Post 2 - Winmari Paulino

The Renaissance was the period of Europe’s cultural, artistic, and economic rebirth following the Middle Ages. During this time, philosophy, literature, and art became the focal point of European culture -- the evolving change of art through the 14th to 17th century speaks to this. Although most pieces revolved around religion, the delivery and technique varied through the centuries. These differences can be explored through works by Robert Campin, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco and Peter Paul Rubens just to name a few.
This era had a great focus on depicting the important moments in biblical history, as society was heavily immersed in religion at this point in time. It is a bit ironic, though, because many of the most known pieces of this time are laced with ego. Besides self-portraits, it was common practice for patrons and donors to insert themselves in these divine images. The Mérode Altarpiece Triptych by Robert Campin made in 1428 is only one example of the many. The Altarpiece depicts The Annunciation -- one of the most significant stories as it marks the

Robert Campin, Merode Altarpiece Triptych, 1428

beginning of the story of salvation. Although, Campin placed this scene in a regular-looking home, one can look to different details that will help in emphasizing the purity of this event. For example, the lilies on the table are said to represent Mary’s virginity. Additionally, the hanging water pot is meant to signify Mary’s role as the vessel for the Incarnation of God, (Stokstad, 585). The sacrality of this moment;  however, did not stop the unnamed married couple in the left wing, to ask to be included in this piece. This was a recurring trend during the time that placed morals on the same scale as religious figures. It is important to note the stillness of this piece, in comparison to the forthcoming development of art.
   It seems that during the 15th century everyone blindly followed the Church without questioning, or at least, the doubt was not grand enough to be documented until the following century. The 16th century marked the start of the Reformation -- a movement that challenged the Roman Catholic Church. Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights can be thought of as a rebuttal to this movement. The piece can be read as a story: to the left, the piece starts with God

Hieronymus Bosch, Garden of Earthly Delights, 1505

introducing Adam and Eve to one another. The central panel displays the aftermath of their connection -- chaos. The panel displays Adam and Eve’s offspring in various situations, as if to show uncertainty about what man’s purpose is on Earth. Many see this part of the piece as a warning against lust, or sins in general, due to the actions the characters are partaking in i.e: the biting of the strawberry, signifying indulging in the forbidden fruit. The last panel’s dark background and eerie images point to the fact that it is a clear depiction of hell, which is where all the characters in the central panel are headed as a result of their outlandish behavior. Since Bosch was religious himself, it could be argued that he is signaling to the fact that those who participated in the Protestant Reformation movement, would not see Heaven.
   Artistically, there was a shift in the way religious moments were depicted. Rather than oddly placing moral beings in celestial situations, we saw religious figures involved in moral situations, as seen in Bosch’s Garden of Earthly delights with God, Adam and Eve’s presence in the midst of morals. This same idea can be found in El Greco’s Burial of the Count Orgaz. Count Orgaz was one of the main donors of a Spanish church which is why his death was monumental, along with the fact that many believed he was lowered into his grave by saints -- Saints Agustine and Stephen to be precise.

El Greco, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz,1588

This painting can also be seen as a rebuttal to the Reformation movement.

Especially when considering that one of the possible reasons as to why the scene is so crowded, is to push the narrative that Saints were present and there were witnesses to prove it. Not only that, but the scene that makes up the upper half of the composition, is very telling. Mary and Christ seem to be leading Orgaz’s soul into heaven. Again, the taunting that Judgment awaits all, as seen in Bosch’s work, as if to warn those involved in the Reformation movement.

     The 17th century marked the peak for Baroque art. While earlier art focused on serenity, stability, and all in all picture-perfect characteristics; those who participated in the Baroque style had one goal in mind: to provoke emotion within their viewer. A tactic used by artists to achieve this was to make it as realistic as possible, which meant linear perspective and vanishing points had come to an end in order to engage their audience. We can look to Peter Paul Rubens’, Henry IV Receiving the Portrait of Marie De Medici as a prime example.
It is evident that Rubens made no attempt to place distance within the audience and the art, as the scene almost feels palpable. Upon turning one’s attention to the individuals depicted, their emotion is undeniable. For instance, through a mere glance at Henry IV’s as he stares at Medici’s portrait, one can easily see that he is swooning over her. Aside from emotion, another key element associated with Baroque art is the ‘moment in time’ aspect, which means any moment captured through the art happened in the midst of continuous movement. Let’s think about the angels pictured in Rubens’ piece-- when flying angels are not stagnant to a specific location, there is a repetitive up-and-down motion.

   Although, the Renaissance came to an end centuries ago, its impact is undeniable -- even past art. If it were not for this era, scientific discoveries may not have occurred at the rate at which they have. All in all, this period aided the enlightenment of all in terms of culture, art, and philosophy.

