RENAISSANCE ART

Celina J. D’souza

Introduction

The word Renaissance is French for rebirth. However, during the time, the word ‘Renaissance’ was not used. It was coined by historians in the 19th century. It began in Italy but slowly seeped into Europe after the Christian reformation. It was only then that the people could accept other forms of self-expression apart from religion. The renaissance was predominantly present between 1400 and 1600. During this time, Europe experienced some of the most moving and breath-taking achievements and discoveries when it came to sculpture, fine art, and architecture. The roots of this era were in Greek culture and art and was a reaction to the gothic style that prevailed in the time right before the Renaissance began.

The propositions mentioned in this essay are: The literature and art produced during the Renaissance is a direct reflection of society and the mind-set of the people of the time, there is a lack of understanding of art forms and types and It is easier to generalize concepts and themes when it comes to literature and art than break them down and then understand the themes and constructs that surround them. In addition to this, characteristics that are associated with this era will also be covered in order for the reader to comprehensively understand this time in history and thus a period in the past that proved to be one of the most important.

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do." – Leonardo Da Vinci (Artist)

THE ROOT OF RENAISSANCE ART

Based on the research done by prior authors and writers, readers have come to identify several patterns when it comes to the relationship between the mind-set of the people who lived during the Renaissance and the art that either influenced this behavior or was produced through this behavior. In this period we see a shift from the religious worldview to one that focuses on the environment around them, whether it is social or organic. This also highlights the fact, that regardless of the shift from the religious worldview, individuals still clung on to it rejecting science. The roots of Renaissance art mainly are located in Italy where at that point, as well as today, Christianity as a religion thrived. Therefore, when the Renaissance was mentioned, we see elements of religiosity as well as science both coming hand in hand to create art that will withstand centuries only to tell stories of the ones they lived through.

When we extract information from history.com, we will come to realize several things under the subheadings of high renaissance art, renaissance art in practice and also the expansion and the decline of art in this period. It is known that when we talk about the Renaissance in general, we also talk about the immense learning and discovering that occurred during that time too. This learning was not only technological in nature, but also included discoveries made in astronomy, literature, philosophy and discovery of the world (in terms of geography and more land). With this come the names of various famous artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. Their art aimed to capture how individuals experience the natural world and what it has to offer.

Another source of information would be from Britannica.com. At first, an overall of art (literature, sculpture, painting, poetry and music) that was produced from the 14^th to the 16^th century will be put in a light where the readers see how art was really a combination of nature and the perspective of man. We also see that while art took this change rather gracefully, the society was changing too. Secularization was introduced and seeped within society while an economy based on money and credit was being more dependent on as compared to previous means of barter. Another significant change when it comes to this period of time is the complex idea of social mobility thus the generation of what we now call the class system.

What we know now is that during this period in time, it was not just about art and self-expression but how society as a whole was changing whether it came to the sociological aspect of it such as secularization or whether we talk about it monetary terms. According to data provided, in the texts above this art and this era along with its unique culture is adored for a reason therefore only proving the immense significance it has on us in the present as well as our ancestors who may as well have had something to contribute to this time as well.

THE PRACTICE OF ART IN THE RENAISSANCE ERA

The main country that experienced the Renaissance was Italy. This is mainly due to its location which is near the Mediterranean Sea. It was also known as one of the most prominent city in both Europe and Eurasia during the fourteenth to the sixteenth century. At this point in time, anyone with an inclination to the art whether they are artists or musicians or architects all had the same direction. Their direction came from the craving of adventure, of knowledge and their need to seek out new solutions to current problems at hand.

Artists during this time were soon recognized as their own people thus having their own individual personalities instead of merely through their career choices or inclinations. Artists specifically sculptors, painters and architects were the ones who came under this category. However, writers and poets were still seen as merely writers and poets and not having their own individual personalities. What we see in the Renaissance era, is the precise amalgamation of art and math both. This was done in order to make measurements more accurate and precise therefore to comprehensively replicate either a model or the image they see in their mind. However, these artists also brought in the aspect of emotion within their work thus affecting it immensely. It was not just a combination of art and math but also one of emotion that was sparked with curiosity of the world and thus led to a certain level of optimism being spread out within the veins of society.

