Detail the Renaissance, and Baroque Periods of Art in Europe - Literature review Example

VISUAL ARTS AND FILM STUDIES al Affiliation: Introduction The art of Europe describes the chronological development ofvisual art in the European continent. This paper will contrast and analyze in detail the Renaissance, and Baroque periods of art in Europe. By giving relevant examples of artistic works, the emphasis of this analysis will be on the subject matter, interpretation and style, context and emotion illustrated in the art of the different periods. A personal reflection regarding the impact of the art in different periods will also be offered. Western Art Periods Renaissance Period The Renaissance is the period after the Middle Age; it was in this period that the interest and enthusiasm for the values of ancient Greece and Rome were rejuvenated (Adams, 2001). The term “renaissance” stands for “rebirth”; it describes a period in history when the classical values of Greece and Rome were reborn. According to Aigret & Kloss (2005) renaissance art is reported to have emerged in the nation of Italy; this was in the late 13th and early 14th centuries (Kloss, 2013). It is noteworthy that the Renaissance art period is generally categorized into three main periods; these are the early Renaissance, high Renaissance and Northern Renaissance. Several characteristics describe the art in the Renaissance period (Kloss, 2013). In addition to being very naturalistic and individualistic in nature, the art of the Renaissance placed a great emphasis on perspective In addition to this, Aigret & Kloss (2005) purport that the art of the Renaissance was typified by intricate formal displays as a well as a unique tendency towards emotional expression (Adams, 2001). Artists in this period, for instance in Flanders, wanted their audience to react emotionally to their work in order to derive inspiration or encouragement from the artwork. Renaissance art was also very realistic in nature and made expansive use of light and shadow for purposes of creating an appearance of depth (Kloss, 2013). According to Aigret & Kloss (2005), the art period described as the Renaissance occurred at a time in history when Europe was characterized by an increased level of prosperity and political stability. In addition to this, this time in history was typified by the emergent of new technology and knowledge, for instance, the establishment of new methodologies of astronomy and the creation of the printing press (Adams, 2001). The Renaissance art period in Europe is a time in history when literature and philosophy gained an increased level of preeminence. According to Kloss (2013), the early Renaissance (c. 1300-1450) describes a time in European history where Italy was characterized by an increased development of art. This period occurred after the art of the day was detached from the Gothic and Byzantine traditions, which were perceived as lacking the character of flexibility (Kloss, 2013). A perspective of art that was more naturalistic characterized the art of the early Renaissance, particularly drawings. According to Aigret & Kloss (2005), the art of this period was also naturalistic as depicted in the manner in which figures were organized in landscapes. In addition to this, early Renaissance artists came up with more impactful techniques of ensuring depth in their artistic work (Adams, 2001). Examples of artists associated with the early Renaissance period include Masaccio, Piero della Francesca, Uccello and Fra Angelico. A feasible example of the developments in the early renaissance period of European art is depicted in Masaicco’s painting referred to as The tribute Money (1426) [Figure 1 below]. Figure 1 The Northern Renaissance (1420-1520) describes the art in the Northern and western parts of Europe during the Renaissance in Italy (Adams, 2001). Although it had the feature of naturalistic detail, by the 15th century the artistic work in the northern parts still depicted a strong inclination to the classical values of gothic tradition (Kloss, 2013). Artists in this period include Rogier van der Weyden, Jan Van Eyck and Robert Campin. By the advent of the 16th century, however, the traces of Gothic impacts on art disappeared and the Italian Renaissance was established gradually. According to Aigret & Kloss (2005) the period of high Renaissance (c. 1480- 1520) took place after the early Renaissance; as indicated by Bent (2013) the period of high Renaissance is commonly described as the peak of development in Italian art produced from the 14th – early 16th centuries (Adams, 2001). By the time the 15th century came to a close Rome had already displaced Florence to become the principal region of Renaissance art (Kloss, 2013). It was in this period that the convectional art values of beauty and form were reborn. The artists in this period were very talented as depicted in the beautiful and skillful artistic pieces that they produced; it was due to their great talent that the artists of the high Renaissance period were able to improve the status and respect accorded to artists in the society (Kloss, 2013). As indicated by Bent (2013) the renowned artists of the high Renaissance period include Leonardo da Vinci, Tiziano Vecellio, Michalangelo Buonarroti, Jacopo Robusti and Raphael Sanzio. As indicated by Bent (2013) an example of art produced in this period is The Madonna of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci (1483-86) [Figure 2 below]. Figure 2 It is noteworthy that towards the end of the high Renaissance there emerged a technique of art that were described as being exaggerated or very “mannered” (Adams, 2001). Artist inclined towards the style of mannerism inclined more towards an individualized reaction to beauty rather than the classical principle of remaining true to nature (Kloss, 2013). Art pieces, which incline towards the style of mannerism, include the exaggerated and twisted works of art by artists such as Michelangelo, El Greco, Raphael and Tintoretto. The Portrait of Laura Battiferri (1555) [Figure 3 below] by Bronzino is another example of artwork inclined towards the technique of mannerism. Figure 3 An interesting fact about the art in the renaissance period is that its main subject was religion. A majority of the artistic works in this period were on religious subjects such as the Madonna or the Virgin Mary (Adams, 2001). Additionally, the artistic works in this period were mostly depicted or encountered in the framework or milieu of religious ceremonies (Kloss, 2013). Although such artistic pieces are of great value in the present day, during the Renaissance period such art was merely perceived as items of religious rituals. According to Aigret & Kloss (2005) the styles that are associated with the period of Renaissance include a unique manner of sculpturing, painting and decorative forms of art. A personal reflection of the