Works Cited

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

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/renaissance-in-spain/a/el-greco-burial-of-the-count-orgaz

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/reformation-counter-reformation/a/rubens-the-presentation-of-the-portrait-of-marie-de-medici

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/northern/hieronymus-bosch/a/bosch-the-garden-of-earthly-delights

Post 2

The Renaissance — French for “rebirth” — refers to a period following the “dark” ages (a time of intellectual decline) and began roughly during the 15th century. Marked as a time of growing commerce and wealth accumulation, “political power and artistic patronage were both dominated by wealthy families.” (Stokstad & Cothren, 608) A combination of the ability of wealthy merchants to insert their images into secular art pieces and the steady advances in technology and techniques helped to establish major changes in the art of the time. These changes can be further demonstrated through the lives and works of artists such as the famous Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer, and Artemisia Gentileschi.

Michelangelo, Pietà (1498-99)

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and one of the most well-known artists of the Renaissance and perhaps of all time. ("Michelangelo, his Paintings, and Sculptures") As a young artist, Michelangelo began practicing fresco paintings and studied drawings of Classical monuments, reflected in his later works David and paintings of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. (Stokstad & Cothren, 658) His first pivotal piece of work was a marble sculpture of the Pietà, which has been commissioned by a French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères and was later used as a tomb monument in Old St. Peter’s. The sculptor depicts a dead Jesus laying in the lap of the Virgin Mary. Michelangelo depicts the Virgin as younger and physically much larger than she would typically be displayed, and out of scale with the fallen Christ she holds. We can see the attention Michelangelo has paid to the human physique through the immense details in chiseled musculature and veins. Known to travel to the marble quarries at Carrara in search of a block for his work, Michelangelo has said he “envisioned the sculpture was already existing within the marble, needing only his tools to set it free.” (Stokstad & Cothren, 658) 

Jan van Eyck (before 1395 - before July 9, 1441) was a 15th-century Early Netherlandish painter active in Burgundy. ("Jan van Eyck or Johannes de Eyck") Van Eyck became the court painter for Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1425, and in addition to commissioning works of art for him, van Eyck served as a diplomat for Duke Phillip. (Stokstad & Cothren, 587) Eyck is credited with several amazing works, including the Ghent Altarpiece housed in the Cathedral of St. Bavo in Ghent. (Stokstad & Cothren, 588) However, he is probably most well known for his Double Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife. Featured in this painting are wealthy Italian textile merchant Giovanni Arnolfini, and who most historians believe to be his wife. During its time, this painting was considered revolutionary and its existence demonstrates a shift in both political and cultural power. Before this, the Catholic Church remained the primary source of power and knowledge and was the only entity financially able to serve as patrons for creative workers. This meant that most artworks were commissioned for the church, and the subject of most works was spiritual in nature. However, Arnolfini depicted the influence that up-and-coming wealthy merchants could wield. This set the stage for similar paintings — those featuring more secular subjects and the ego of man. 

Jan van Eyck, Double Portrait of
Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife (1434)

Eyck’s work is remarkable as a result of the immense detail provided by his unique painting style. The painting depicts what is thought to be a betrothal scene, featuring the merchant and a possibly pregnant wife. The couple appears to be very wealthy, as they are depicted surrounded by luxury goods: their affluent clothing, a chandelier, and even bed hangings. It would have been common during the time to recognize the small dog featured in the painting to symbolize loyalty and fidelity between the couple. Perhaps most noticeable is the convex mirror located at the center of the painting — symbolizing the all-seeing eye of God — and “framed with a circular cycle of scenes from Christ’s Passion" serves as a powerful reminder that despite changes, spirituality and religion still maintained a large role in the lives of man and their artwork. In addition to these symbols, we can see Giovanni’s face painted with a likeness that was not yet common. (Stokstad & Cothren, 575) Most of van Eyck’s works can be found to be brandishing some sort of personal signature, and this is no different. Van Eyck makes a point to inscribe his name above the mirror (“Jan van Eyck was here 1434”). 

Albrecht Dürer, Self Portrait (1500)

Albrecht Dürer’s (1471-152) Self Portrait serves as a perfect illustration of the rise in artists who began to feature themselves in their works during the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. (Stokstad & Cothren, 691) Dürer paints himself in the likeness of Jesus Christ, referencing images of Christ as Salvator Mundi. (Stokstad & Cothren, 691) In addition to the Salvator Mundi being extremely popular and recognizable in northern Europe at the time, existed the practice among Christians of attempting to imitate Christ in their own lives. With this painting, Dürer manifests this spiritual pursuit and also references the biblical notion that all human beings are created in the image of God. (Stokstad & Cothren, 691) Dürer does a fantastic job of incorporating aspects of Northern European art into this painting, namely in the depth of detail and surface texture he works in. In addition to the central figure’s gaze, we are drawn in by “the soft sheen of human flesh, the reflective wetness of eyes, the matte softness of cloth, and the tactile quality of hair, emphasized here by the way Dürer’s hand fingers his fur collar, encouraging viewers to feel it as they see it.” (Stokstad & Cothren, 691) 

Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading 

Holofernes (1614-18)

