Learn
Mona Lisa
Why?
Why is Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting Mona Lisa now hanging behind glass at the Louvre Museum in Paris considered the perfect example of Renaissance Art? Let’s take a look:
Four Elements of Renaissance Art
There are four important elements of Renaissance art that were major changes from the ancient Roman and Greek or Medieval models. These elements include
- Oil on Stretched Canvas – prior to the Renaissance, art was painted on plastered walls in frescoes or on wood.
- Pyramid Configuration – the eye of the viewer of the subject in the piece of art is drawn to the face in the art at the top of the pyramid.
- Perspective – depth and almost three-dimensional appearance of the subject in the art; the addition of countryside background
also added depth. - Chiaroscuro – contrast of light
and shadow 
.
Study of Anatomy
In addition, the study of anatomy especially by artists like Da Vinci and Michelangelo who actually went to the city morgues and studied and dissected dead bodies was reflected in their realistic paintings and sculptures.
Realistic Features
Go to Mona Lisa - Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo from Louvre to view the details of the Mona Lisa. Examine the painting closely.
Notice how the fabric in the sleeves and shawl falls in natural folds and how realistic her hands appear. Notice also the translucent veil that falls from her head to her body.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Now, watch Leonardo Da Vinci to familiarize yourself with the ultimate Renaissance man - Leonardo Da Vinci.
Renaissance Art
How Renaissance Art Came to Be
After the Crusades when trade and travel increased, the clash of cultures influenced Europe with the art of the Islamic world—and large stained-glass windows.
Italians also began to take notice of the Roman ruins that covered their lands — the statues and art. Medieval culture took little notice of the artistic details of the early works.
During the Renaissance, the Christian Church remained the most important part of society, so many of the works of art have religious themes.
How Did Artists Afford to Create Art?
Artists couldn’t afford the cost of producing the art without benefactors or patrons who paid for the art to be created for various reasons. (Remember that the Renaissance began in Florence, Italy, and that the word Renaissance means “rebirth of learning.”)
One of the most powerful patrons was the Medici family of Florence. Other wealthy people followed suit across Italy as you will see.
Perhaps the greatest patrons were the leaders of Catholic Church where Renaissance art can be seen across Europe in the form of paintings, frescoes, and sculptures. Pope Julius II was one of the most famous of the art Patrons because Michelangelo worked for him.
Early Italian Artists
This painting is by Giotto (1276-1336). A forerunner to the Renaissance, he painted during the period of the High Middle Ages just before the Renaissance began. The painting’s title is Lamentations over Christ. There is a natural light from above, a hint of a natural landscape, sorrow on every face (emotion). He loved to paint hands.
Notice the rock form that leads your eyes 
to the face of Christ. The bare tree 
recalls the story of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. It withered with Adam and Eve’s sin and would only come to life when Christ had redeemed the world.
Notice the following:
- The solid gold halos
- Paleness of the subjects in the art
- The flatness of the scene
- The lack of a natural looking background
Watch how that will change as we move through the Renaissance.
The Renaissance Man - Da Vinci
You’ve already looked at the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, (1452-1519) but take a look at another by him. It is known as the Last Supper and is almost as famous.
This fresco If you look at the image, you can see the wall where the paint was peeling. is particularly famous because Da Vinci tried to convey the moment when Jesus told his apostles that one of them would betray him. He tries to show the character and feelings 
of each of the apostles in that moment. If you will notice, there is perspective with all diagonal lines 
meeting at the face of Christ (pyramidal configuration).
The building where he painted this fresco became a stable and then was damaged in World War II. It became moldy and artists have worked hard for many years to restore it.
One More by Da Vinci
This one has all the components of true Renaissance Art!
- Perspective
- Pyramidal Configuration
- Chiaroscuro
In this painting, entitled The Madonna of the Rocks, the head of Mary is at the apex top of the triangle or pyramid 
and her right arm leads your eye to the child at left 
who is kneeling in prayer and looking at the Christ child 
at the right. Notice Mary’s hand 
over the head of Jesus so it follows the true pyramid al form. There is depth, background nature scene and light that emerges from the dark background.
Michelangleo Buonarroti (1465-1564)
Michelangelo is well known for both his incredible paintings and his sculptures. In his Sistine Chapel, he created a series of 343 human figures (10 x18 feet tall) over a ceiling space of 10,000 square feet, and he worked on a seven-story high scaffold to do it. The paintings depict the stories from Genesis. Commissioned by Pope Julius II, Michelangelo completed the work in less than four years.
Take a Sistine Chapel virtual tour.
Michelangelo's David
Remember that Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Florence was a small city-state that had larger, more powerful enemies. Davidthe young shepherd who slew the Giant Goliath in the Bible became a political symbol of Florence because it was small, had powerful enemies, but (in their view) was favored by God as David had been.
