorious figure compared to Michaengalos because he showed how he defeated Goliath. “ It symbolized the citizens ideas to oppose tyrants, no matter their superiority” (Stokstad 618). It is also said that the engraving on this sculpture could have another meaning that represents “ a victory that brought resolution to a quarter- century struggle with depots and helped give Florence a vision for itself as a strong, virtuous republic” (Stokstad, 619).


David by Donatello, 1446-1460?


Rafael is from Urbino, Italy he has one of the most influential works of art that changed the course of art forever. This masterpiece is called The School Of Athens, which was painted between 1510-1511. It is located in Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican, Pope Julias II asked him to do the painting. He included himself in the painting, he loved to put himself in his work so the people can see who made it. This painting represents all the greatest mathematicians, scientists and philosophers together sharing and learning from one another. After this painting his reputation built more and more, “that he was obliged to leave more and more work to his assistants” because he didn't have time to do it all. (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ART EDUCATION.) It is such a powerful painting because The school of Athens refers to school of knowledge, this painting has all the influential men from different periods of time put together to learn from one another. “The serene and harmonious qualities of Raphael's paintings were regarded as some of the highest models of the humanist impetus of the time, which sought to explore man's importance in the world through artwork that emphasized supreme beauty” (The Art Story).





The School of Athens by Rafael, 1510-1511


The last artist this paper will discuss is Da Vinci. Da Vinci was born in Anciano, Italy. He created two extremely famous paintings very well known, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. The Last Supper was created between 1495 to 1498 it depicts the Passover dinner during which Jesus Christ addresses the Apostles. It is located at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. “The Painting’s careful geometry, the convergence of its perspective lines, the stability of its pyramidal forms, and Jesus’s calm demeanor at the mathematical center of all the commotion, work together to reinforce the sense of gravity, balance, and order. The clarity and stability of this painting epitomize High Renaissance style” (Stokstad, 650). This painting represents a very important moment in the catholic history and especially in Italy. The Mona Lisa is located in the Louvre in Paris he began it in 1503 but it was not put up until he died in 1519, it is said he worked on it over the years and took his time. It is such a masterpiece that it cannot be bought or sold. Mona Lisa’s look is very intriguing, “Her expression has been called enigmatic. It hides rather than reveals her thoughts and personality, and it lacks the warmth one expects to see in her eyes, which have shifted to the side to look straight at us” (Stokstad, 645). Mona Lisa is visited by thousands of people a day and it is considered an artistic relic and a huge legend in art history. Da Vinci was not only an artist he was also a scientist, which he also used in his work, his strategy was he would first understand how a human's muscles and skeleton fit together. Then he would use his strategy to paint and help him with detail and create amazing work.





Mona Lisa by Da Vinci, 1503-1506





The Last Supper by Da Vinci,1495-1498


In Conclusion, The Renaissance period was a very important time period for art. It had a lot of new and historical art that is still famous up to this day. Mostly all the paintings were based on religion in this time period, and have a story behind them. These four artists from this time period have changed the history of art and have brought forward a new era and a new kind of art. I have seen most of these painters work in person and being able to study them more has enlightened me to see more, these painters are very influential and have amazing work.





Works Cited:


History.com Editors. “Leonardo Da Vinci.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2 Dec. 2009, https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/leonardo-da-vinciHistory.com Editors. “Leonardo Da Vinci.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2 Dec. 2009, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/raphael/


“School of Athens by Raphael - Facts & History of the Painting.” Totally History, 9 Jan. 2014, http://totallyhistory.com/school-of-athens/


Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Sixth ed., II, Pearson, 2018.


“The School of Athens (1509-11).” School of Athens, Raphael: Analysis, Interpretation,





http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/school-of-athens.htm#raphael