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) was an early Italian Baroque artist and influential follower of the Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. She famously paints a reference to the biblical story of Judith, who kills Assyrian general Holofernes after he invades her town of Judah. Judith beheads the drunken general in his bed after she is given the chance to enter his quarters and charm him. A follower of Caravaggio, Gentileschi utilizes the technique of tenebrism to bring dramatic effect to the painting and capture the viewer’s attention as this violent scene is brought to the foreground of a blackened canvass. (Stokstad & Cothren, 738) One of the few recognized women artists of the period, Gentileschi was able to offer the perspective of a woman in her paintings — especially those that frequently served as depictions and retellings of traditional bible stories. The fact that Gentileschi had been the subject of a high profile rape case herself, provides additional meaning to her depiction of a woman exerting her agency in the most radical way. (Artemisia Gentileschi) 

Works Cited

“Artemisia Gentileschi.” Brooklyn Museum: Artemisia Gentileschi, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/artemisia_gentileschi.

“Jan Van Eyck or Johannes De Eyck.” Jan Van Eyck - The Complete Works, http://www.jan-van-eyck.org/.

“Michelangelo, His Paintings, and Sculptures.” Michelangelo Paintings, Sculptures, Biography, https://www.michelangelo.org/.

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

Post #2- Samira Attal

Development of Renaissance Art 

        The Renaissance time period was a pivotal time for the development of art and how it illustrates history. During, the fourteenth and seventeenth century culture completely changed which caused the art to also change. Peoples thoughts on religion , education, and politics changed drastically during this period. Rather, then the art be an idealized sense of reality, renaissance artist show reality as it is. Artists like Masaccio, Antonio del Pollaiuolo, Michelangelo, and Botticelli all contributed to the rebirth of art at the time.

        Masaccio THE EXPULSION OF ADAM AND EVE FROM PARADISE Brancacci Chapel, church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence. c. 1427. Fresco, 7′ × 2′11″ (214 × 90 cm).     

        Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone Cassai, more commonly referred to as Masaccio redefined art in Florence during the 15th century. Most of Masaccio's art is religious and he is most famous for the frescos he painted in the Brancacci Chapel in Florence. "The Expulsion of Adam and Eve" presents two significant figures from the bible. In the piece, Adam and Eve look frightened, distraught, and ashamed. Eve is covering herself and looks extremely vulnerable and Adam is covering his face as if he is afraid to even look at himself. Above them an angelic figure is holding a sword as they are kicked out of paradise. This scene from the bible has been done countless times however his version stands out due to various techniques. Masaccio "focused on the mass of the bodies formed by the underlying bone and muscle structure; a single light source emphasizes their physicality with modeled forms and cast shadows" (Stockstad 624). The painting is very light in color  and seems to be lit up but he still is able to create shadows by using dark hues in a very realistic way. Masaccio work was appreciated more in later generations because he was the first to cover walls in just fresco. After Masaccio's death it became a tradition to cover walls in fresco and use similar techniques by using linear perspective, creating lifelike light sources, and using light colors.

Antonio del Pollaiuolo THE BATTLE OF THE NUDES c. 1490. Engraving, 153⁄4 × 2213⁄16″ (40 × 58 cm). Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut. Maitland F. Griggs, B.A. 1896, Fund (1951.9.18).

       Another extremely important artist from this time is Antonio del Pollaiuolo who was an Italian painter, sculptor, and engraver. Pollaiuolo's engraving "The Battle of the Nudes" is one of the most famous pieces from the time period and depicts something not religion related. Although, religious art was still predominant at the time, many of the engravings were actually based on classical figures like Hercules . In the engraving, a naked man is shown fighting in various positions, Pollaiuolo focused on the muscles of this individuals and what happens to the body as he is fighting. This painting is not anatomically accurate; however, the attention and precision to each muscle and bone that is shown is extremely impressive. Pollaiuolo work paved a new way of engraving by showing the same figure in movement and illustrating how the body changes. 

Sandro Botticelli BIRTH OF VENUS c. 1484–1486. Tempera and gold on canvas, 5′87⁄8″ × 9′17⁄8″ (1.8 × 2.8 m). Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

        Sandri Botticelli was a late fifteenth century painter who painted for the Medici family in Florence. Many of his paintings focused on monumental mythological figures and he used techniques like linear perspective to enhance the meaning. One of his most famous painting is the "Birth of Venus" which focuses on the goddess Venus. In the painting you can see Venus arriving to a shore completely nude covering herself with her long hair. Botticelli uses linear perspective to create a scene that looks extremely realistic. Three other figures appear in the piece as well one being Zephyrus who helped Venus find her way to the shore, Another figure appears to the right of Venus, and is known as the "Goddess of spring" who seems to be waiting for her on land. Botticelli emphasizes beauty standards of time and represents Venus as the ideal beauty standard. Venus is the goddess of love, desire, and sex and Botticelli was able to illustrate this without words. 

           

Michelangelo DAVID 1501–1504. Marble, height 17′ (5.18 m) without pedestal. Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence.

