Module 4, Part 2: Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo Art

Introduction

• Coverage: Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo periods.
• Reference to Ninja Turtles, named after Renaissance artists: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Renaissance Art

Sandro Botticelli

• The Birth of Venus
  • Shift from religious to secular art.
  • Depicts mythological scene of Venus's birth.
  • Humanism: Revival of classical themes.
  • Nudity reintroduced, reflecting new humanist views.

Leonardo da Vinci

• Fetus in the Womb

  • Renaissance man concept: Multi-talented individuals.
  • Da Vinci's scientific and artistic blend.
  • Sketch using dry media, hatching technique.
  • Undertook autopsies despite societal and religious restrictions.

• Mona Lisa

  • Notable for its mysterious smile.
  • Commissioned by Francesco del Giocondo, never delivered.
  • Small size and heavily protected.

• The Last Supper

  • Uses linear perspective for depth.
  • Experimentation with paint led to deterioration.

Michelangelo Buonarroti

• Sistine Chapel Ceiling

  • Commissioned by Pope Julius II.
  • Creation of Adam most famous scene; reflects humanism.

• The Last Judgment

  • Depicts the second coming and judgment, initially painted with nudity.
  • Nudity later covered due to changing decorum standards.
  • Michelangelo’s frustration with papal commissions reflected in the work.

Raphael

• School of Athens
  • Painted concurrently with the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
  • Features ancient Greek philosophers and contemporary artists.
  • Encourages Renaissance ideals among Church leaders.

North European Renaissance

• Albrecht Dürer

  • Self-Portrait at Age 28: Represents individualism.
  • Melancholia I: Famous printmaking using engraving.

• Jan van Eyck

  • Luca Madonna: Known for oil painting detail, use of underdrawing techniques.

• Hieronymus Bosch

  • Garden of Earthly Delights: Religious themes, triptych with Eden, Adam and Eve, and Hell.
  • Unique abstraction in Renaissance art.

Evolution of the Statue of David

Donatello's David (1440)

• Early Renaissance bronze sculpture.
• Represents humanism with contrapposto stance.

Michelangelo's David (1501-1504)

• Full nude, captures moment before the battle.
• Classical influence in pose and expression.

Bernini's David (1623-1624)

• Baroque style with focus on movement and emotion.
• Represents act of slinging the stone, modest drapery added.

Baroque and Rococo Art

Baroque Period

• Caravaggio

  • Conversion of St. Paul: Use of chiaroscuro and dynamic composition.

• Peter Paul Rubens

  • Death of Consul Publius Decius: Model for tapestry, dynamic composition.

• Diego Velázquez

  • Las Meninas: Playful royal portrait, dynamic scene around the implied subjects.

Rococo Period

• The Swing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard

  • Frivolous and decorative art style.
  • Scandalous yet accepted in French courts.

• Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun

  • Marie Antoinette in Court Dress: Example of opulence, Baroque and Rococo blend.

• Palace of Versailles: Hall of Mirrors

  • Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and Charles Le Brun.
  • Opulent use of mirrors to enhance space and reflect light.

Conclusion

• Review of Ninja Turtle artists.
• Questions for reflection on personal artistic preferences and the application of drawing in students' fields.
• Bonus: Adding a Ninja Turtle gif or meme for extra points.