Individuals Flashcards
Cosimo de Medici - Patronage
o Lorenzo estimated he spent over 600,000 florins on patronage.
o Donatello – St George, David (Bronze), Gattametlata.
o Fra Angelico – San Marco Alter piece.
o Gozzoli – Magi Chapel frescoes 1461 – ‘The journey of the Magi’.
o Financed search for manuscripts in West and East – Collection became the Biblioteca Laurenziana – first ever to open to public.
o Employed Scholars: Bracciolini (1380-1459) and Ficino (1433-99). – Ficino’s work very important – reconciled Plato with Christianity.
o Neoplatonic academy 1462 in Florence- founded by Cosimo de Medici.
o Cosimo de’ Medici acquired collection of Niccolo’ Niccoli – became the basis of the Medici Library – over 1000 books by the time Lorenzo died.
o Enabled Bankrupt Brunelleschi to complete the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (the “Duomo”) in 1436.
o Michelozzi – Palazzo Medici 1444-84.
Cosimo de Medici - Warfare
Cosimo oversaw the Peace of Lodi 1454 – signed by all major powers – created a long period of peace in Italy – in which art could prosper.
Lorenzo de Medici - Patronage
‘The Prince’ – 1513 how to acquire, maintain and expand power – advice to rulers – dedicated to Lorenzo the magnificent.
o Expanded the Laurentiana Library.
o Continued the Platonic academy – including Ficino, Pico and Poliziano.
o Da Sangallo – The Medici Villa
o Da Vinci – for 7 years.
o Anrea del Verrocchio – favorite artist –
o Filipino Lippi –
o Botticelli – the marriage of Antonio Pucci’s son Giannozzo in 1483.
o Architecture patronage by Medici’s: Uffizi Gallery, the Boboli Gardens, the Belvedere, the Medici Chapel, and the Palazzo Medici.
Lorenzo - politics
o Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478 - assassination attempt – Lorenzo and brother Giuliano - rival Florentine families – support from Pope Sixtus IV, violent reprisals, political instability in Florence.
o Medici bank in decline under Lorenzo’s rule a few branches closed.
Federico de Montefeltro - Patronage
o Federico de Montefeltro embodied ‘soldier-scholar’ outstanding military leader + patron of arts and scholars. Portrait by Justus of Ghent 1470s – in his library reading manuscripts – dressed in armor.
o Developed Urbino into a Renaissance City - Biggest library in Italy other than the Vatican – 200,000 ducats spent on building palace, 50,000 on furnishing, 30,000 on library – court employed over 100 crafts men – hundreds of books copied for library.
o Patron of Artists Piero della Francesca and Pedro Berrguete – painters – to portray him as pious, dynastic, uxorious scholarly and valorous.
o Some historians suggest Federico didn’t even read – shows it was desire to embody Renaissance man.
Ludovico Sforza - patronage
o Historian Margret L. King goes as far as to claim ‘Sforza munificence had one driving motivation: the quest for status.
o Sforza’s patroned Francesco Filelfo (1398-1481) to construct a family history, glorifying the military valour and skill of the new duke Francesco Sforza.
o Commissioned, from Leonardo, an equestrian statue of Francesco Sforza, emulate an air of longevity and legitimacy of his family and their rule.
o Last Supper - in monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
o Decoration of Castello Sforzesco, Milan. Leonardo decorated parts of the Castello Sforzesco such as the Sala delle Asse.
Ludovico Sforza - Patronage of Architecture
o Continuing work on Milan Cathedral and the Certosa - improved churches in Milan and other cities - decorations. Urban renewal schemes -buildings were cleared to create or enlarge piazzas.
o Piazza Ducale, Vigevano. Ludovico’s most ambitious enterprise - Its loggia-surrounded piazza - modeled after the imperial forums of ancient Rome. Work of Bramante.
o Baptistery and chancel of Santa Maria presso San Satiro, Milan. Bramante designed a new baptistery and an illusionary chancel for the church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro.
o East end added to Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan- work of Bramante.
Charles V - politics
-Sack of Rome, Charles V lost control of his 20,000 troops - they killed 45,000 civilian dead, wounded or exiled people.
o The war of the League Cognac 1526-1530 – Papal states opposed with HRE of Charles V (part of the Italian wars)
o Charles V - Italian Wars and the Protestant Reformation - cost of maintaining armies and fighting against Protestant princes in the Holy Roman Empire strained his resources and limited his ability to support cultural projects – however – still a prolific patron despite limits.
Jullius II - Patronage
o Michelangelo – Sistine Chapel – 1508 -1512.
o Bramante – ‘Tempietto’ - 1502.
Laid groundwork for Vatican Museum.
-Patron to some of the biggest Renaissance names: Raphael, Michelangelo, Bramante.