         Michelangelo is one of the most famous painter and sculptor from the renaissance. He is most known for his painting in the Sistine Chapel, and his sculptures like "David" and "Pieta". In Michelangelo's "David" he created the ideal figure that illustrates strength, and beauty. Michelangelo's knowledge of the human figure is profound and paved the way for many other artists. Unlike, many other versions of this scene David is holding the rock that he will use to Goliath in a gentle way. However, David is the epitome of strength and the sculpture shows the ideal of masculinity. 

Works Cited 

http://www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-david/

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

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/painting-in-florence/a/antonio-pollaiuolo-battle-of-ten-nudes

Post 2 - Sarah Stiehler

       Renaissance is a French word for “rebirth”, which is an impeccable term to describe Europe during the fifteenth century to the seventeenth century. The Renaissance was a period of European history that signified many major changes in politics, culture, and science; that lead up to new techniques and changes in art. Many artworks were commissioned by the upper class such as kings, merchants, and popes. Linear perspective, landscape, light, anatomy, altar pieces, and figure composition were notorious for shaping Renaissance art. Artists began to draw, paint and sculpt art how they saw it rather than how they recalled it. Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael were four artists who created the epitome of Renaissance art.

David 1501-1504

Michelangelo was an essential artist during the Renaissance due to his detailed sculptures and paintings. In 1501, Michelangelo Buonarotti accepted a Florentine commission for a statue of the biblical hero, David, which is his most famous sculpture (Stokstad 658). Michelangelo created this sculpture from an 18-foot tall marble block. David was initially intended to be placed on a buttress of the cathedral, but when David was completed, it was so admired that the city council decided to place it in the city square next to the Palazzo della Signoria (Stokstad 658). In this portrayal of David, he has more adult-like features. Unlike Donatello’s David, Michelangelo's David has not yet defeated Goliath. He has a rock resting in his fingertips of his right hand and a sling rested on his left shoulder, as he gazes towards Goliath. He seems as if he is preparing himself for the dangerous battle. This David symbolizes “supremacy of right over might” which was perfect for the people of Florence who recently fought the forces of Milan, Siena, and Pisa and were continuing to face political and military pressure (Stokstad 659) . People looked at David as more than just a statue, but as a symbol of hope. In the past, statues looked rigid and stiff, but Michelangelo's David looks so realistic, as if it could step right off of the block it rests on. Although Michelangelo had a contractual agreement to the Florence Cathedral to create more statues, Pope Julius II ordered Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo considered himself to be a sculptor, so he complained about having to paint (Stokstad 660). Michelangelo used fresco paint with plaster along with foreshortening and linear perspective to demonstrate the realism of the human form. 

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
1508-1512

Donatello was one of the most successful sculptors during the Italian Renaissance because he extensively studied human emotion and expression. His most famous sculpture was the bronze David (c. 1446-1460?). This was the first “life-size, free standing nude” (Stokstad 618). For this sculpture, Donatello represents a very young, heroic David, with his foot resting on Goliath’s head. Donatello carefully sculpted all of David’s features to show him posing triumphantly after defeating Goliath. He carved the muscles to show the true anatomy of a human, and the child-like features of David. David was also a political statue in Florence. It symbolized the citizens ideas to oppose tyrants, no matter their superiority (Stokstad 618). Donatello’s David is different than many other sculptures at the time because of how the body is resting comfortably rather than stiff. Donatello’s sculpture is well ahead of its time regarding the anatomy, the detail in body structure, balance, and the expression and emotion of David.

Bronze David
c. 1446-1460?

Leonardo da Vinci was very ahead of his time in terms of science, anatomy and art. One of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous artworks is the Mona Lisa, which he painted between 1503-1506 while he was living in Florence. Many people believe that this painting portrays Lisa di Antonio Maria Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo who was a Florentine merchant. Da Vinci never delivered this piece and kept it until his death in 1519. After his death, King Louis XIV bought the painting, moved it to Versailles, and Napoleon hung it on his bedroom wall in the Tuileries Palace (Stokstad, 645). This portrait was very different from other portraits for many different reasons; during the early 1500s, it was common for artists to paint women with expensive clothing and jewelry to portray their husband’s wealth. In the Mona Lisa, her expression does not reveal much emotion, her body and hands are relaxed, and her eyes gaze towards the viewers. It was also uncommon for an artist to paint a portrait with landscape in the background. Leonardo used idealism, a natural description of her features, and a balanced perspective to truly portray her in a human form. Another technique that da Vinci used was “sfumato”, a hallmark to his all of his artworks. Sfumato is a technique where there are very subtle transitions between light and dark (Stokstad 650). In the painting The Last Supper, da Vinci also uses this technique. Duke Ludovico Sforza requested that da Vinci paint The Last Supper in the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan between 1495 and 1498 (Stokstad, 650). In this painting, Jesus is seated at a table with his disciples at The Last Supper. Da Vinci uses a vanishing point at the top of Jesus’s head to show depth between the front of the table and the back three windows. The foreground of the painting contains Jesus telling his disciples that one of them will betray him and their reactions to that news. His artwork captures very human-like responses to what Jesus tells them. This includes Judas, the man who eventually betrays Jesus, holding his money bags slightly in the darkness. Symbolically, The Last Supper shows how Jesus sacrificed himself for the salvation of mankind. Leonardo used geometry, perspective linearity along with a vanishing point to achieve the balanced look of this painting (Stokstad 650). It is evident that Leonardo da Vinci used linearity, perspective, and science to make his artwork look life-like and more unique than pre-Renaissance art.