Renaissance art reveals that the art did more than just depict physical form and beauty. The art of this period was very successful in addressing the status, character and identity of the artists and society of the time. The art of the Renaissance was able to capture and depict the emotions encountered by humans which words are not enough to express. Baroque Period The Baroque style of art, which overlapped with Mannerism, emerged in the last years of the 16th century lasted into the late 1750s. The earliest manifestations of the art in Baroque period were depicted in Italy in the last years of the 16th century (Kloss, 2013). The origins of baroque art were in Rome, Italy which had been set up as the center for European art during the renaissance period. In the course of baroque period of art, however, Paris took over from Rome. The word Baroque is derived from the Italian word “barocco”, which was used in the Middle Ages to depict an object by use of schematic logic. With time, the term came to describe any objects of phenomena that deviated from the set conventions and proportion. The Portuguese word “barocco” described a pearl that was contorted or irregular in form. Baroque art was greatly influenced by the religion and politics of the day. In order for the Catholic Church to contain the advancement of Protestantism during the reformation, the Roman Church made use of overly emotional and dramatic art (Aigret & Kloss, 2005). The main artists on the front line in instituting the early Baroque reforms include Michelangelo Merisi (also called Caravaggio) and Annibale Carracci (Prokop, 2009). While Caravaggio inclined towards pure naturalism, Carracci was bent on eradicating the mannered intricacies which characterized art (Kloss, 2013). The greatest artists of Baroque era are Caravaggio, Pousin, Rubens, Vermeer, Bernini, Velazquez and Rembrandt. Bernini (1598-1680) was amongst the most talented artists of this period (Prokop, 2009); in similar manner to a majority of the artists in the Renaissance period, Bernini practiced a combination of painting, architecture, stage design, sculpture and playwright (Prokop, 2009). His most renowned works are David and sculpture of St. Teresa depicted below. In similar manner to Renaissance art, there are several characteristics that typified the period of Baroque art in Europe (Prokop, 2009). One of the main characteristics of Baroque art was its regional and scholarly scope as well as its inclinations towards counter-reformation. By the end of the 16th century, many artists perceived that emphasis placed by Renaissance art on religion apprehensively. After the Reformation, the leaders in the Roman Catholic Church inclined towards a propagandistic form of art that was aimed at cultivating and eliciting the loyalty and trust of the faithful towards the church (Kloss, 2013). The result of this was a Baroque style of art that was very emotional- spiritual and sensual in equal measure. The art in Baroque period was characterized by a great sense of implied or real energy and motion; in order to increase the dramatic effects of such art, the artists made use of strong contrasts of shadow and light. Baroques artists were opposed to the style of mannerism that emphasized the analysis of nature; on the contrary, Baroque artists inclined towards a new style of art that was very dramatic, emotional and violent. Baroque art was also typified by a sense of realism; the forms drawn or painted in Baroque art were depicted in a manner that revealed personality and individuality. The artists during the Baroque period were interested in depicting the inner feelings and passions of humans on the faces and body forms in drawings and painting. As a result, baroque art was very intense and detailed. Baroque art also inclined towards emphasizing nature and the expansion of the human intellect (Kloss, 2013). This was particularly due to the advancements in science as well as high rates of world exploration that characterized this period. Unlike the Renaissance period, art in baroque period was not limited to paintings only; it transcended to architecture and sculpturing. The Baroque period of art also led to the emergence of a strong middle class in Europe. Baroque buildings were characterized by surface elements that were very decorative in nature. One of the main differences between the art of Renaissance and Baroque period is depicted in the subject matter. While Renaissance art inclined towards religion and religious objects and rituals as the most prominent subject, the subject matter for the Baroque artwork was grandiose (Kloss, 2013). Baroque art was characterized by depictions of pompous and flamboyant visions, intense light and strong depictions of outwards emotions. The high usage of light in Baroque art was aimed at the creation of meaning. Art in this period was typified by depictions of religious conversion, ecstasy, martyrdom and death. Personal reflection on how art speaks to the self A personal reflection of the Baroque era of art in Europe reveals that the subject matter of art can never remain constant or consistent throughout the differences ages. The fact that the main subject of Baroque of art was grandiose is an indication that art is influenced by transformations in human surroundings as well as technological advancements. Conclusion The art of Europe describes the chronological development of visual art in the European continent. This paper has contrasted and analyzed in detail the Renaissance, Baroque and Impressionist periods of art in Europe. By giving relevant examples of artistic works, the emphasis of this analysis has been on the subject matter, interpretation and style, context and emotion illustrated in the art of the different periods. The advancements made in art in each period as well as a personal reflection regarding the impact of the art in different periods have also been offered. References Adams, L. (2001). Italian Renaissance Art. Retrieved on November 24 2014 from: http://infoguides.pepperdine.edu/content.php?pid=163250&sid=1548596 Aigret, J. M. & Kloss, W. (2005). A History of European Art. Retrieved on November 24 2014 from: http://jlc-web.uaa.alaska.edu/client/en_US/testy/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f1426$002fSD_ILS:1426804/ada;jsessionid=6A07B5DD49862BAFF4B5E68413087BC6?qu=Leonard%2C+Peter+A.&ps=300 Bent, G. R. (2013). Leonardo da Vinci and the Italian High Renaissance. Retrieved on November 24 2014 from: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=7111 Kloss, W. (2013). A History of European Art and Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance. Retrieved on November 24 2014 from: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/Courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=7105 Prokop, E. (2009). Studies of Caravaggio: The Artist and His Audience. 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