Renaissance 1400-1550
Context
Literally meaning "Rebirth" in French, the Renaissance was a period in European history characterized by a revival of classical thoughts and values. Following the Middle Ages, it began in Italy during the 1400's, where the people started to look back at their history and gain a desire to reproduce many aspects of it, including literature, theology, and art.
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Bosch, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael
Key Works
Literally meaning "Rebirth" in French, the Renaissance was a period in European history characterized by a revival of classical thoughts and values. Following the Middle Ages, it began in Italy during the 1400's, where the people started to look back at their history and gain a desire to reproduce many aspects of it, including literature, theology, and art.
- At the time, Italy was very powerful
- There was a rise in the number of wealthy families due to the amount of money in the area
- Greek and Roman philosophies were the main influencers of this period
- Within Italy, Florence held the most powerful position
Artistic Characteristics
- Classical allusions (themes from Greek and Roman mythology as well as secular subjects, in contrast to the religious focus of the Middle Ages)
- Naturalism (more realistic representation of figures and nature)
- Human figures were more lifelike and often three dimensional due to an increase in knowledge of human anatomy
- Attention to symmetry
- Colors were effected by light
- Faces were detailed and had emotion
- Use of geometrical shapes
- Chiaroscuro (derived from the Italian words for "light" and "dark", artists utilized contrast between light and dark to create a sense of volume)
Key Artists - Bosch, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael
Key Works
Masaccio, The Holy Trinity with the Virgin, St. John, and Two Donors
Fresco, c. 1425, 22' x 10’
Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Fresco, c. 1425, 22' x 10’
Santa Maria Novella, Florence
- Allusion to the classics seen in pillars, pediments, and decorations
- Attention to symmetry in the coffered ceiling
- Use of the fresco technique (mixing pigment with wet cement, which dries very quickly and prevents mixing)
- The Holy Trinity moment is set within a classical moment, converging the two art forms
Northern Europe Renaissance
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Campin, van Eyck, Bosch, Dürer, Grünewald, Bruegel
Key Works
Artistic Characteristics
- Use of triptychs (leading to moveable art)
- Making of copies using the printing press
- Advanced oil painting techniques
- Portraits made on wooden panels
- Detailed realism
Key Artists - Campin, van Eyck, Bosch, Dürer, Grünewald, Bruegel
Key Works
Robert Campin, Mérode Triptych or Altarpiece
approximately 25 x 25”, wings 25 x 10”, 1425–28
approximately 25 x 25”, wings 25 x 10”, 1425–28
- Left panel - donor and his wife kneeling piously
- Middle panel - Mary and Archangel Gabriel
- Right panel - Joseph in his workshop
- Attention to nature rather than full focus on religion (eg. no halos on Mary or Gabriel, attention to gravity in the robes)
- Contrary to most artists, Campin placed the scene of the Annunciation in a modern setting
Mannerism 1520-1600
Context
The Mannerism period initiated in Italy (more specifically Florence and Rome), following the peak of the Renaissance. It is often considered the period that began when art lost its momentum, although the High Renaissance produced art that was truly challenging to compete with. Due to political conflicts, artists began to lose their popularity, sponsorship, and freedom. They did, however, have amazing works to study from, which allowed for the continuing development of new techniques and ideas based on the solid structure of Renaissance art.
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Pontormo, Parmigianino, Bronzino, Titian, El Greco, Cellini
Key Works
The Mannerism period initiated in Italy (more specifically Florence and Rome), following the peak of the Renaissance. It is often considered the period that began when art lost its momentum, although the High Renaissance produced art that was truly challenging to compete with. Due to political conflicts, artists began to lose their popularity, sponsorship, and freedom. They did, however, have amazing works to study from, which allowed for the continuing development of new techniques and ideas based on the solid structure of Renaissance art.
