Much of Much of Medieval art Medieval art appears appears unconcerned unconcerned with the with the accurate accurate representatiorepresentation of reality.n of reality.

This art serves more This art serves more to reveal the to reveal the underlying religious underlying religious Truth, as Truth, as understood by the understood by the artist and/or his/her artist and/or his/her patron, rather than patron, rather than to reflect reality as to reflect reality as we know it on a we know it on a daily basis.daily basis.

Many Many Renaissance Renaissance scholars looked scholars looked to the past for to the past for inspiration. inspiration.

They studied They studied the works of the the works of the ancient Greeks ancient Greeks and Romans. and Romans.

that valued innovation in this world. that valued innovation in this world. rather than looking forward to the next rather than looking forward to the next

world after death. world after death.

In the works of the classics they found In the works of the classics they found

a spirit similar to theirs.a spirit similar to theirs.

Humanists believed that by Humanists believed that by studying the classics, they studying the classics, they could understand people and could understand people and the world better. the world better.

One humanist wrote, One humanist wrote, ““To each species of creature To each species of creature has been allotted a peculiar and has been allotted a peculiar and instinctive gift. To horses instinctive gift. To horses galloping, to birds flying, galloping, to birds flying, comes naturally. To man only comes naturally. To man only is given the desire to learn.”is given the desire to learn.”

Donatello was an Italian sculptor, Donatello was an Italian sculptor, from Florence, in the later Middle from Florence, in the later Middle

Ages.Ages.

He brought a new flexibility He brought a new flexibility and humanity to his statues.and humanity to his statues.

Not all there?Not all there? Donatello was also one of the first Donatello was also one of the first

premadonna’s of modern timespremadonna’s of modern times He would demand certain He would demand certain

accommodationsaccommodations Instead of being told what to doInstead of being told what to do

He was so passionate about He was so passionate about his statues that he would his statues that he would smash them rather than sell smash them rather than sell them to ignorant clients. them to ignorant clients.

He was also seen yelling at his He was also seen yelling at his sculptures as he worked on themsculptures as he worked on them

Yelling “SPEAK, DAMN YOU Yelling “SPEAK, DAMN YOU SPEAK!”SPEAK!”

• Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in the the

village of Vinci. village of Vinci. Leonardo began his career working for a Leonardo began his career working for a

master painter in Florence.master painter in Florence. By 1478, Leonardo left his master and set By 1478, Leonardo left his master and set

up his own workshop. up his own workshop.

The most famous painting The most famous painting in the world.in the world.

Mona Lisa is famous for her Mona Lisa is famous for her facial expression and the facial expression and the subtlety of the transitions of subtlety of the transitions of tone and color. tone and color. Many researchers have tried Many researchers have tried to explain why the smile is to explain why the smile is seen so differently by people. seen so differently by people. The explanations range from The explanations range from scientific theories about scientific theories about human vision to curious human vision to curious supposition about supposition about Mona Mona Lisa'sLisa's identity and feelings. identity and feelings.

His Last Supper shows clearly the different His Last Supper shows clearly the different feelings of Jesus and his followers. feelings of Jesus and his followers.

Medieval depictions Medieval depictions focused on the message focused on the message of the work itself. of the work itself.

Christian artists Christian artists depicted a somber event depicted a somber event that emphasized the that emphasized the piety of the participantspiety of the participants As indicated by the halos As indicated by the halos

around Jesus and his around Jesus and his disciples. disciples.

A opposed to PastaferianismA opposed to Pastaferianism

Leonardo brought humanity to this event by Leonardo brought humanity to this event by showing the disciples conversing as if they were at showing the disciples conversing as if they were at

dinner…which they were.dinner…which they were.

He would sketch real people as He would sketch real people as examples for his artwork.examples for his artwork.

Leonardo was truly a Leonardo was truly a “Renaissance Man,” “Renaissance Man,” skilled in many skilled in many fields.fields.

He was a scientist He was a scientist and an inventor as and an inventor as well as an artist. well as an artist.

He made notes and He made notes and drawings of drawings of everything he saw.everything he saw.

Leonardo invented clever machines, and even Leonardo invented clever machines, and even designed imitation wings that he hoped would designed imitation wings that he hoped would

let a person fly like a bird.let a person fly like a bird.

Michelangelo Buonarroti of Michelangelo Buonarroti of Florence was one of the Florence was one of the

greatest artists of all time.greatest artists of all time. Michelangelo was Michelangelo was

a “Renaissance a “Renaissance Man” of many Man” of many talents. talents.

He was a sculptor, He was a sculptor, a painter, and an a painter, and an architect.architect.

Michelangelo’s Michelangelo’s paintings cover the paintings cover the ceiling of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the Sistine Chapel, the building where new building where new popes have been popes have been selected for more selected for more than five hundred than five hundred years. years.

Michelangelo’s painting illustrates the Michelangelo’s painting illustrates the Book of Genesis, with scenes that span Book of Genesis, with scenes that span

from the Creation to the Flood.from the Creation to the Flood.

Michelangelo felt that he was a more Michelangelo felt that he was a more developed sculptor than a painter, but developed sculptor than a painter, but

he accepted the offer.he accepted the offer. The project was The project was

very difficult. very difficult. Working alone, Working alone,

Michelangelo had Michelangelo had to lie on his back to lie on his back atop high atop high scaffolding while scaffolding while he painted the vast he painted the vast ceiling. ceiling.

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the world’s most famous one of the world’s most famous paintings, paintings,

but not everyone was happy with but not everyone was happy with Michelangelo’s work. Michelangelo’s work.

Cardinal Biagio de Cesena noted that Cardinal Biagio de Cesena noted that the crowd of more than 300 human the crowd of more than 300 human figures would be more appropriate in figures would be more appropriate in a wine shop than in a papal chapel. a wine shop than in a papal chapel.

Michelangelo responded to this Michelangelo responded to this criticism by adding a portrait of criticism by adding a portrait of Biagio among the figures of the Biagio among the figures of the damned in the scene of the Last damned in the scene of the Last Judgment. Judgment.

““The School of AthensThe School of Athens, monumentally , monumentally immortalizing the great philosophers, is immortalizing the great philosophers, is

unrivalled in its classic grace.” unrivalled in its classic grace.”

““While we may term other works paintings, those of While we may term other works paintings, those of Raphael are living things; the flesh palpitates, the Raphael are living things; the flesh palpitates, the

breath comes and goes, every organ lives, life pulsates breath comes and goes, every organ lives, life pulsates everywhere.”everywhere.”

Raphael died of a fever on Raphael died of a fever on his 37th birthday.his 37th birthday.

His funeral mass His funeral mass was celebrated at was celebrated at the Vaticanthe Vatican

his his TransfigurationTransfiguration was placed at the was placed at the head of the bierhead of the bier

and his body was and his body was buried in the buried in the Pantheon in Rome. Pantheon in Rome.

The Renaissance patrons wanted art that showed joy in human The Renaissance patrons wanted art that showed joy in human beauty and life’s pleasures.beauty and life’s pleasures.

Renaissance art is more lifelike than in the art of the Middle Ages. Renaissance art is more lifelike than in the art of the Middle Ages. Renaissance artists studied perspective, or the differences in the way Renaissance artists studied perspective, or the differences in the way

things look when they are close to something or far away. things look when they are close to something or far away. The artists painted in a way that showed these differences. As a The artists painted in a way that showed these differences. As a

result, their paintings seem to have depth. result, their paintings seem to have depth.