Mona Lisa
 1503-1506

The Last Supper
1495-1498

Another artist whose art illustrates changes during this time period is Raphael. Raphael was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the Pope’s private library and study in the papal apartments between 1509-1511. His “most influential achievement” in the papal rooms was The School of Athens (Stokstad, 652). In this artwork, Raphael arranged the ideals of the Renaissance papacy in a rational space and clearly displayed each figure in this piece. Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, are in the center and the vanishing point is directly in between them. Around these philosophers are mathematicians, astronomers, other philosophers, naturalists, and geographers who seem to be debating and discussing their theories with one another. Raphael grouped these figures to harmonize philosophy and art. The School of Athens also includes a high ceiling with openings to allow light to hit each figure differently. In the front of the painting, you can see Heraclitus, a portrait of Michelangelo (Stokstad 655), in a thinking position on his own in ashy-toned clothing, while others are in bright clothing and conversing with others. Raphael does this mimic Michelangelo's belief that he is just sculptor. During this time, Michelangelo was commissioned by the pope to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel but relentlessly complained that he was just a sculptor and not a painter (Stolkstad, 655). Raphael creates this artwork to look almost three dimensional by using a vanishing point. He challenges himself by having so many figures in his painting and adding detail to each person accordingly so the audience will know who each figure is. By using these different techniques, Raphael is the perfect example of a Renaissance artist.

The School of Athens    1509-1511

Throughout the Renaissance era, artists used realism to bring their paintings to life. This created new styles and techniques that have been praised throughout history, that are still relevant and seen today. The Renaissance provided a rebirth of art, technique, and European culture. Techniques that used anatomy, linear perspective, figure composition, and an abundance of styles shaped the era. Artists began to paint what was real to the eye and created their own perspectives that are still celebrated.


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

Links:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/leonardo-da-vinci/a/leonardo-mona-lisa

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/a/donatello-david

http://scihi.org/marble-michelangelos-david/

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/a/raphael-school-of-athens

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/a/leonardo-last-supper

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/a/michelangelo-ceiling-of-the-sistine-chapel

Post #2- Mohammed Ahmed

The Renaissance was a period of time where people had great enlightenment and the start of a new way of thinking in Europe. This new method of thinking could be seen in many aspects of  the European culture, such as art,architecture, and literature. During the Renaissance, many great thinkers and artists started to present the idea of humanism and how people should embrace the intellectual achievements of others(Stokstad 646). Humanism was a key components during the Renaissance because it promoted expressiveness and clarity in art (Stokstad 646). Some of the most renowned artists of this period shaped the development in Europe during the Renaissance. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni,Raphael, and Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi. The works of these artists shaped the way we look at the Renaissance today and how humanism reached people over time.

Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci 
(1503-1506)

Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the people who was largely recognized as one of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. With no formal education, Da Vinci was still known as a genius due to his imagination and being able to see things in a way that no else could. Da Vinci expressed his imagination through his work of arts. His artworks have become some of the world's most valuable pieces of art. One of his most recognized painting would the Mona Lisa and it is the perfect exhibit to demonstrate Da Vinci’s skills as a painter and as an artist. According to Stokstad,“Mona Lisa seems to be the likeness of a specific woman who turns with calm assurance to engage viewers, hands relaxed in her lap. 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 out at us. The psychological complexity Leonardo has given to this face may explain the spell it has cast over viewers”(Stokstad 645). He painted the Mona Lisa in a fashion where the eyes of the subject painted would seem to follow anyone who is viewing the painting. Furthermore, anyone looking at the painting would be perplexed as to what emotions were being displayed by the subject due to the subtle work that Da Vinci did on the lips of  Mona Lisa . Da Vinci displayed a technique of painting which was new and unique to himself and something that would make people marvel at his artwork.

Sistine Chapel,Michelangelo
(1508-1512)

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni or otherwise known as Michelango, was the rival of Leonardo Da Vinci and other great minds of the Renaissance. Unlike Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo was not an avid painter nor did he care about excelling in painting. His forte encompasses making sculptures. His most acclaimed work would the his marble sculpture of David. Michelangelo was very young when he was commissioned to sculpt David. He had to be very persuasive to get the job and created a fine piece of work. Also, Michelangelo made his mark in Renaissance architecture when he made the statue Pieta and when did the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was hesitant to work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel due to being asked to paint but he could not deny a strong minded Pope. In the text, Stokstad quoted Michelangelo stating “ This miserable job has given me a goiter…. The force of it has jammed my belly up beneath my chin. Beard to the sky….Brush splatterings make a pavement of my face…. I’m not a painter”(Stokstad 660). The results astonished people and had created a new way of painting during the Renaissance (Stokstad 662). This shows how multi talented Michelangelo was and why he revered as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance period.