- In 1527, Rome was taken over by Charles V, who gained control of most of Europe after crowning himself the Holy Roman Empire
- Many were questioning the authority of the Church, influenced by Martin Luther
- Churches responded by restricting Renaissance innovations
Artistic Characteristics
- Clashing colors
- Distorted figures (elongated parts of the body)
- Combinations of Classicism, mythology, and Christianity
- Nudity
- Artificial in comparison to the naturalistic Renaissance works
- Strained poses
- Emotionalism
Key Artists - Pontormo, Parmigianino, Bronzino, Titian, El Greco, Cellini
Key Works
Parmigianino, Madonna with the Long Neck
1535-40, Oil on panel, 7ft x 4ft 4in
1535-40, Oil on panel, 7ft x 4ft 4in
- Limbs and other body parts are elongated to extremes (Madonna's neck, wide hips, long fingers, the baby's body, the leg of the onlooker)
- Other body parts are very small (Madonna's head, toes)
- Parmigianino portrays Madonna as a bad mother (she doesn't seem interested in the baby, almost letting go of it)
- The ideal beauty/elegance from the Renaissance is distorted
- Her hand has no meaning, and serves the purpose of creating drama
- The Renaissance was so perfected that the only way artists could create something new was by going in the complete opposite direction
Baroque 1600-1750
Context
With the decades of political turmoil and religious conflict coming to an end, things began turning around in Europe. The Catholic Church had regained its sense of authority and purpose, and Rome regained its reputation as the holy city. Contrary to the beliefs of the Protestants, Catholics gained a new appreciation for the power of art in representing religion. This led to more artists being supported, and an increased popularity in the use of art for not only decoration, but the basis of entire cities.
Key Works
With the decades of political turmoil and religious conflict coming to an end, things began turning around in Europe. The Catholic Church had regained its sense of authority and purpose, and Rome regained its reputation as the holy city. Contrary to the beliefs of the Protestants, Catholics gained a new appreciation for the power of art in representing religion. This led to more artists being supported, and an increased popularity in the use of art for not only decoration, but the basis of entire cities.
Key Works
Bernini, St. Peter’s Piazza, Vatican - colonnade
c. 1656-57, nave/facadde by Maderno, 1607-12
c. 1656-57, nave/facadde by Maderno, 1607-12
- The piazza was seen as a sacred place
- It served to unite the people, and the form of embracement taken on by the colonnade created that sense even though the space was so large
- It also served as a screen to the slums that originally surrounded the Vatican
- The colonnade is like an actualization of tenebrism, creating drama through the contrasting light
- By using an oval rather than a circle, Bernini added character to the space
Baroque Italy
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Bernini, Borromini, Caravaggio, Reni, Gentileschi, Guercino, Pozzo
Artistic Characteristics
- Extravagant architecture
- Embellished churches
- Integrated environments
- Theatricality
Key Artists - Bernini, Borromini, Caravaggio, Reni, Gentileschi, Guercino, Pozzo
Baroque Spain
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Velázquez, Zurbarán, Ribera, Murillo, Coello
Artistic Characteristics
- Elaborate churches (facades, gold-covered chapels/tabernacles, polychrome sculpture)
- Extreme realism
- Insistent naturalism
- Dramatic contrasts of light and dark
- Churrigueresque (exaggeration, playing with light, elaborate sculptural architecture)
Key Artists - Velázquez, Zurbarán, Ribera, Murillo, Coello
Baroque Northern Europe
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Rubens, van Dyck, Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Ruysch
Artistic Characteristics
- Collaborations
- Naturalism/sensuality
- Attention to light/vision
- Use of art as personal expression
- Genre painting
- Still life (specifically flowers)
- Oil painting
Key Artists - Rubens, van Dyck, Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Ruysch
Baroque France
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Poussin, Antoine, Riguad
Artistic Characteristics
- Classical antiquity
- Rationalism
- Expression of the French Crown values
- Landscapes
Key Artists - Poussin, Antoine, Riguad
Rococo 1700-1780
Context
Sometimes known as the "Late Baroque", this period marked a shift away from the monarchy, and towards an aristocratic government after the Palace of Versailles was abandoned. People began engaging in leisurely activities, creating a culture of luxury and superfluous spending. Due to the enormous political power given to the aristocracy, 90% of the wealth in France was held by the small percentage of people who made up the aristocracy, leaving those in the growing middle class angry and unsettled.
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Watteau, Boucher, van Risenburgh, Fragonard
Key Works
Sometimes known as the "Late Baroque", this period marked a shift away from the monarchy, and towards an aristocratic government after the Palace of Versailles was abandoned. People began engaging in leisurely activities, creating a culture of luxury and superfluous spending. Due to the enormous political power given to the aristocracy, 90% of the wealth in France was held by the small percentage of people who made up the aristocracy, leaving those in the growing middle class angry and unsettled.
