Post 2

The origins of the Renaissance came from an Italian scholar and poet Francesco Petrarca who was one of the earliest humanists. Petrarca emphasized the power and potential human beings have for individual triumph. They proudly saw their period of time as an era of revival and rebirth. The goal was to live a rich, noble, and productive life so they emerged into appreciating the achievements and accomplishments of ancient Rome, valuing rational scientific investigation. There was a new way of thinking in Europe and people were starting to think on their own. The Renaissance began in Florence, where the wealthy showed off their money by becoming intellectuals, supporters of artists, and patrons. Without the patronage of the wealthy, artists wouldn’t have been able to explore and enjoy the pleasures Italy had to offer turning Florence into the cultural center of Europe. As one Florentine merchant, Giovanni Rucellai, succinctly noted, he supported the arts “because they serve the glory of God, the honour of the city, and the commemoration of myself”(Stokstad 608). Some artists that were vital in changing the perspectives of people all over the world were Leonardo Da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Masaccio. 

Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci
(1503-1506)

Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. His "Mona Lisa" and "Last Supper" are indisputably among the most famous and admired around the world. As Milan was being invaded by the French, Da Vinci fled to Florence where he painted "La Gioconda" also known as "Mona Lisa" between 1503 and 1506. Leonardo Da Vinci surprisingly had no formal education and was mostly self taught which is just astounding considering his works. At first glance, this painting captivates us in a way that only Leonardo Da Vinci could have done. The slight smirk with mysterious and ambiguous landscapes behind her and subtle eyes that follow you give the painting a three dimensional feel. It is easy to see that this portrait has many components of the High Renaissance style, "The blend of naturalistic description and classicizing idealism, and the clarity balanced structure of the pyramidal composition that gives utter stability to the monumental sculptural form"(Stokstad 641). Mona Lisa however is different. She does not have a lot of jewelry or a lot of fabrics like a wealthy women would have to signify their status and husbands riches, she ordinary but her psychological complexity hides what she's thinking and her personality which is why viewers are captivated by this portrait. This portrait now hangs at the Louvre for everyone to see in Paris. To think that this painting was never delivered and was kept to be worked on continuously by Leonardo Da Vinci almost alludes its stardom as if he knew it was going to impact art in such a huge way. Some elements used in this painting are form, line, space, and value. There are many shadows and tints among her body and the woman can be portrayed as positive space and the background negative. Leonardo Da Vinci continues to make people marvel at his work to this day. Without a doubt he was one of the greatest minds of the Renaissance.

Sandro Botticelli BIRTH OF VENUS
(1484–1486)

Sandro Boticelli was one of the greatest painters in the Florentine Renaissance. He "painted sculptural figures that were modeled by light from a consistent source and placed in a setting rendered illusionistic by linear perspective.(Stokstad 635). He often included saints aadn angles in religious painting much like other artists during the renaissance. Working for the Medici very frequently he was called to Rome in 1481 to help decorate the Sistine Chapel. At first Primavera was painted at the time fo the wedding of Lorenzo di Pierfranseco de Medici and Semiramidre d'Appian in 1482. Years later came the Birth of Venus which included some of the same mythological figures from Primavera. "Botticelli’s Classical goddess of love and beauty, born of sea foam, averts her eyes from our gaze as she floats ashore on a scallop shell, carefully arranging her hands and hair to hide—but actually drawing attention her sexuality. (Stokstad 635). This painting shows the goddess of love and beauty arriving on land on the island of Cyprus. Alongside her are the god of the winds, Zephyr and the breeze Aura driving Venus towards the shore where she is naked on a golden shining shell. It is said that the rose was supposed to have flowered for the first time when Venus was born and for that reason the gentle rose colored flowers are almost dancing around Zephyr and Aura. Again an important element during the renaissance was realism. Attention to the human body was vital so many studied anatomy. Venus's left arm, long neck, and shoulders show us just how convincing Boticelli wanted to be which is why he is one of the greatest painters during the Renaissance.

David, Michelangelo
(1501-1594)

Pieta, Michelangelo (1500)

Stokstad introduces us to Michelangelo Buonarroti by beginning with "he was born in the Tuscan town of Caprese. He was born into an impoverished Florentine family that laid a claim to nobility—a claim the artist carefully advanced throughout his life." At thirteen Michelangelo apprenticed Domenico Ghirlandaio where he mastered fresco techniques and draughtsmanship. Michelangelo was distantly related to the Medici family through his grandmother so he lived in the Medici household from 1490-1492. As we know the Medici family commissioned many artists to paint portraits throughout the renaissance. Lorenzo de Medici was the person who commissioned Michelangelo's first works in 1492. Later, Michelangelo's interest became drawn to human anatomy and the complexities of the human body. In order to master this element he dissected bodies and drew from live models. In 1501, he accepted a commission for a statue of the biblical hero David. Michelangelo perfectly embodies the male physique and the slingshot over the shoulder is placed perfectly at rest. Pieta is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary mourning the dead Jesus in her lap. Something about this sculpture is that Jesus is much smaller than the Virgin but again the physique and human body of mouth Jesus and Mary are chiseled perfectly. Then sculpture was made to be seen up close to look at Jesus's face.

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve From Paradise,
Masaccio(1427)

 Tomasso di Giobanni di Simone Cassai, most commonly know as Masaccio was born on December 21, 1401 and died autumn 1428 in Rome. His frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel was very influential throughout the Renaissance. In only six years, his use of natural settings and using linear perspective created a new course of paintings for Florence. In the Expulsion of Adam and Eve From Paradise, Masaccio illustrates Adam and Eve as nude figures with a face of utter shame as they are kicked out of paradise and thrown into the naked world. Eve is covering her private parts as another use of Masaccio's psychological impact because she is now guilty of what she has done. Adam on the other hand is covering his face in embarassment where he can't even bear to show his face. 

Works Cited

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