HIGH RENAISSANCE ARTChristian Mangold, Jack McLoone, Robby Gearon

High Renaissance Art Characteristics

◻ The majority of the art of the period was focused on Christian themes, mainly due to patronage from members of the Church, but there were also some Greek themed pieces (though not as much as in the Northern Renaissance.

◻ This period is considered the “climax” of Renaissance art, due to a number of extremely well-known artists (da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo) putting out work, and also a number of large, ambitious works, as they now had the tools to do work in their own style, and were also free to do so.

◻ The main characteristics of Renaissance art included harmony and balance, richer colors, and more realistic depictions of both humans and scenes.

◻ While the artists’ fame was mainly confined to among their wealthy patrons, many are now known worldwide.

Creation of AdamMichelangelo 1512

Creation of Adam

◻ Style: Realism

◻ Technique: Painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

◻ Skill: Despite completing it in only three weeks, the painting was created with extreme detail, exhibiting Michelangelo’s exceptional skill.

◻ Level of Fame: Michelangelo is one of the world’s most renowned painters ever, not just during the High Renaissance. The Creation of Adam is arguably Michelangelo’s best-known work of art.

◻ Subject: The painting depicts the creation of the world’s first human being, and how Adam was created in the image of God (achieved by the mirroring effect between the two figures).

Mond CrucifixionRaphael Sanzio 1502-1503

Mond Crucifixion

◻ Style: Realism/Catholic Imagery◻ Technique: Oil Painting on wood◻ Skill: Painted with extremely accurate human forms and deep

scenery◻ Level of Fame: Among many circles, Raphael is considered the

next great artist after da Vinci. Works like this are counted among the many examples of his mastery.

◻ Subject: This painting depicts the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross, looked upon by Mary Magdalene, the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, and St. Jerome.

Death of the VirginAlfonso Lombardi 1519-

1521

Death of the Virgin

◻ Style: Larger-than-life humanist sculpture with Christian themes◻ Technique: Large sculpture made out of terra cotta◻ Skill: He wanted to recapture the feeling of large scenes like

Raphael did with The School of Athens, but did so on a huge scale.

◻ Level of Fame: Lombardi is considered a master of terra cotta.◻ Subject: The death of the Virgin Mary

Fontana PretoriaFrancesco Camilliani 1554-1581

Fontana Pretoria

◻ Style: Humanist◻ Technique: Sculpted outside of its final location, Palmero, then

divided up into over 600 pieces and reassembled◻ Skill: Camilliani sculpted a number of intricate statues to surround

the massive fountain, all of them following the humanist style of realism, but only took two years.

◻ Fame of Artist: Viewed as one of the preeminent architects and sculptors of the era.

◻ Subject: Various Greek myths

Mona LisaLeonardo da Vinci 1503-1506

Mona Lisa

◻ Style: Humanism portrait ◻ Technique: oil on cottonwood panel (uncommon)◻ Skill: use of extreme detail and shadowing to produce

anatomically correct features, one of the most detailed and famous portraits of all time, took years to paint

◻ Fame of Artist: Probably the most famous artist of all time◻ Subject: wife of a very successful silk merchant, average upper

class woman

Adoration of the ShepherdsGiorgione

1505-1510

Adoration of the Sheperds

◻ Style: Realism mixed with religion◻ Technique: oil on canvas ◻ Skill: painted with advanced shading techniques and detailed

humans; successfully able to portray the tension and dramatism in the scene

◻ Fame of Artist: very famous despite his short career; founder of a Venetian painting school

◻ Subject: shepherds admiring baby Jesus

The Infant Hercules Strangling Two SerpentsModerno

1510

The Infant Hercules Strangling Two Serpants

◻ Style: Mythological◻ Technique: bronze sculpture (medal/plaquette)◻ Skill: very detailed and textured indentation in the bronze medium,

was completed within a year ◻ Fame of Artist: famous for his unique style of metal sculptures,

such as this one◻ Subject: baby Hercules and two serpents

The Last SupperLeonardo da Vinci 1498

The Last Supper

◻ Style: Humanist with Christian themes◻ Technique: Oil painting on a wall, which forced him to use some

fresco techniques. Overall it was not the smartest decision. Oil does not stay on walls very well, as it gets affected by moisture.

◻ Skill: Da Vinci painstakingly painted this masterpiece over two years, sometimes walking the few miles to the monastery where he painted it to just put in a couple of brushstrokes. It was considered so masterful that no one attempted to paint the scene again (it had been common before) until Raphael took a shot.

◻ Level of Fame: Probably the most famous artist of all time.◻ Subject: The moment where Jesus revealed to his disciples that

one of them had betrayed him.

Bibliography

◻ "Creation of Adam, Michelangelo." Rome.info. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

◻ "Creation of Adam." Web Gallery of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

◻ "The Creation of Adam." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

◻ "Art History Winter Quarter." : Early Renaissance VS. High Renaissance. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

◻ Jacobs, David. "Leonardo Da Vinci." Master Painters of the Renaissance. New York: Viking, 1968. N. pag. Print.

◻ "The Mond Crucifixion." UK National Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

◻ "Death of the Virgin by LOMBARDI, Alfonso." Web Gallery of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

◻ "Alfonso Lombardi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 May 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

◻ "Fontana Pretoria." In Palermo. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/palermo/attractions/214697#sthash.2XQ5KABr.dpbs>.

◻ http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search?&deptids=15&rpp=20&who=Moderno+(Galeazzo+Mondella)&pg=1

◻ http://european-art.findthebest.com/l/19540/The-Infant-Hercules-Strangling-Two-Serpents

◻ http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-–-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo

◻ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoration_of_the_Shepherds_(Le_Nain)

◻ http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/leonardo-mona-lisa.html