The Renaissance!

1. The Renaissance!

2. The Renaissance • Means “rebirth” - first society to understand their own place in history and invent a name for themselves. • They no longer saw themselves in relation to Christ (A.D. or B.C.), but now measured history by human events. • Individualism • Self-awareness/self-assurance • Ready to question traditional beliefs and values • Considered the “Dark Ages” dark! • Humanism • The idea that MAN, not God, is the measure of all things • To revive the classical “humanities” and surpass them • Advances in all arts and sciences • Neo-Platonism - ancient culture adapted for Christian use

3. The “High Renaissance” • The highest point of creativity during the Renaissance • Involves the work of a relatively few artistic “geniuses” - art no longer a “craft” • Leonardo – Bramante (architect) • Michelangelo – Raphael • Giorgione – Titian • The “Cult of the Genius” • The “Renaissance Man” • Same time as Christopher Columbus

4. The “Big Three”of the High Renaissance

5. The “Big Three”of the High Renaissance 1. Leonardo da Vinci – 1452-1519 2. Michelangelo Buonarroti – 1475-1564 3. Raphael (Raphaello Sanzio) – 1483-1520

6. Big Achievements in Art • Oil paint supercedes tempera as the medium of choice • The Laws of Perspective are worked out by Filippo Bruneleschi (an architect) around 1400

7. 1. Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519the first “Renaissance Man”an Endless Search for Knowledge • Painter • Scientist/Inventor • Architect • Munitions designer • Musician • City planner

8. Leonardo the Painter Detail from Verrocchio's Baptism of Christ First known figure ptd. by Leonardo

9. Leonardo the Painter Detail from Verrocchio's Baptism of Christ First known figure ptd. by Leonardo

10. Virgin of the Rocks (1485) • Sfumato • Oil glazing vs. impasto • Chiaroscuro • “Light and shade”

11. The Last Supper (1495-98)14x30 ft - Tragic experiment - Composition

12. “One of you will betray me...”

17. La Jacondeor Mona Lisa(1503-06) • Pyramidal composition • Symbolic AND representational • Possibly the most famous painting of all time • Sfumato and glazing

18. Virgin and Child with St. Anne (1495-1510) “Heightened” drawing Fifteen years to complete!

19. Drawings

20. Notebooks

21. Leonardo the Inventor • Medical Illustration • Pastels • Life preserver • Spring-powered automobile • Diving bell • “Flying” machines • Human-powered army tank • Chariots with blades • Bombshells • Etc.

22. Self-portrait (1512-15)

23. 2. Michelangelo Buonarroti1475-1564 The Solitary Genius

24. The Stereotypical“Temperamental Genius” • The “divine” Michelangelo • Amazing stubborn - in all things artistic, he accepted no authority above his own • Violent mood swings • Preferred to work alone • Saw his genius as both blessing and curse – tormented • Always felt like he was under someone else’s control – a victim of patronage • Worked like a madman! True CREATION!

25. Neo-Platonism • A new form of an ancient philosophy (Plato) that allowed Renaissance artists to combine ancient (pagan) forms of art and architecture with Christian themes • Search for “ideal forms” - Truth=Beauty • Result was the idea that one approaches truth through physical beauty • “Venus/Aphrodite” now as “Virgin Mary” • God as the ultimate mathematician / architect

26. Renaissance Man • Architect

27. Renaissance Man • Architect • Painter

28. Renaissance Man • Architect • Painter • Poet

29. Renaissance Man • Architect • Painter • Poet • Primarily a sculptor

30. Battle of Centaurs(1492)Age 17

31. St. Peters Peita’ - 1499Instant Fame atage 24Neo-Platonic Ideas:Physical beauty is a manifestation of the spirit

32. David1501-04The symbol of both Renaissance man and the city of Florence17 ft. tall“super hero” of the16th century

33. Study for the Battle of CascinaContest with Leonardo

34. Holy Family (1505)Michelangelo’s only surviving easel painting

35. The Sistene Chapel Ceiling (1508-12)“Bullied” into doing it by Pope Julius IIAge 33-37Completed in 4 years, working ALONE(!)5800 sq.ft.over 300 figures68 ft off the ground

36. The Ceiling

37. Creation of Adam

38. The Creation of Adam - detail

39. Libyan Sibyl - study and finished fresco “The more relief a painting shows, the more it approaches and assumes a lifelike quality.”

40. The Last Judgment (1534)Started 27 years after he started the ceiling(6 years to complete)Painted during the Reformation Self-portrait included

41. Restoration: 1981-1993

44. Michelangelo the ArchitectSt. Peter’s basilica, Vatican City, Rome“Muscular” style

45. Rondanini Peita (1555-64)Michelangelo’s last work“Painting and sculpture have ruined me…it would have been better if in my youth I had hired myself out to make sulpher matches.”

46. Michelangelo (on his deathbed): “I regret that I have not done enough for the salvation of my soul and that I am dying just as I learn the alphabet of my profession.”

47. 3. Raphael(Raphaello Sanzio 1483-1520 • Born in Urbino and studied under local master named Perugino • At age 21, he moved to Florence and studied the works of the other masters • At 25, he was summoned by the Pope to work in Rome • “Mr. Slick” of the Renaissance painters • Combined the grace of Leonardo and the power of Michelengelo • 1514 made head architect of St. Peter’s basilica (Michelangelo was upset by this…) • Live fast and die young (bled by physicians to death at age 37!)

48. TheSchool of Athens - 1509-10His “Masterpiece”