Art History - Essay Example

The building is set on a hilltop and is based on classical culture. It has temple-like porticoes on all four sides with a square plan surmounted by a dome. This is characteristic of High Renaissance. The building also has a piano mobile and a distinctive design.

Giovanni BELLINI, Madonna and Child with Saints

Sacra Conversazione has Italic origins with the meaning holy conversation. Attendant saints are grouped in a unified space around the Child and the Virgin. The main characteristics of the High Renaissance are harmony and balance. The painting has a smooth and velvety surface architecture based on Venetian brushwork.

GIORGIONE, The Tempest, ca. 1510

The painting clearly shows the image of a young mother nursing a child and a man standing with a spear. In the background, there is a river passing by and visible buildings on the river bank. The man is guarding the woman who has probably just given birth. Poesia describes the works of the Italian Renaissance that were inspired by myths and fables.

TITAN, Pastoral Symphony, ca. 1508-1511

The painting has an elaborate use of light and color which is a hallmark characteristic of Venetian paintings. The author of the work also used canvas. The use of mannerisms to depict human beings in distorted poses is also evident in Venetian paintings (Humfrey, 132).

TITAN, Meeting of Bacchus and Ariadne, 1522-1523

The meeting of Bacchus and Ariadne depicts the magnificence of art through the images of strong men and women in some small settings. On the other hand, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus shows the sensual evocation depicted by the impressive-looking Goddess of love in Venus.

The 16th Century in Northern Europe and Spain

lbrecht Dürer, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, woodcut a. 1497–98

An Apocalypse refers to a revelation of something with hidden meaning. In the Christian context, Apocalypse generally refers to the revelation of some things which are hidden from human beings. The second figure from the fore represents death as it is bigger and scarier than the rest.  The painting is woodcut the relief images are cut onto the surface of the wood.

Albrecht Dürer, Self Portrait, 1500

Dürer depicts himself in the self-portrait as a God. The implied position of an artist is that of divine nature akin to that of God to create. An artist’s role in society had grown in stature. This is because artists were able to create an image that was subject to various interpretations by the audience.

Albrecht Dürer, Four Apostles, 1526

Dürer painted this picture to portray the present conditions in terms of religion during his time. It should be noted that the title of the painting is misleading as there are actually three apostles in the painting. The painting was presented to the magistrates after the Reformation. The painting seems to appreciate the role of scripture in society but warns against false teachings. In essence, Dürer attempted to show Christianity from an artist’s point of view. He was not in opposition to Lutheran teachings but rather careful not to fall into false teachings. Also, the portrayal of one side with an open bible and the other closed is significant.