St.George, Donatello (1415-1417)

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi or better known as Donatello was a genius sculptor. His style of sculpting differentiated the Renaissance art from the art of the Middle Ages. Donatello was a leading for in developing architecture during the renaissance.He focused his work on realism and showing emotions in his work. One is most known work was Saint George which was made for armorers and sword-makers in Florence(Stokstad 617). Donatello approach was more realistic than the gothic style that people were used to from the Middle Ages. He was able to convey emotions into every piece of work he did and he was well known for getting commission by wealthy families (Stokstad 616). Donatello was most notable for doing many statues for cathedrals in Florence and from there people recognized him. Donatello was also the first person to make a statue of David made completely out of bronze (Stokstad 618). This inspired many artists to find different ways to make their art. Donatello created the shallow relief technique which makes a sculpture look deep while it was actually done on a shallow plane and it can be seen in his work on Saint George. Stokstad states, “Donatello carved a remarkable shallow relief showing St. George slaying the dragon and saving the princess, a well-known part of his story. The contours of the foreground figures are slightly undercut to emphasize their mass, while the landscape and architecture are in progressively lower relief until they are barely incised rather than carved, an ingenious emulation of the painter’s technique of atmospheric perspective” (Stokstad 618). Donatello was an innovator during the Renaissance and that resulted in statue were used to his visions. His style of sculpting was a niche to himself and admired by many. His Innovation in sculpting made him stand out from other artists of this time period.

The School of Athens, Raphael (1509-1511)

Raffaello Santi or Sanzio, better known as Raphael, was also genius painter of his time and most renown during the Renaissance. His painting were known for clarity and implementing human grandeur in his work.  His most influential work was done when he was commissioned by the Pope to paint the papal apartments (Stokstad 652). In one of the rooms, Raphael painted his most notable work, The School of Athens. Stokstad describes Raphael’s work and states, “the painter summarizes the ideals of the Renaissance papacy in a grand conception of harmoniously arranged forms in a rational space, as well as in the calm dignity of the figures that occupy it”(Stokstad 652). His work further lead him to be commissioned for paintings in the Sistine Chapel and thus lead him to impacting the art and architecture during the Renaissance. His unique way of painting made it possible for him to have a significant impact on the arts of the Renaissance and his work became most recognizable artworks from that time period.



These artists had the most impact during the Renaissance and their work can be recognized from all over the world. There artworks have become some of the world’s most valuable artwork. They innovated the way art was done and brought a new way of thinking when looking at art. Not only did they have a profound impact on the Renaissance and they made major contribution to the world of art.

Works Cited

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

Post 2

The Renaissance was instrumental in the growth of European culture. Starting in Italy in the 15th century and then spreading to the rest of Europe throughout the 16th and 17th centuries the Renaissance was a cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth”. Promoting the rediscovery of art and literature the Renaissance featured some of the greatest artists in history.Through their work artists and patrons were able to express their views on religion and politics as well as showing off their wealth or status. Albrecht Durer, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Matthias Grunewald are artists whose work displayed key features of Renaissance art.

Albrecht Durer was a Renaissance artist who painted works such as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Four Apostles, and Adam and eve. Like many artists during his time Durer liked to express himself in his work. Within his paintings he speaks of religion and his political views. A good example of this is in “The Four Apostles”. Painted in 1526 this was during the time of the Protestant reformation. The Protestants believed that christianity should be about one's own connection with God rather than a connection through the Pope. In the painting above you can see Durer's Protestant beliefs as it shows the Peter and John on the left while Paul and Mark are on the left. In the painting you can see that Peter has the key to heaven meaning any human can have a connection to god and that salvation was through the bible. This was a political statement against the church Durer converted to Protestantism shortly after this was made.

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino(1483-1520), known as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. Raphael is one of the most well known artists of the Renaissance making works such as Marriage of the Virgin,Portrait of Maddalena Doni, and The School of Athens. His work portrays noble and ideal individuals who move with dignity and grace through an intelligible and ordered world. Commissioned by the Church Raphael's masterpiece “ The School of Athens” is a fresco that decorated the walls of the Vatican. It shows all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists coming together to learn and share ideas. Including scholars like Aristotle, Plato and Pythagoras the fresco highlighted the importance of knowledge and philosophy during this time.