Artistic Characteristics
- Soft colors
- Curved lines
- Love scenes
- Nature
- Youthfulness
- Asymmetry
- Elegance
- Intimate spaces
- Portrayal of the aristocratic lifestyle
Key Artists - Watteau, Boucher, van Risenburgh, Fragonard
Key Works
Watteau, Pilgrimage to the Island of Cythera
1717, oil on canvas, 4' x 6’
1717, oil on canvas, 4' x 6’
- Separate scenes of love
- Unsure of whether they are leaving or coming, but it forces the couples into a more intimate space
- Could be seen as a painting of ambiguity, also seen in the way the couples are acting with each other
- Made for an aristocratic audience, making it seem like a portrayal of their life
- The colors are very soft and blended together
Neoclassicism 1750-1850
Context
France was nearing its first revolution (which occurred in 1789), and the influence of this serious event spread far beyond the aristocracy and changed the way artists thought about their creations. People gained a more rational mindset, and this translated to art through a transition from painting to drawing. The Age of Enlightenment was also emerging, and this only further set a tone of rationality.
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - David, Kauffmann, Girodet, Canova, Vignon, Soufflot
Key Works
France was nearing its first revolution (which occurred in 1789), and the influence of this serious event spread far beyond the aristocracy and changed the way artists thought about their creations. People gained a more rational mindset, and this translated to art through a transition from painting to drawing. The Age of Enlightenment was also emerging, and this only further set a tone of rationality.
Artistic Characteristics
- "Poussiniste" painting
- Clear drawing
- Modeling (shading)
- Drawing was more important than painting
- Smoothness
- Rationality
- Relations to political state
- Return of classicism
- Sober colors
- Timeless works
- Shallow space
Key Artists - David, Kauffmann, Girodet, Canova, Vignon, Soufflot
Key Works
Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii
1784. Oil on canvas, approx. 11’ x 14’
Louvre, Paris
1784. Oil on canvas, approx. 11’ x 14’
Louvre, Paris
- Tells a story of warfare between Rome and Alba, where each city chose three combatants to fight to the death
- Powerfulness of sacrifice and virtuous behavior, which resonated with the people of France
- Attention to classical antiquity
- The space is very simple, divided into three, with dark, shallow corridors
- The figures are shown in lines, and the clothing follow the paths of gravity
- The light creates sharp contrast
- Geometrical shapes embrace the use of rationality
- The linear perspective takes the focus to the hands and swords
- The females, on the other hand, are more angular and emotional
Romanticism 1780-1850
Context
Contrary to previous movements, Romanticism spread far beyond France and Italy, influencing the arts of the United States and the rest of Europe. It was extremely diverse, and extended from the traditional visual arts into the arts of literature, music, and even philosophy. It marked a time of individualism, when people believed in having their own rights and opinions. This was also one of the first times that art focused on educating people to care for others in the way it supported freedom outside of its own boundaries. There was a sense of spirituality among romanticists, who sought to not only improve political and social conditions, but to find a higher reality.
Artistic Characteristics
Key Artists - Goya, Turner, Friedrich, Ingres, Gericault, Delacroix
Key Works
Contrary to previous movements, Romanticism spread far beyond France and Italy, influencing the arts of the United States and the rest of Europe. It was extremely diverse, and extended from the traditional visual arts into the arts of literature, music, and even philosophy. It marked a time of individualism, when people believed in having their own rights and opinions. This was also one of the first times that art focused on educating people to care for others in the way it supported freedom outside of its own boundaries. There was a sense of spirituality among romanticists, who sought to not only improve political and social conditions, but to find a higher reality.
Artistic Characteristics
- Explored imagination
- Emotion
- Interest in nature
- Violence and darkness
- Man's struggle against nature
- Portraits with deeper meanings
- Fascination with animals
- Exotic subjects
Key Artists - Goya, Turner, Friedrich, Ingres, Gericault, Delacroix
Key Works
Francisco Goya, The Third of May 1808
1814, oil on canvas, approx. 8’8”x 11’3”
Museo del Prado, Madrid
1814, oil on canvas, approx. 8’8”x 11’3”
Museo del Prado, Madrid
- The darkness of the painting in contrast with the brightness of the man create a sense of innocence about the man
- The soldiers are very rigid in contrast with the other men
- The man's arms are spread like those of crucified Christ, sacrificing himself for nature
- The men have very strong emotions on their faces of pain and suffering, with some covering their eyes to avoid watching the death they inevitably face
- The blood is very prominent and draws attention
- The only source of light is the lantern between the soldiers and other men, creating a spiritual ambience about the man