a) Identify and explain one way in which the painting exhibits the humanist characteristics of the Italian Renaissance.

One way in which The Birth of Venus exhibits humanist characteristics is its depiction of a scene from Classical Antiquity. For example, Venus the Roman goddess of love is shown emerging from the sea riding a shell. This is a scene straight from the Roman Empire at a time when Christianity had not emerged as a major monotheistic faith. Part of humanism is a revival of the classics which is an obvious characteristic of this painting. This style is in stark contrast to the Middle Ages as medieval art would never depict a scene inspired by polytheism due to the social and cultural constraints of the Roman Catholic Church.

b) Identify and explain one way in which the painting exhibits the artistic style of the Italian Renaissance.

One way in which The Birth of Venus exhibits the artistic style of the Italian Renaissance is its use of visual perspective. The scene of Venus emerging from the Sea looks as if it is a 3D image and has a clear vanishing point. Visual perspective was a skill developed and masters by the artists of the Italian Renaissance and stands in stark contrast to the art of the Middle Ages. Medieval art appeared 2D and had no focus of realistic or ideal depictions, but rather focused as a method of educating the illiterate masses about Biblical stories and lessons.

c) Identify and explain one way in which the painting above differs from the style of Northern Renaissance art AND account for this difference.

Those who can be identified with some certainty: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, Ptolemy, Zoroaster, Raphael.

An elder Platowalks alongsideAristotle.

Pythagoras