  

Michelangelo(1475-1564) is arguably one of the most well known artists of the Renaissance. From painting on the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to his sculpture David Michelangelo was adept at bringing his work to life. The details in each of his sculptures makes the  observes feel as though it was real and moving. Michelangelo's “Pieta”, located in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary carrying the dead body of christ in her arms.From the details of Christs limp body to the way Marys body connects with the flesh the sculpture was one of many works done in the Renaissance with Christ. At this period in time Christianity was “revived and many artists highlighted this in their work. In the Pieta Michelangelo uses dead body of Christ to show his suffering for humanity's sins. The goal of repentance and salvation was a large part of the Renaissance making this a reminder to all of what God did for us.

 

Matthias Grunewald(1470-1528) was another Renaissance painter who highlighted the suffering of Christ in his work. Grunewald partnered with Nikolaus Hagenauer to sculpt and paint the Isenheim Altarpiece. Constructed between 1512 to 1516 the altarpiece depicted the crucifixion of christ. Unlike many paintings however this was not a peaceful depiction of his death as you can see an over exaggeration of how thin christ was as well as his legs and feet being twisted and distorted.This graphic scene helped Grunewald connect to people and their suffering as well as reminding us of penance for our sins from  his open wounds. During the Renaissance Christianity was at a revival where everyone was worried about getting into heaven by any means necessary. The Church even had people give money to offer them places in happen which as we know led to Protestantism. This piece is meant to show you what God allowed to happen to his only son reminding us all to repent. 

Post 2- Michael Matusz

    The Renaissance 

  The Renaissance ran from the beginning of the 15th century all the way to the 17th century. This movement is about the "Rebirth" of society, everything was changing into a society that was being taken over by political institutions and pieces of art. Throughout this period, a multitude of artists created exquisite paintings that still play a huge paint in art history. Some examples include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, the Sistine Chapel, "David", etc. The beautiful thing about art is that all of the paintings that were created during the Renaissance are unique and indifferent from each other. The majority of the paintings are based off of different events that occurred throughout the Renaissance. Some of the most famous artists during the Renaissance includes: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rafael, and Brunelleschi.  

    The first artist that I am going to introduce is Michelangelo Buonarroti. Michelangelo was born in "Caprese" into an "impoverished Florentine family that laid a claim to nobility," (Stokstad, 658). Michelangelo is known as one of the best artists of all time that created some of the most highly regarded paintings ever. His painting David (1501-1504) is from the story of "David and Goliath". David was an enormous underdog against the unbeatable Goliath; however, David overcame the odds and defeated him. In the painting, David stands in a little taller than five meters and is composed of marble. He is completely nude and is portrayed as an athletically built man. He is gazing off into the distance with his "slingshot over his shoulder and a rock in his right hand" (Stokstad, 659). David's gaze into the distance is interpreted as he is "preparing himself psychologically for the danger ahead" (Stokstad, 659). This painting's theme is filled with triumph because of the fact that David defeated Goliath. Another theme is to never give up when faced with times of adversity. Michelangelo had another painting composed completely out of marble. This painting is called Pieta (1500). Pieta is a lot more gloomy compared to the painting of David. Pieta depicts "Virgin Mary supporting and mourning the dead Jesus in her lap," (Stokstad, 658). Michelangelo was commissioned to make this piece of art by a "French Cardinal" and it is used as a "tomb monument". The Virgin Mary is sitting on a slate of marble looking down at Jesus as he is laying lifeless on her lap. The meaning of this work is to show people what Jesus went through in order to give us everlasting life. The theme of this piece was "an unusual theme in Italy at this time (1500),"(Stokstad 1500). Pieta is a piece that is meant to show respect to our lost ones, especially because of the fact that it is installed as a tomb monument. Lastly, Michelangelo's most famous piece is the Sistine Chapel (1475-1541). This piece is filled with an amplitude of different drawings. There are depictions of individuals going to heaven and hell, disciples, Adam and Eve, etc. The Sistine Chapel is very vibrant and is filled with bright colors that makes the whole room light up. It is simply a masterpiece. While completing this painting, Michelangelo was complaining about how "the miserable job has given him a goiter.. The force of it has jammed his belly up beneath his chin," (Stokstad, 660). The Sistine Chapel basically brings a decent amount of the bible stories into one room for everyone to observe and look at in awe. This painting differs from the other Michelangelo paintings that I mentioned because it includes color and looks more attractive to the human eye. However, it is similar because of the fact that he still uses marble to complete his masterpiece. 

Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo (1475-1541)

The next artist that I am going to talk about is Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi, simply known as Donatello. According to Stokstad, Donatello developed into one of the most influential and distinguished figures in the history of Italian sculpture. One of Dontatello's prominent pieces is called St. George (1415-1417). Dontatello was called upon by the sword-makers of Florence to carve the saint to have it symbolize their "advertisement of trade, carrying a metal sword and wearing a metal helmet," (Stokstad, 617-618). However, all of the accessories are now lost from the sculpture. St.George is standing inside what seems to be a small alter, similar to alters in churches. The entire sculpture is made out of marble and stands in at six foot five inches. He is staring out "into our world, perhaps sizing up his most famous adversary-- a dragon that was holding a princess captive," (Stokstad, 618). St.George is depicted as a muscular individual and looks prepared to go into battle with his sword and scabbard.  The "complex psychological characterization of the warrior-saint impressed Dontatello's contemporaries," (Stokstad, 618). Another sculpture created by Donatello was Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata (1453). The sculpture was made to "commemorate a war general of the Venetian army, Erasmo de Narni, nicknamed Gattamelata". This piece of art is a life-size bronze statue that has Gattamelata mounted on his horse ready to go into battle. Gattamelata's facial expression "reads unshakably confident with his horse in mid-stride and his sword is sheathed at his side," (Donatello). Both of the artworks that I mentioned from Dontatello hold similar themes even if they were created forty years apart. They both include soldiers who are filled with confidence who are ready to go into battle.

Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata, Donatello (1453)

Tomaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone Cassai, Massaccio, was also a very prominent artist within the Renaissance. He established a new direction of painting by "integrating monumental and consistently scaled figures into rational architectural and natural settings using linear perspective," (Stokstad, 622).  One of the beautiful pieces of art he created was the Trinity with the Virgin, St.John the Evangelist, and Donors (1426). This piece of art has Jesus crucified in the middle of the painting with God the Father standing behind him to support him and the donors kneeling on both sides. In addition, Mary and John the Evangelist are also on the sides of Jesus.  This fresco was meant to give the illusion of a "stone funerary monument and altar table set below a deep aedicula," (Stokstad, 622). The theme of this fresco has the donors mourning and paying their respects to Jesus. Behind all of the individuals, there are two pillars that continue all the way to the back of the artwork. 

The Trinity with the Virgin, St.John the Evangelist, and Donors, Massaccio (1426)

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve (1427) is another famous painting completed by Massaccio. This painting follows the story of "Adam and Eve" in the Bible. Jesus gave Adam and Eve specific instructions not to eat from a certain apple day but they disobeyed him. This was the first sin that humans committed. This picture depicts a completely nude man and women who are weeping because they just got kicked out of paradise by an Angel. The Angel is flying above Adam and Eve and is holding a sword as he escorts them out of paradise's doors. Adam and Eve have looks of embarrassment on their faces and the audience senses a feeling of shame towards them. In this painting, Massaccio focused on "the mass of the bodies formed by underlying bone and muscle structure.... Massaccio concerns himself with the psychological impact of shame on these first humans," (Stokstad, 624). The theme of this painting is about how all humans are tempted to commit sin, but it is up to yourself to deny it or not. Both of the pieces of art that I introduced from Massaccio have a somber mood to them. The Trinity is mourning the loss of Jesus, while Adam and Eve are being shunned out of the kingdom for committing sins.

Lastly, Leonardo da Vinci played a huge part in the paintings of the Renaissance. Da Vinci and his family "moved to Florence" from "Vinci"when he was a young teenager. He spent a lot of his time in Milan where he worked on "military and civil engineering projects, including urban renewal and fortification plans for the city," (Stokstad 648). Da Vinci painted arguably one of the most famous paintings of all time, Mona Lisa (1503-1506. The Mona Lisa is a minuscule painting only measuring 77x53 cm. However, it holds a lot of value. It is said that this painting portrays "Lisa di Antonio Maria Gherardini", the wife of a "Franceso del Giocondo". The Mona Lisa is just a self-portrait  that has winding roads in the background. In the painting, Mona Lisa's eyes are aimed towards the right side of the painting, "this psychological complexity Leonardo has given to this face may explain the spell it cast over the viewers". In addition, this painting "embodies the hallmarks of the High Renaissance style," (Stokstad, 645). The colors included in this piece of art are very dull, giving it a slightly negative feel to it. (Fun Fact about this piece: Mona Lisa does not have any eyebrows). 

Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci (1503-1506)

Another one of da Vinci's masterpieces is The Virgin Of The Rocks (1485). This picture depicts the virgin and her child with angels kneeling on the ground with what seems to be a cave in the background. In order to add some balance to the painting, Leonardo added John the Baptist to the left side of the virgin. John the Baptist is "pulled into dialogue with his younger cousin Jesus by the long arms of the Virgin Mary," (Stokstad, 648). Mary's long arms act as a protective barrier to John the Baptist as she is placing her other hand on the top of Jesus' head. The mysterious background to this painting adds another breathtaking element. According to Stokstad, the Virgin of the Rocks will become a "standard feature of High Renaissance Classicism". Mona Lisa and The Virgin Of The Rocks have a couple similarities and differences. They are different by the usage of the color schemes, Mona Lisa is more dull while The Virgin Of The Rocks adds more vibrant colors to it. On the other hand, both of the paintings display humans characteristics in the same way. The way that they are painted are very similar, making it obvious that both of these paintings are made from the same artist.

Works Cited

Anirudh. (2018, September 10). Anirudh. Retrieved from https://www.learnodo-newtonic.com/donatello-famous-works.

Stokstad, M., & Cothren, M. W. (2018). Art history. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.