-Commisioned: painting of Sistine Chapel, St Peters Bassilica, The Frescoes of the four large Raphael rooms (E.g. School of Athens.)
Patronage of Josquin de Prez – singer in Papal chapel during the time – indicating Papal support for the musical talent of the time.
Charles V - patronage
o Titian – ‘Equestrian Portrait of Charles V’.
o Peter Paul Rubens, and Jan van Eyck to create portraits and other artworks for him.
o Building/renovation: Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, and the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial near Madrid.
o Maintained a court chapel that included talented composers and musicians such as Nicolas Gombert and Thomas Crecquillon.
Ficino - work
-Ficino translated Plato’s dialogs from Greek to Latin.
-Ficino ‘Theologia Platonica’ - 1480 – reconcile Plato with Christianity – themes such as the nature of the soul.
-Platonic Academy – founded by Ficino – Met at Medici’s Villa – neo-platonic approach to literature – when Plato and works of Plato were rediscovered.
Francis 1st patronage
o Leonardo - Painted Mona Lisa.
o 1530, Francis I founded the French Academy of Painting and Sculpture, known as the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture.
o Francis I expanded and renovated the royal residence of Fontainebleau, transforming it into a magnificent palace that served as a center of artistic and cultural activity.
o Rosso Fiorentino and Francesco Primaticcio - frescoes, stuccoes, and sculptures, creating what became known as the “School of Fontainebleau.”
o Royal Collections and Commissions: Titians ‘the concert’, Michelangelo ‘Bacchus’.
King Francis I of France - invited Italian artists - Leonardo da Vinci and Benvenuto Cellini to work at the French court, further disseminating Italian Renaissance ideals in France.
Nicholas V - Patronage
Focused on restoration of Rome.
-Hired Fra Angelico, Gozzoli, and humanist Alberti (very influential in art theory).
-Avid book collector.
-Considered the founder of the Vatican library, increased the collection from 350, to around 1,200 during his reign.
-Patron of Greek humanists. Bessarion and Valla.
Machiavelli - work and influence
-o ‘The Prince’ – 1513 how to acquire, maintain and expand power – advice to rulers – dedicated to Lorenzo the magnificent.
o Laid groundworks for concept ‘Realpolitik’ – prioritizes practical consideration over moral or ideological concerns. ‘rulers should be willing to use any means necessary’. E.g. Italian city states diplomacy – formed alliances with rival powers to counterbalance influence of dominant states.
o Pope Alexander VI – used Machiavellian techniques – formed alliances with powerful families, Borgia and Medici, to consolidate papal power and expand territory.
o Machiavelli critiqued mercenaries – questioning their loyalty wen financially motivated.
o Mercenaries didn’t embody soldier scholar – trained to fight, not in the arts etc - pro-civilian armies.
o The correspondence and diplomatic records of Renaissance rulers often contain references to “The Prince” and Machiavelli’s advice on matters of statecraft and diplomacy.
Castiglione - works and influence.
o Castiglione – “The Book of the Courtier” 1528.
o Dialogue set at Urbino – Courtiers discuss qualities + behaviors of ideal Renaissance men.
o concept of sprezzatura, or effortless grace – key attribute of courtier – mastering various skills while looking natural and unaffected.
o topics such as education, etiquette, manners, conversation
o “The Book of the Courtier” had a profound influence on courtly behavior
o Influential piece of literature inspired by Renaissance values - became a handbook for courtiers across Europe, shaping the behavior and aspirations of the aristocracy.
Erasmus - works and influence
-Erasmus drew inspiration from Greek rhetoric in his influential treatise ‘De Copia’ - 1512.
-“The Praise of Folly” (1509) - 700 editions:
-In it he satirized the pedantry and narrow-mindedness of Scholastic theologians.
-the book critiqued abuse and corruption with C.C. advocated for renewal within rather than opposed to C.C.
-Edition of the New Testament - Novum Instrumentum omne (1516) – Compared various Greek manuscripts to New Testament – highlighted discrepancies between them and Latin Vulgate – one used by the Catholic Church.
-Critical notes questioning traditional interpretations – challenged doctrinal certainties.
-E.g. questioned authenticity of passages such as Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7-8) - supports the doctrine of the Trinity but is absent from many early Greek manuscripts.
Brunelleschi - work and influence
-Duomo in Florence, modeled on the proportions of the Pantheon in Rome.
-Developed one point perspective with famous key whole experiment.
-Reconstruction of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, in 1419.
-Architectural trends were followed throughout the Renaissance, following Brunelleschi’s examples of moderninsing classical design.
Alberti - work and influence
Humanist
-very influential in art theory.
-attributed with forming the idea of the Renaissance man ‘a man can do all things if he will.’
