THE RENAISSANCE
By Kyleigh Broom
Where And When The Renaissance Started
The Renaissance period ran from the 1400s-1600s.
It began in Italy and spread across the world.
It marked the end of the Middle Ages and gave us
some of Art’s greatest masterpieces which are still
viewed and admired today.
How Did This Period Get Its Name?
The word Renaissance means “rebirth”.
After the Middle Ages, otherwise known as
the “Dark Ages”, art began to change.
A Dark age Indeed! Age of
Scholars began to believe that education Inconvenience!
No Plumbing! No Electricity!
should not just include the teachings of the NO NOTHING!
church, but should also include the liberal
arts such as: Poetry, Grammer, and Photo from Disney’s “Sword in the Stone”
Philosophy , among others. This “rebirth”
(or renewed interest) in Greek and Roman
art is how the Renaissance got its name.
Where it all started
After the Middle Ages Italy was among the
first areas to recover economically. They
developed banking and engaged in trade. Due
to their wealth, City-States and
Picture It, Italy, 1400s
merchant-princes would compete to engage
the finest artists. The Church, another Photo from “the Golden Girls”
patron of the arts, was based in Italy as well.
Since Italians had lived in the ruins of
ancient Rome, they viewed themselves as the
civilization that could bring back that former
glory.
The Renaissance around the world
Unlike Italy, other countries, such as
Switzerland, Germany, Northern France, and
the Netherlands, the Renaissance did not begin
as quickly or dramatically as it did in Italy.
Instead, they evolved gradually out of the middle
ages as they became more fascinated with the
small details of the world around them.
Art in The Renaissance
The Renaissance gave way to, painters,
sculptors and a variety of other artists. The
main theme in the beginning of the italian
Renaissance was Classical art, or the human
form as God’s perfect creation.
An Example of this is Donatello’s Sculpture
of David , which was a commissioned art
piece for the Medici family.
The Sistine Chapel
In 1508, Michelangelo
signed the contract to begin
repainting the ceiling of The
Sistine Chapel. He changed
it from the existing cartoon
to the masterpiece still on
display today. It took 4
years and about a dozen
assistants for him to
complete it.
The Isenheim Altarpiece
Matthias Grünewald painted this in the
early 16th century depicting the
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. What stands
out about this particular painting is the
depiction of anguish and suffering captured
by Grünewald. It is probably for this
reason that this painting was first displayed
in the chapel of a hospital for illnesses
affecting the skin.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci is the artist who most
embodies the term “Renaissance man”. He is
considered to be the greatest genius to have
ever lived. His works are among the most well
recognized Renaissance art today. Some
examples include: The Mona Lisa, The Last
Supper, and The Study of Human Proportions.
The End of The High Renaissance
Scholars believe the High Renaissance ended in 1520
with the death of Raphael. It was after his death that
Mannerism appeared in art. It was believed that these
artists practiced the art of “grace” and “style”, although
critics of the time said that it was a rebellion against
the order and balance of the High Renaissance. Today,
scholars believe that The High Renaissance paved the
way for these new ideas and styles, with even
Michelangelo changing his later work to reflect new
ideas.
In Conclusion
The Renaissance period changed the way artists
depicted people and the accuracy of anatomy in the
human form. The Renaissance artists depicted their
daily lives, including small details and mundane
aspects of life. They also celebrated the human body
and viewed it as a divine creation. Without the
Renaissance, art today could look very different. We
may not have the expectation for realism that we
have from master artists. We may not have the views
that we have on the human body, or the accuracy of
depicting the human form. The Renaissance gave us
masterpieces that endure even today.