Renaissance
art is the painting, sculpture and decorative arts of that period of European
history known as the Renaissance, emerging as a distinct style in Italy in
about 1400, in parallel with developments which occurred in philosophy,
literature, music and science. Renaissance art, perceived as a royalty of
ancient traditions, took as its foundation the art of Classical antiquity, but
transformed that tradition by the absorption of recent developments in the art
of Northern Europe and by application of contemporary scientific knowledge.
Renaissance art, with Renaissance Humanist philosophy, spread throughout
Europe, affecting both artists and their patrons with the development of new
techniques and new artistic sensibilities. Renaissance art marks the transition
of Europe from the medieval period to the early modern age.
The
Renaissance is seen by some as the rebirth or beginning of modern history
because the era was all about reviving classical art which was somehow lost
during the Dark Ages. This is a return to the realistic depiction of nature
through keen observation. The Renaissance took root all over Europe but Italy
and Flanders (present-day Belgium and Netherlands) developed into world-class
economic and cultural centers. Italy never gave in to Gothicism and readily
adopted elements of the Greek and Roman art into its art and architecture. But
Flanders was soaked in the medieval tradition of Northern Europe and continued
to concern itself with the spiritualism of the Gothic era, enriching it with a supreme
realism. A certain degree of naturalism appeared in the northern book
illustrator during the Gothic era called illuminated manuscripts. These were
hand-drawn pages in books like explained in the previous era, Christian Art. In
Renaissance Art the German Art is the art created by the Germans contains less
symbolism and less detail than the Flemish ones but are the most emotionally
striking works. Their messages are often more powerful.
During
the Renaissance a new interest in Greek and Roman culture lead to an explosion
in knowledge about the human form along with innovations in mathematics and
science. Suddenly, all creations of God, and the human form in particular
became revered as testament to God's great power and perfection. Beauty became
connected to morality and the pursuit of beauty in art became widespread. The
nude human form, linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, and a new found
interest in observing the natural world hallmark the movement. Artist
themselves were elevated in social status and their works were looked upon not
as mere crafts, but as miraculous creations that were divinely inspired. At the
forefront of the Renaissance movement where the three most prominent artists of
the Italian Renaissance; Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael. Michelangelo he was greatly influenced by
Masaccio, Giotto, Signorelli, and Donatello who were prominent figures during
the Low Renaissance. His primary concentration was on sculpture and it was a
Pieta' made in 1500 that attracted the awareness of the Catholic Church.
Leonardo Da Vinci was devoted to learning as much as possible about the world
around him. He studied subjects as diverse as mechanics, municipal
construction, botany, geology, flight science, canals, architecture, astronomy,
mathematics, acoustics, warfare, hydraulics, medicine, and anatomy. And Raphael
was a gracious, good mannered, and charming young man. He was never lacking in
influential patrons and was commissioned regularly for his series of Madonna
and Child paintings.