“On Painting,” (De Pictura - 1435) Alberti articulated the concept of the vanishing point, - elements became fundamental to the practice of perspective drawing and painting.
‘De Statua’ - 1463
Donatello - works and influence
-“David”, 1416 portrays the biblical hero David as a symbol of courage and divine favor, reflecting the Christian interpretation of the Old Testament story.
-St George (1415-17), David (Bronze), Gattametlata (1453) - commissioned by Cosimo.
-instrumental in revival of the classics in sculpture – infused his own creations with naturalism and dynamism.
-Experimentation with bronze casting techniques allowed for greater flexibility and expressiveness in sculptural forms – seen in David.
-Donatello’s portrayal of religious subjects marked a departure from the idealized and ethereal figures of the medieval period - biblical characters with human emotions - “Penitent Magdalene” 1440 - complex and introspective figure rather than a mere symbol of penance.
Botticelli - work and influence
-Botticelli’s ‘Primavera’ - Platonic love - (sensual, spiritual, divine) The Graces represent platonic love - one looking to mercury who points to the heavens - Neoplatonic.
-faced pressure from the Church due to the association with the Florentine Humanists and the pagan themes in his paintings E.g. ‘The birth of Venus’.
-Primavera 1481-82. Birth of Venus 1483-85.
-1495: Sandro Botticelli paints Calumny of Apelles. (Based off works of greek painter Appelles classical themes, two graceful female figures, who are the personifications of Ignorance and Suspicion.)
Michelangelo - work and influence
-‘Battle of Cascina’ (1504) - commissioned to celebrate military victories.
-‘Tomb of Julius II’ (1505) – Renaissance neo-platonic value of active and contemplative life represented by statues ‘Leah’ and ‘Rachel’ – also had Moses at center – with classical clothing + horns.
-very religious – Sistine Chapel and “Pieta,” (1498-99) housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the body of Jesus after the Crucifixion.
-Psychologically complex high Renaissance art - . “David” - Excavating The Form Of Beauty - not for portraying likeness - represent the motion of beauty in figures - used classical forms to express this.
-Sistine Chapel – 1508 -1512 (Julius II). Last Judgement – 1541 (Clement VII) – Pieta (statue) - commissioned by French Cardinal Jean de Billheres for St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
-Designed Medici Library.
-The façade of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence.
-Adam - sistine Chapel - anatomically accurate.
Leonardo da Vinci - influence and works
-The Battle of Anghiari’ (1503) - commissioned to celebrate military victories.
-military architecture – innovative features such as angled bastions and artillery emplacements.
-using painting to express ‘the motions of the
mind’ and ‘the motions of the soul’. portraits that express the character and the mind of a person, e.g. the Mona Lisa, popular for its mysterious expression.
-The High Renaissance began by works such as - da Vinci: The Virgin of the Rocks (1483-1485) - , (commissioned by the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception) and, most notably, The Last Supper (1490s): psychological complexity, perspective for dramatic focus, symbolism, and scientifically accurate detail.
-chiaroscuro (light and dark - creates volume) Virgin of the Rocks - da Vinci (1483-1486)
-Augustinian monks of San Donato a Scopeto in Florence for “Adoration of the Magi.”
-‘Vitruvian man’ – interest in the balance of man – humanist ideal of the Renaissance man – universal man.
-Worked at the french courts for Francis 1st - last 3 years of his life.
-The Madonna and Child with St. Anne (1501-19) uses the compositional device of the triangle to arrange the figures of a grown woman on another’s lap in a typically Renaissance rational, geometric arrangement.
Durer - life
-From the Imperial free city of Nurember.
-Travelled extensively
In Italy:
1494-5
-to see/imitate Renaissance art - move away from nordic medieval style.
returned later in 1505.
-Returned to Nuremberg - opened work shot - produced woodcuts and engravings (in advance not commissions only).
-wrote poems, letters, and treaties on human proportions, fortifications, perspective and instructions in measurement.
-1520 - most this work became religious.
Durer works
Self portrait at the age of 28:
1500
Young Hare:
1502
Great Piece of Turf:
1503
Rhinoceros:
1515
Durer innovation
Artistic innovation:
-Perfected the technique of engravings and woodcut for better, more detailed images.
-revolutionized printmaking, elevating it to the level of an independent art form. (e.g. young Hare 1502)
-Detailed realism: in depiction of nature and domestic interiors. E.g. Albert durers The Hare - individual hairs on animal.
-genius in the commercial sphere - appreciated opportunities presented by new technology of printmaking.
-painting is a single object in a single space, prints can be everywhere.
-used their ubiquity to widely promote himself and his work.
Leonardo Bruni - works and their influence
Florentine humanist during 1st half 15th century.
-expert in Greek and Latin.
