Donatello David Medici Commission First nude free standing statue since antiquity

1. Donatello • David • Medici Commission • First nude free standing statue since antiquity • Classical body –Praxiteles • Contrapposto and S-curve • Restrained pose --- not moving

2. Verrochio’s David • Medici Commission • David is symbol of Florence • He stands with jaunty pride • Shows psychology of young, brash men

3. Donatello • Feast of Herod • Bronze relief • Early use of linear perspective – vanishing point in center • Figures decrease in size from foreground to background – recessional space

4. Donatello • Saint Mark • Placed in niche in Or San Michele Church – Florence • Revival of classical contrapposto • As his body moves, his drapery moves

5. Donatello • Penitent Mary Magdalene • Rare example of wood sculpture • Deviates from Renaissance ideals of beauty • Spiritual and intended for devotion

6. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus • Mythological and based on a Neo-Platonist Poem of ideal beauty • First female nude since antiquity, modest Venus pose • Controversial because of nudity and pagan theme (Savonarola condemned this type of work)

7. Botticelli (Master of line) • Portrait of a Youth • Almost full-face view (influenced by northern Europe) which replaced the profile view popular in Florence until the 1470’s • Reveals psychology of the sitter • Pure outline with shading and graceful pose (graceful linearity)

8. Donatello’s Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata • First life-size equestrian statue since antiquity • Gattamelata was a condotierri (military leader of a city-state) • Orb under horse’s foot – ancient symbol of power over the earth

9. Verrochio’s Equestrian Statue of Colleoni • He was a condotierri (military commander) of Venice • Taut muscles, rider has fierce erect body • Demonstrates power

10. Nanni di Banco • Four Crowned Saints • Or San Michele, Florence • Note separation from architecture • Note how characters interact with gestures – will influence Leonardo • Influenced by Roman portrait statues

11. Pollaiuolo • Medici commission • Hercules and Antaeus • Mythological Battle • Interested in muscular male form and movement • Stress and strain of violent action

12. Pollaiuolo • Hercules and Antaeus (tempera painting) • Muscular male form • Violent action

13. Ghiberti • Sacrifice of Isaac (sample for competition for bronze doors of Florence baptistery) • Gothic element --- Abraham S-curve pose • Renaissance elements ---- Isaac first classicizing nude since antiquity • Altar resembles Roman sarcophagi

14. Ghiberti • Eastern doors of Florence Baptistery • “Gates of Paradise”

15. Ghiberti , Isaac and his sons Bronze relief panel • Eastern doors of Florence Baptistery (10 panels altogether make up the doors) • Medieval/Gothic element – rhythmic line and continuous narrative style • Classical poses, motifs and architecture • Linear perspective, changing relief (higher relief in foreground, lower in back), new realism in bodies

16. Ghirlandaio • Portrait of Giovanna Tornabouni • Sensitive, beautiful, aristocratic young woman • *Tells viewers about Florentine life such as value of cultivating beauty in life and art • Also the breeding of courtly manners • Reveals value of classical literature for humanists (quote from Roman poet in background)

17. GhirlandaioBirth of Virgin, Tornabuoni Chapel of Santa Maria Novella, FlorencePopular technique --- Secular figure shown in a sacred theme (Tornabuoni woman leading the procession) Medici commissioned similar works (Adoration of Magi)

18. Fra Angelico “Annunciation” • Fresco, San Marco monastery, Florence • Not everyone was a humanist, he was a monk • Simple, serene style from humble monk • Devotional image

19. Fra Angelico --- Annunciation scene • Simple, serene figures --- not fancy in secular (worldly) sense • Interest in perspective and pictorial illusionism

20. Luca Della Robbia • Madonna and Child (Or San Michele, Florence) • Terracotta reliefs for people of modest means • Popular, became family business “della Robbia ware” • Tondo (circular) • Bright, colorful, Easter season (white lilies – Mary’s purity) • Different from Byzantine style, people were able relate with this kind of art

21. Lucca della Robbia • Madonna and Child • Glazed terracotta • Popular, less expensive • “della Robbia ware”

22. Gentile da Fabriano • Adoration of Magi • Altarpiece • International Gothic style popular from 14th to 15th Century • Typical sumptuous costumes and lavishly decorated • Pomp and ceremony • Some radical naturalism (foreshortened bodies, animal bodies shown from new angles • Blends some new naturalistic techniques in a traditional, conservative style

23. Masaccio The ExpulsionThe Brancacci Chapel, Florence 1425 • Fresco • Idealized nudes • Eve --- pose based on classical statue of Venus

24. Massacio Tribute MoneyFrescoDemonstrates continuous narration, chiaroscuro, linear perspective, atmospheric/aerial perspectiveFigures are balanced and solid

25. UNSEEN LIGHT SOURCE TO THE RIGHT…WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS CREATE? • CHIAROSCURO • NOTE HOW THE LIGHT-DARK CREATES A SCULPTURESQUE FORM

26. Massacio • Holy Trinity • Medium is fresco • Geometric composition --- uses balance symmetry • Linear Perspective and recessional space • Donors are the kneeling figures shown on bottom • Classical Architecture • Influenced by Giotto • Skeleton on bottom is Adam and death reminder

27. Mantegna • Saint James Led to Martyrdom 1455 • Fresco (largely destroyed in WWII) • Interest in perspective • Antique Roman attire on the soldiers (shows classical interest) • Antique architecture (same point) • Interest in body proportions

28. Mantegna • Ceiling of Camera degli Sposi • Fresco • Oculus • Trompe l’oeil (deceives the eye) illusionism • Foreshortened bodies • Putti (little cupids) • Influenced Baroque ceilings

29. Mantegna’s Dead Christ 1501 • Note foreshortening but not accurate • Feet are small so they won’t cover the body of Christ

30. Castagno’s Last Supper 1447 • Monastery --- Sant’ Apollonia, Florence • Biblical narrative, shows Judas sitting alone on outside of table • Interest in perspective but inaccurate (reality--roof and ceiling can’t be seen at same time)

31. Fra Savonarola • Florentine priest during late 15th century • Objected strongly to Florence’s humanist tendencies (interest in mythology and inclusion of nudity in art) • After Lorenzo de’ Medici died and the Medici's were driven from Florence, Savonarola became dictator for a short while. • He held “bonfires of the vanities,” in which Florentines would throw worldly possessions, humanist literature and art into fires.

32. Luca Signorelli • Damned Cast into Hell • Fresco, San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto, Italy • Strong psychic impact (suffering and torment after living a sinful life) • Savonarola would approve • Influenced Michelangelo (Last Judgment) • Lean muscular bodies, foreshortening, careful study of nudes • Similar action to Pollaiuolo work

33. Luca Signorelli, Damned Cast into Hell