Michelangelo’s David –over 500 years old — was chiseled from one massive piece of stone and stands about 13.5 feet tall. Michelangelo tried to depict him not as the victor over Goliath, but as a man preparing to make a conscious decision about how to proceed. Notice how his brow is furrowed as he thinks and prepares for battle.
Donatello (1386-1466)
Donatello was a forerunner in early Renaissance sculpture, bringing back into focus the Classical works of ancient Rome. His David was commissioned by Cosimo de’Medici and predates Michelangelo’s David by about 70 years and is half the size. This David stands triumphant with the head of Goliath 
at his feet—very different from the David of Michelangelo.
The statue is cast in bronze with his weight concentrated on one leg 
in a relaxed pose. One can almost detect the underlying skeletal structure.
Raphael Sanzio 1483-1520
This piece, entitled The School of Athens and located in the Vatican, is such an important piece because it brings together both Classical and Christian elements. In it, the greatest thinkers, mathematicians and philosophers are depicted — at the very center, are the two greatest ancient Greek philosophers, Plato 
at left and Aristotle 
at his right in deep conversation.
Here, you will see a small piece of the painting in which the artist himself is looking directly at you. Learn more about the great mathematicians present in the paintings (and be able to name some of the them) by reading the Raphael, School of Athens.
Italian Artist Review
Let's review:
- Top three artists of the Italian Renaissance?
- Leonardo Da Vinci
- Michelangelo Buonarotti
- Raphael Sanzio
- Characteristics we see in Italian Renaissance painting and sculpture
- Idealistic and beautiful subjects that recall the perfection of the ancient models
- Bringing together both the ancient Classical and Christian elements in the art
Northern Renaissance Art
As the Renaissance spread north from Italy, art took different forms:
- While Italian art focused on ideal beauty, Northern art was more realistic.
- Italian subjects had very measured proportions while the Northern artists showed unflattering honest views of their subjects.
- Italian art focused on Classical and Christian themes while the Northern art focused on Christian themes and depiction of prosperous citizens and the common man.
- Both used of perspective and shadow and light chiaroscuro .
Hans Holbein 1497-1593
Holbein was a German painter at the court of Henry VIII of England. Here is a picture of Henry VIII’s son Edward VI who became king at the age of 9.
This painting by Holbein, painted in oil on wood in 1536 of King Henry VIII, is the only surviving portrait of Henry VIII. Holbein painted many in the royal court and in doing so provided us much information about the people and clothing worn during the Renaissance by the noble classes and in the royal court in England.
Jan Van Eyck 1390-1441
There is much to tell you about this painting entitled The Arnolfini Wedding. Notice that there is depth and perspective, symbolism and background scenery that is done in great detail. Also, note that the subjects of the painting are not as perfect as those depicted in the Italian art. The use of light and shadow chiaroscuro is accurate.
Arnolfini Wedding Description
The painting (1434): The subject is a wedding in Bruges.
Symbolism:
- The dog at the center
symbolizes loyalty/faithfulness in marriage (have you ever heard a dog called “Fido”? It comes from the Latin word fido that means fidelity (or loyalty). - The pear
on the table at right symbolizes fertility. - The sandals or clogs
at the front left explain that the place of the wedding is holy ground and shoes are removed.
Jan Van Eyck 1390-1441
Interesting Notes about the painting:
- In the mirror, you can see the back of the couple, one guest and the artist himself painting the picture.
- In each of the ten blocks around the mirror there are very detailed Biblical scenes.
- Above the mirror, there is an inscription that reads, “Jan Van Eyck was here.”
The Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind
Pieter Bruegel was a Dutch artist from the Netherlands who depicted in his art the common man, detailed images of the landscape with both religious and non-religious themes. The piece below is entitled The Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind taken from the Book of Matthew, referring to the blindness of the Pharisees who lead others to blindly follow them so that both ended up in the ditch.
Bruegel shows this with the people of his current day. Notice the church 
in the background. It was a reminder not to follow others who would take them away from their faith. Notice the use of chiaroscuro, perspective and natural scenery.
Pieter Bruegel 1525-1569
The painting here is entitled The Peasant Wedding (1567). The event takes place in a barn filled with people at a large table and gives us a glimpse into the everyday life of the common man. Notice all the details of children in the foreground, the simple food, casual dress, and the bride 
sitting quietly in front of the dark cloth with a paper crown 
hanging from it . Where does your eye go first? There is so much to take in!
Conclusion
While we have looked at only a few examples Renaissance art, remember that
Renaissance art took many forms:
- Oil paintings on stretched canvas, wood panels, and frescos on plaster walls
- Sculptures carved from massive pieces of marble or cast from bronze.
and it covered many themes
- Religious
- Classical
- Life as it was during the period:
- Nobility
- Common man