Early Renaissance Art and Architecture

Overview

• The Early Renaissance, starting in the 15th century in Italy, marked a cultural rebirth or "renaissance," moving away from Gothic and Romanesque art styles.
• Florentine artists led a revival of classical art, blending humanism and individualism.
• Artists incorporated architecture, philosophy, theology, mathematics, science, and design into their works, influencing art and culture for centuries.
• It is also known as the Quattrocento, primarily referring to the 15th century in Italian art.

Key Ideas & Accomplishments

• New artistic techniques emerged, moving away from two-dimensional iconography:
  • One-point linear perspective from math and architecture
  • Rilievo stiacciato: shallow carving techniques
  • Foreshortening, naturalistic detail, proportion, and use of chiaroscuro and trompe l'oeil
• Evolving subject matter, including:
  • Battle scenes, portraits, and ordinary people
  • Art documenting contemporary and historical events beyond religious themes
• Influence of Humanist philosophy emphasizing man's relationship with the world and God beyond church control.
• Rise of private patronage in arts, prominently by the Medici family, supporting artists to depict historical and religious narratives in innovative ways.

Notable Artworks and Artists

Filippo Brunelleschi

• Known for solving the architectural challenge of the Florence Cathedral dome, sparking the Italian Renaissance.

Masaccio

• Expulsion from the Garden of Eden (1426-27):
  • First depiction of nudes in painting since Roman times
  • Utilized linear perspective, chiaroscuro, and realistic figures
• The Holy Trinity (1424-27):
  • Revolutionized painting with one-point linear perspective and trompe l'oeil
  • Created a visceral experience aligning the fresco with church architecture

Filippo Brunelleschi

• Dome of Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) (1420-36):
  • Revolutionary design and construction using a dome-within-a-dome system
  • Developed innovative building technologies for construction

Donatello

• David (1430-40):
  • First freestanding nude sculpture since the Roman era
  • Provocative and intimate representation using lost wax casting

Fra Angelico

• The Annunciation (c.1438-45):
  • Classical simplicity with emphasis on intimacy and ordinary moments
  • Commissioned by the Medici family

Piero della Francesca

• Flagellation of Christ (c.1455):
  • Innovative perspective and division between scenes
  • Early example of oil painting on small panels

Andrea Mantegna

• Camera Degli Sposi Frescoes (1465-74):
  • Groundbreaking illusionistic ceiling painting
  • Influenced later Renaissance and Baroque artists
• Lamentation over the Dead Christ (c. 1480):
  • Mastery of foreshortening creating a modern, intimate effect

Sandro Botticelli

• Primavera (1481-82):
  • Complex allegorical work depicting classical mythology
  • Integrates scientific observation with over 500 plant species
• The Birth of Venus (1483-85):
  • Iconic depiction of Venus, using innovative techniques for texture and color

Domenico Ghirlandaio

• Portrait of an Old Man with His Grandson (1490):
  • Emotional realism challenging social attitudes towards appearance

Beginnings and Definitions

Proto-Renaissance

• Artists like Cimabue and Giotto in the 14th century laid groundwork for Renaissance
• Emphasis on naturalism and human emotion

Defining the Renaissance

• Coined by Vasari; later popularized by French and further redefined as early modern
• Driven by Humanism and classical influences

Republic of Florence and the Medicis

• Florence dubbed "The New Athens," leading the classical tradition
• Medici family's role in patronizing arts and humanistic culture

The Baptistery Competition

• 1401 competition for the Baptistery doors marked a starting point
• Ghiberti won, but Brunelleschi's architectural innovations planted Renaissance roots

Key Figures

• Filippo Brunelleschi: Pioneered linear perspective and Renaissance architecture
• Donatello: Brought perspective and expression to sculpture
• Masaccio: Revolutionized painting with linear perspective and expressive figures
• Leon Battista Alberti: Intellectual theorist codifying Renaissance art principles

Concepts, Styles, and Trends

Humanism

• Emphasized human life and rational discoveries as central to the universe
• Key figures included Petrarch and other scholars who revived classical texts

Architecture

• Innovations by Brunelleschi and Alberti utilizing classical elements and mathematical ratios

Painting

• Introduction of oil painting, new subject matters, and focus on color and texture

Sculpture

• Emphasis on naturalism, individuality influenced by classical forms

Later Developments

• Innovations spread to High Renaissance, Northern Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque periods
• Continues to influence modern artistic expression and cultural pursuits

These notes provide an overview and key insights into the Early Renaissance, highlighting its major contributions to art and culture.