The Renaissance era stands in stark comparison to what we know of the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages was seen as the time in history that had barely any stimulation when it came to intellect as well as art. Therefore, the gothic, Romanesque, and byzantine style that emerged during the middle ages was soon seen as one that held no value, especially to the people from the Renaissance.

The Classical era and its values came back into importance once again. According to sources, we are told that individuals of that time enjoyed a certain level of prestige and status which was forgotten about during the Middle Ages. However, the dawn of the Renaissance era led a rebirth in these beliefs too where the people wanted to, once again, enjoy the power of status and prestige to its fullest.

Another important element of the Renaissance was the aspect of humanism. In this intellectual movement, individuals pay attention thus gives more importance to humans, their thoughts and behaviors rather than those of religion or the supernatural, for that matter. Like most of the Renaissance, this too stemmed from Italy. Some famous scholars, philosophers and intellectuals that followed this path were Leonardo Bruni, Lorenzo Valla, Dante, Patrach and Collucio Salutati. Humanism really took steam when Constantinople fell in 1453 as most scholars and intellectuals either fled or were exiled to Italy. With them, they brought along academic material such as manuscripts and book all which had roots in Greek history. This also led to the idea of a scholarship being brought to Italy and now spread worldwide.

With this new found source, individuals found a new way to develop knowledge. Art, even at that time, was seen as knowledge. It gave people explanations of various things such as God and the universe. Artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci took this as something completely different. He worked with art in such a way that helped him explore nature and through those discoveries; he recorded them in his art.

The art practiced in the Renaissance era not only observed the world mathematically but also in a way that came to appreciate nature and humanism in a way that practiced harmony, perspective and balance. It expressed the true essence of man and thus in relation man’s dignity

The fathers or a pioneer of what is now known as Renaissance art was Masaccio. Masaccio lived from 1401 through 1428 and within that short time frame came to achieve several things. His concepts, the way he incorporated nature within his own works and the immense power of language that his work conveyed and portrayed were so monumental that it earned him one of the highest places especially in the Renaissance. Artists after him started practicing what is known as naturalism. Within this field, individuals talk about the artistic discover and exploration of anatomy, and perspective whether it be linear or aerial therefore immense importance given to landscapes.

This kind of art, more specifically high renaissance art, flourished for around fifty five years which stretched from 1490 to 1527 when Rome focused on three individuals who overpowered the world of art. These three include Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. The three of them had distinct characteristics and individualistic techniques that led them to stand out and thus be remembered as such important figures in the art world.

Leonardo Da Vinci enjoyed fame due to a few of his pieces such as Mona Lisa (1304 – 1505), the last supper (1495 – 1498) and the virgin of the rocks (1485). The reason he was exposed to fame with such a minimal amount of his work is due to his interest in anatomy, animals and plants thus leaving such little time to paint.

Michelangelo, on the other hand, used the technique of manipulating anatomy and proportion in order to express power. This is seen very clearly in his pieces name Pieta (1499) and the David (1501-1504). Michelangelo was initially recognized as a sculpture but was soon also seen as the individual behind the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, The Vatican. This painting was rather one of the more complex ones and aimed in unifying Christian belief and Neoplatonism thought.

Raphael also painted the Vatican during the same time that Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel. Raphael also painted a fresco names ‘the school of Athens; this was painted between 1508 and 1511. Again, Raphael being just as much of a philosopher as Michelangelo had been; this painting aimed to fuse Aristotelian and the Platonic way of thought. Raphael made a smooth transition between art and philosophy as compared to Michelangelo whose art was turbulent. Raphael, as an artist, was heavily influenced by Leonardo Da Vinci therefore took a lot of influence from Da Vinci’s piece named ‘the virgin of the rocks’. References from this were clearly seen in most of Raphael’s other world who included faces and compositions that seemed pyramidal in nature. The only reason that his painting was different as from that of Leonardo Da Vinci’s was because of how well Raphael incorporated harmony, composure and clarity.

