Analysis of Renaissance Art - Essay Example

Running head: Artistic methods used during and after Renaissance ARTISTIC METHODS USED DURING AND AFTER RENAISSANCE Renaissance, after the medieval period in the timeline of art history, spanned the greater part of the 15th and 16th centuries - the Early Renaissance in early 1400's and the High Renaissance from 1450's. This period marked the time in history when there was a subtle, nevertheless, important change in the spiritual content of arts. The Early Renaissance period artists used single point linear perspective, a technique used to create an illusion of depth, wherein parallel lines appeared to converge at a distance. The use of perspective was attempted first by Giotto di Bondone, in a painting, which appeared to be a window into space. Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti later used linear perspective. Significance of expressions, postures and proportion increased. This approach of understanding and learning in art was said to be the 'humanist' approach. Humanism emphasized on the right of a man to reason out his beliefs and thereby, made it important for him to be an individual who realized his potential. There was a visible return to the state of naturalism. Such changes mainly took place in some parts of Europe, especially, Flanders and Italy. (Early renaissance art, 2008) The fall of Constantinople in 1453 also indirectly contributed to such changes in Italian architecture, literature and paintings. This event led to the migration of scholars to Rome. These scholars were interested in learning of their new environment, which led to their research about arts and art techniques prevalent there. They needed the intellectual knowledge, akin to ancient times. Filippo Brunelleschi made use of mathematical coordinates system rather than irrational forms and measurements. Leon Battista Alberti added to this approach, a method of using a wider social and urbane context, laying emphasis on walls rather than points in his buildings. (Early Renaissance Architecture, 2008) Next came the concept of Neo-Platonism. It was the endeavor of the people who wanted to fuse Platonic ideas of physical beauty with Christian ideals. Thus, they defined God as the source of beauty with a man's image. Leon Battista Alberti, formulated another concept from the writings of Aristotle in Vitruvius, called Aristotelianism. According to him, the beauty exists when all parts are in harmony, such that nothing can be added to or taken from it, without spoiling the whole. One of the famous Aristotelians was Leonardo da Vinci. High Renaissance generally started with the painting of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Painting had a sort of decisive period in its style. This period was when there was a mass convergence of talent in the same area. The characteristics of the High Renaissance paintings were clearly seen in those of the Three Big Names of this period - Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Although these geniuses deserve their fame every bit given, there were also many others with staggering talents. (Finearttouch, 2008) During this period, the Humanism concept was replaced by Mannerism. The importance given to perspective, balances and proportions earlier was then given to depicting expressions in art. Pontormo showed the troubled expressions clearly and another citation can be El Greco showing the intensities of emotions. This was definitely maturity over the serene faces and gestures of Piero della Francesca and the calm Virgins of Raphael. The pleasant mood in Giorgione and young Titian also reflect the above idea. In The Last Supper, Leonardo recreated the earlier traditional theme in a new style. Christ remained a nucleus of serenity while the others showed animated expressions and wonder about who was the traitor among them. This marked the start of Mannerism in paintings. The ever famous Mona Lisa also shows the ingenuity of this artist - the meaning of her mysterious smile still being unknown to us. Leonardo was the creator of what was known as the atmospheric perspective. This was accomplished mainly by the use of landscapes in the background. (Huntfor, 2008) The concept of Mannerism brought about the rejection of Renaissance balance and harmony and the inclusion of intensities of emotion and ambiguity. This was shown by the severe distortions of perspective and scale, complex and crowded compositions, strong and bold colors that were not in harmony and exaggerated poses. There were also some playful exaggerations of the forms of Early Renaissance showing out-of-balance proportions of those forms redone. Bizarre decorations were also used. Mannerism is also vivid in the Judgment by Michelangelo. Raffaello Sanzi's contribution was the creation of new figure types that had soft and round faces that successfully exhibited human emotions. Bartolomeo developed in parallel with Raffaello, although the later was the more imaginative genius. He infused a mystical element in his work, which not only included figures but also landscapes and nature. Giulio Romano was the chief pupil of Raffaello, who was both a painter and an architect. He inherited part of his master's wealth and paintings. There were also many other artists like Francessco Granacci, Pordenone, Titian and many others making the list very long. Mannerism that dominated High Renaissance met its end with the advent of Baroque style, which was against the former concept's intricacy. The perspective of Renaissance period disappeared here, by the use of techniques like making the foreground of a larger scale, preferring disequilibria rather than the symmetry used before. The Catholic Church supported Baroque, less complex and more realistic and successful in showing the expressions than its ancestral techniques. It proposed the selective illumination in deep shadow and realistic figures from the street. This came to be the hallmark of Baroque art. It was known as the style of "the style of absolutism". It favored the use of dramatic colors and excessive decorations depicting energy and tension. Colors were important than the drawing itself. Caravaggio was the artist who brought this concept into existence. He took faces off the street and painted them realistically. The subjects were mostly adolescent boys as in Boy with a Fruit Basket, The Young Bacchus and The Music Party. These showed no traces of Mannerism. Baroque was rhetorical and was aimed at invoking a sense of admiration from the spectator. Glorification of the Reign of Urban VIII by Pietro da Cortona shows the dynamic composition, irrational lighting and dynamic gestures. Mannerism emphasized on the details of composition and static character, whereas Baroque concentrated on the mystical effects and dynamics. This ranges from the serene tones of Poussin to the shimmering works of Pietro da Cortona to the bold and clear ones of Peter Paul Rubens. (Artcyclopedia, 2008) Baroque was not only used to paint religious scenarios but also portraits of kings, royal family members, historical events and private life and court life scenes. It left out no arena untouched. It inherited the features of movement and emotion from Mannerism and solidity and grandeur from Humanism. The prominent figures were the brothers, Annibale and Agostino Carracci, and their cousin Lodovico. These artists opposed the artificiality in Mannerist paintings through Baroque. They laid emphasis on gestures and realistic depictions. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was also one of the key artists of this era. He was an outstanding architect as well as a painter. His career started under his father, Pietro Bernini. His period was also known as the 'High Baroque'. (Huntfor, 2008) Later, Baroque imperceptibly merged with Rococo style in France. The works of Baroque style invoked silence and meditation whereas Rococo's tones rang with passion. The selective illuminating tendencies were gone in Rococo, but rather the paintings sang and played out their tones. Even the colors appeared to be progressing upwards with freshness and varying hues. Rococo was known to be 'an aristocratic art', an art of the upper middle class. People who were intellectual, who loved freedom and good taste, were drawn by this style. It was also known as the 'frivolous art' since the subjects using this style were parties, ladies, love affairs and the like, unaware of social problems. ( Bergerfoundation, 2008). Thus, the Early Renaissance's Humanist approach during the early 15th century was followed by the High Renaissance's Mannerist approach in early 16th century. The former emphasized harmony, balance and perspective whereas the later on expressions. Perspective lost its importance fully in the Baroque era of 17th century that had some features of both Humanism and Mannerism. Rococo that used passionate tones followed. REFERENCES Artists by Movement: The Baroque Era. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2008, from http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/baroque.html Baroque. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2008, from http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/baroque.htm Early Renaissance Art. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2008, from http://www.finearttouch.com/Early_Renaissance_Art.html EARLY RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2008,from http://www.pitt.edu/tokerism/0040/syl/src1030.html High Renaissance Painting and Sculpture. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2008, from http://www.finearttouch.com/High_Renaissance_Painting.html High Renaissance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2008, from http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/renaissance/highren.htm Highlight: Distinguishing between Baroque and Rococo. (n.d.). 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