Renaissance Period and Donation of Constantine - Essay Example

The painting, Vitruvian Man, by Leonardo Da Vinci reiterates this belief in all its aspects. Here, the human body is depicted as the principal source of proportion in this universe. It is used as a mirror to show the reflection of nature. The symmetry of the universe is implied through the symmetry of the human body. Thus the picture finds elements of commonness between nature and humans as well as among humans, which is also the basic stepping stone towards humanism based on equality.

Donation of Constantine

In the Renaissance period, humanism was deeply connected to the rediscovery of Greek and Roman culture. The real Roman credentials of Constantine must have influenced Raphael when he painted Donation of Constantine in Greek-Roman style but the essence of the painting was contextually linked to Renaissance values that were prevalent in that period. The twisting solominoc columns in this painting represent the imagery of the Baroque era. Martz (1991, pp.194) has inferred that these columns are “a symbol of human aspiration spiraling upward toward the domed and vaulted harmonies of a perfect mathematical form.” Thus the design represents the perfect geometrical space celebrated in Renaissance art as the source of harmony. With the columns removed from this painting, the picture will lose its anchorage and will appear like a chaotic assembly of insignificant people. The grandeur of the situation is most powerfully conveyed by the columns and without them, the picture will lose its elements of credibility.

Mother and child

Mother and child is a recurring image in all religions because this image is the most powerful visual sign that takes the beholder to the roots of his/her origin. The drawings, reliefs, and sculptures of mother and Child by Michelangelo stand out among numerous works based on the same theme with their unconventional approach. Art critics ”(Chapman & Buonarrotti, 2006, pp.27) have observed, ”Michelangelo reinforces the unity of mother and child through their shared nakedness,” referring to the drawing in which both Madonna and the child are depicted naked. The emotions that exude in all these works have been described as divine greatness and exalted grief. In the sculpture by Michelangelo, with the same theme, the mother looks down sadly as if she knows about the fate of her child. This was a departure from the earlier works on the same subject in which the mother invariably smiled upon the child.

Reference

Chapman, Hugo and Buonarroti, Michelangelo, Michelangelo, Yale University Press, 2006.

Four seasons

In “The Four Seasons”, it seems Vivaldi is painting with poetry and singing with the sounds of nature. In the spring sonnet, we hear the birds, the streams, the wind, the thunderstorms, the rustling leaves, and of course the silences in between. The rustic bagpipes are sounded predicting the arrival of summer, the festive season. In the summer sonnet, the cuckoo’s voice is heard as a cool breeze passes by over the scorching pines, sweltering men and flocks, and the blazing sun. The north wind indicates an upcoming season change again. Wiping away the anticipation of devastation, then, autumn arrives.

The singing and dancing of harvest are replaced in the dawn by the noises of the hunters. Celebration and the struggle for survival go hand in hand. A moment of silence dawns when the prey dies with a subtle philosophical suggestion that on this earth destiny makes everything perish in the end. This silent pause is soon filled with the chilling mood change of the skies. Snow builds its empire around while the wind roars and even the noise of teeth chattering adds to this audio fete of a different kind. The music of words finally reminds us that winter is yet another season that has its beauty and charm. Thus the cycle of happiness and sorrow in human life is paralleled through poetry, drama, and music. The lyrics depicting autumn are my favorite as they go beyond the visible and give the listener great moments of emotional heights and insights into the nature of life. Read More