High Renaissance architecture is usually associated with proportions and symmetry and was pioneered by Donato Bramante who lived between 1444 and 1415. Aged 55, he came to Rome and with him brought dome architecture that is closely linked to temple architecture. An example of this is his first work of art named the Tempietto in 1502 in Montorio at St. Pietro. The pope at the time, who happened to be Pope Julius 2 who reigned from 1503 to 1513, had designated Bramante as Papal architect and with him decided to replace St. Peters with a new church that had gigantic dimensions. This project may have been started by Bramante and Pope Julius 2, however, was unable to be completed up until after his passing.

During the reign of Pope Julius 2, there was also the surfacing of music that was polyphonic in nature. This music was performed by the Sistine choir at services that were associated with the pope thus attracted singers and musicians from all over Italy to be part of it. Among the composers of the famous music performed by the Sistine choir was Palestrina that lived from 1525 to 1584 and Josquin des Prez who lived between 1445 and 1521.

During the Renaissance we do not only see the revival of art but also various political events such as the fall of Rome in 1527. There was also a shift from spirituality to secularization thus more of a focus on human beings. This led to the classic debate; Christian faith and humanism. This debate soon developed into what we know as mannerism that was adopted

in the late 16^th century. However, even then remnants of the Renaissance were still apparent in artists in Europe and Italy. We also see how Spain and Portugal aimed to gather more lands during this crucial time while Martin Luther fought for his cause.

In the beginning, Luther was a lecturer. However, with time, specifically 1517, Luther fought against direct attacks against the Church and its practices. This Led to the famous 95 points that were pinned against a church door in Wittenberg therefore leading to the formation of the protestant movement. Luther preached that the highest authority for an individual is the Bible of the holy book of that time and that popes, cardinals and any individual who is part of the clergy were capable of making mistakes and thus wrong. This led to the clear break away from the Catholic Church and thus the formation of the protestant way of life.

Luther’s defiance caused crises. This was even more apparent when he formulated an outline that mentioned three main points. These three main points soon became the basis of the protestant religion; they were the supremacy of scripture which in turn meant the Bible, faith being used as justification and believers being able to enter priesthood. All of these brought along with them a set of consequences therefore the diminishing of certain practices like fasting, reverence of relics and pilgrimages. The only sacraments thus recognized were that of baptism and the Eucharist. Luther also made a point that individual’s part of the clergy or ones that held authority in churches had no intrinsic value as at the end of the day they were humans therefore the ultimate power lying with ‘God’. This led to them being referred to as pastors instead of priests.

People began to dislike the power of the Church as through the power that was exercised, the church siphoned off large amounts of money. This was worrisome and was voiced by moralists and humanists as their resentments only grew. An example of a humanist was Erasmus who expressed his religious disdain very publicly.

Protestantism spread all over the world as it was soon learned as to be easily adaptable. Therefore, in place like Germany and other Scandinavian countries, this sect was embraced. However, the monarchs believed this sect to be too radical hence stuck to Catholicism. With time, however, Protestantism outgrew Lutheranism and took its place as being more radical.

CONCLUSION

After analysing several different papers and resources, we have come to the conclusion that the shift between religion and secularism was so important that it sparked creativity and thought in every individual that thrived during that time. However, it was not just mere secularism but actually humanism where the individual themselves were seen as important. This led to several studies being conducted solely on people and their behaviors as compared to a mere interest in human beings. Artists of that time used certain techniques and with their skilled, combined those two only to form structures and paintings that are still renowned in today’s world. We see that through these works of art how these individuals portrayed the struggle that the people of that time were caught between which was mostly philosophy, thought, and humanism as compared to populism and the church, which were at that time the institution that withheld the highest authority, therefore, eliciting only power.

Page updated

Report abuse