1401- Panegyric of the city of Florence:
-Praise of Florentine Republicanism and literary culture.
-Beginning of Bruni’s massive contribution to Florentine political thought.
1427 - becomes Chancellor.
-Both affluent an influential.
1415: Composing Latin History of the Florentine people.
-first major work of Renaissance historical writing.
-imitating the continuous prose and literary grace of classical Historians.
-associates republicanism, classicism and social well being.
1421: Treaties De militia
-favour of citizen armies
-replace contemporary dependence on unreliable condottieri.
-Leading Greek Scholar - contributor to Renaissance programme of translation from Greek to Latin.
-Translated Aristotles Ethics and Politics - replace medieval translations - more elegance.
-Translated Plato’s works - hitherto inaccessible to Latin readers.
-Unaffected by Platos ideas.
-Inclined to ideas of Aristotle and Cicero.
Raphael - works and influence
Not much knowing about him till his arrival in Rome 1508.
Employed by Julius II:
-decoration of Papal apartments:
-Room of the Segnatura
(completed 1511).
-Includes School of Athens. Disputation of the Holy Sacrament.
Employed by Agostino Chigi - Decorated his Chapels:
-S. Maria delle Pace.
-S. Maria del Popolo.
Style - deeply influenced by Michelangelo.
-Florentine elegance, classical monumentality, great articulation of muscles and complex poses of the body.
-Greater monumentality seen in frescoes for the Stanza dell’Eliodoro.
-Epitomized high Renaissance style.
Favourite Artist of Leo X
-continued decoration of the Stanze.
-Served as architect of St Peter after death of Bramante.
-Superintendent of Antiquities (reflects growing concern of destruction of the past - Rome being rebuilt in 16th c).
Last great commissions:
-Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel.
-Transfiguration (Vatican) - commissioned by future Pope Clement VII.
Who was Bramante influenced by?
-Leonardo’s knowledge of Bruneleschi’s buildings and experiments in centrally planned church design - influenced his development.
-Memories of Urbino (born).
-Some knowledge of Alberti’s Mantuan Churches
-E.g. at S. Maria Presso and S. Satiro - Bramante compressed Albertian monumentality into a tiny barrel-vaulted space - with an illusionistic choir. (1482-86)
-commissioned by Duchess Bona di Savoia and Duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza.
-Tribune at S. Maria dell Grazie (1493) - colossal reworking of Brunelleschi’s Old Sacristy.
Bramante - innovation
The round tempietto at S. Pietro in Montorio (1502) - first building to reuse full Doric order. assumed the exemplary status of an ancient building.
Part of Julius II large scale reshaping of Rome - earned Bramante nickname ‘Ruinante’.
Bramante devised an architecture based on a clear set of principles synthesized from antiquity.
-Invented cheap materials and techniques (stucco, cast vaults) - appropriate to the sped required by Julius II programme.
Impact of Influence of Thomas More:
Humanist Scholarship
Classical Education
Humanist Scholarship:
-corresponded with leading humanist thinkers - E.g. Erasmus - influence by his ideas.
-Utopia - published 1516
-seminal piece of Renaissance literature.
-presents imaginary island society to critique political and social institutions of Mores own time.
-Renaissance ideals - intellectual inquiry, social criticism and utopian speculation - reflects humanist values - individualism, critical thinking, pursuit of knowledge.
Classical Education:
-proficient in latin and Greek - studied texts extensively.
-drew heavily from classical sources in his writings.
Impact of Influence of Thomas More:
Legal and Political thought
Defender of catholicism
Legal and political thought:
-scholar of law and politics.
-Position of Lord Chancellor - 1529 - improved legal system - efficiency and fairness.
-Legal treatises - ‘A Dialogue Concerning Heresies’ - legal and theological arguments against protestantism.
Defender of catholicism:
-Defended Catholicism against Protestantism in his “A Dialogue Concerning Heresies,”.
-scholarly activities intertwined with his religious convictions.
Impact and influence of John Colet
Educational reform:
-1510 - founded St. Paul’s School in London - aimed to provide Humanist education - based on study of classical languages and texts.
-became a model for Renaissance education in England.
Biblical Scholarship:
-lectures and sermons at St. Paul’s cathedral - emphasised need to study Bible in original language an historical context.
-Foreshadowed later protestant focus on script alone.
Critique of Clerical corruption:
-Sermons denounced practices such as Simony (buying and selling of Church offices).
-criticised neglect of pastoral duties.
-Paved way for protestant theology.
Leonardo - works for the Sfroza’s
-Portrait of a Young Fiancée for the Sforziada.
The Last Supper - 1490s
-decorated parts of the Castello Sforzesco such as the Sala delle Asse - in Millan.
-equestrian statue of Francesco Sforza - commisioned by the Sforza’s.
