renaissance 3 Flashcards
Who was Sandro Botticelli?
A Florentine master employed by the Medici family, known for reflecting humanist interest in Greco-Roman art, literature, and mythology.
His work is often interpreted through Neo-Platonism.
What does ‘studia humanitatis’ refer to?
A body of learning focused on the study and imitation of classical culture from ancient Rome and Greece.
It was a central concept of humanism advocating for cultural rebirth after the Middle Ages.
What was the significance of the invention of moveable metal type?
Facilitated the printing and wide distribution of books, expanding the audience for humanist writings.
Dante’s Divine Comedia was among the first books printed in Italy.
What themes did humanism foster in art?
Belief in individual potential, personal achievement, and civic responsibility.
This appealed to high-status individuals and art patrons.
What was the earliest important artistic commission in 15th-century Florence?
A competition for the bronze baptistery doors sponsored by the city’s guild of wool merchants.
This occurred during a siege by Milanese forces.
What did the jurors of the 1401 competition require from artists?
Each entrant had to submit a relief panel depicting the sacrifice of Isaac.
This biblical episode was interpreted as a prefiguration of Jesus’ crucifixion.
How did Brunelleschi’s and Ghiberti’s styles differ in the competition?
Brunelleschi’s style emphasized violent movement and high emotion, while Ghiberti’s style was characterized by grace and smoothness.
Ghiberti’s depiction included classical influences and spatial illusion.
What is atmospheric perspective?
A technique where distant objects appear blurrier and less detailed, enhancing the illusion of depth in art.
It is also referred to as aerial perspective.
What is significant about Donatello’s Feast of Herod?
It demonstrates Donatello’s mastery of perspective in relief sculpture, marking the introduction of rationalized perspective in Renaissance art.
This work includes arched courtyards in Herod’s palace.
What are the Gates of Paradise?
Ghiberti’s east doors for Florence’s baptistery, featuring ten panels depicting Old Testament episodes using atmospheric perspective.
Michelangelo praised them as suitable for the gates of Paradise.
What does Donatello’s David represent?
The first Renaissance sculptor to portray the nude male figure in statuary, reflecting classical ideals.
It was cast for display in the Medici palace courtyard.
What distinguishes Verrocchio’s David from Donatello’s?
Verrocchio’s David features narrative realism and portrays a sturdy youth, contrasting with the quiet classicism of Donatello’s David.
Verrocchio’s work illustrates the psychology of brash young men.
What is the significance of the Tomb of Leonardo Bruni?
It reflects the humanist emphasis on individual achievement and established the wall tomb as a major Renaissance sculptural form.
It blends classical and Christian motifs.
What is the Gattamelata statue known for?
It is the first post-antique equestrian statue rivaling Roman imperial portraits, embodying the Renaissance ideal of a powerful individual.
The horse’s hoof on an orb symbolizes world domination.
What key feature does Masaccio’s Holy Trinity exhibit?
It is the first major 15th-century application of mathematical perspective in painting.
The vanishing point is at the foot of the cross, creating an illusion of depth.
What is Fra Angelico’s Annunciation known for?
Its simplicity and spiritual clarity, reflecting devotional art over humanist ideals.
It was commissioned by Dominican monks for contemplation.
What characterizes Andrea del Castagno’s Last Supper?
It features perspective experiments and dramatic narrative, designed for a convent setting.
Judas is depicted separately, emphasizing his role in the narrative.
True or False: Humanism in the Renaissance was solely focused on religious themes.
False.
Humanism also emphasized classical culture, individual achievement, and civic responsibility.
Fill in the blank: The _______ was a competition held in Florence for the bronze baptistery doors.
1401
Who painted the Battle of San Romano?
Paolo Uccello
A rare example of a history painting known for its interest in perspective.
What is Fra Filippo Lippi known for?
Emphasis on line and movement in his works
His works, like ‘Madonna and Child with Angels’, address religious themes with worldly grace.
What notable work did Piero della Francesca create?
Resurrection
Known for his interest in perspective and mathematical proportions.
What is a key feature of Domenico Ghirlandaio’s frescoes?
Depiction of contemporary elite family members in religious scenes
Contributed to the secularization of art.
Who commissioned Botticelli’s Primavera?
Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de Medici
Possibly created for Lorenzo’s wedding to Semiramide d’Appiani in May 1482.
Fill in the blank: In Botticelli’s Primavera, the orange grove in the background represents the _______.
Medici family
What does the figure of Venus symbolize in Botticelli’s Primavera?
Love and its different paths
Reflects Neo-Platonist philosophy.
What is Pollaiuolo’s artistic approach known for?
Depicting human anatomy in motion
Focused on dynamic, violent action unlike earlier Renaissance artists.
What technique did Italian engravers, including Pollaiuolo, use?
Parallel hatching
Emphasizes underlying anatomical structure.
True or False: Pollaiuolo’s Battle of Ten Nudes has an identifiable subject.
False
Exists purely as a study of the human body in motion.
What is the significance of Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti?
First Renaissance-style building
Commissioned by the Guild of Silk Manufacturers & Goldsmiths.
What architectural feature is prominent in San Lorenzo?
Two-story elevation with a flat, coffered timber roof
Represents Brunelleschi’s Renaissance style.
Fill in the blank: The Pazzi Chapel was originally planned by _______.
Brunelleschi
What is a key theme in Brunelleschi’s architectural contributions?
Introduction of linear perspective
Developed mathematical spatial accuracy.
Who was Girolamo Savonarola?
A Dominican monk who preached against secularism and humanism
His sermons led to political upheaval in Florence.
What was the impact of Savonarola’s actions on the Renaissance?
Dampened enthusiasm for classical antiquity in Florence
Led to a loss of patronage for artists.
What is unique about Venetian architecture compared to Florence’s?
Distinct styles, such as Ca d’Oro
Venice’s architecture reflects its wealth and commercial significance.
Who is Giovanni Bellini?
A key figure in establishing the Venetian High Renaissance school of painting
Known for works like Saint Francis in the Desert.
What is the significance of the Brera Altarpiece?
Depicts Federico da Montefeltro kneeling before the Madonna
Highlights themes of loss and devotion.
What did Mantegna’s Camera degli Sposi exemplify?
Illusionism in fresco painting
Integrated real and painted elements of architecture.
Fill in the blank: Leonardo da Vinci was invited to Milan by _______.
Ludovico Sforza
What characterizes Alberti’s architectural principles?
Adapting classical Roman elements in a modern way
Emphasized flat facades and linear effects.
What does Alberti’s Palazzo Rucellai reflect?
Classical elements applied to contemporary buildings
Inspired by the Colosseum’s facade design.
What architectural style did Sant’Andrea incorporate?
Classical Roman elements
What is the role of art in glorifying political figures?
Art served to reflect the sophistication and culture of the princes, showcasing their wealth and power
Who were the key artists associated with early Renaissance sculptures at Or San Michele?
Nanni di Banco & Donatello
What is significant about Donatello’s David?
It is the first nude male statue since antiquity, inspired by classical contrapposto
What does Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise demonstrate?
Linear and atmospheric perspective
Name two equestrian portraits by Donatello and Verrocchio.
- Donatello’s Gattamelata
- Verrocchio’s Bartolommeo Colleoni
What is Masaccio’s Holy Trinity known for?
Psychological and physical credibility; the use of linear perspective
Which artist created the historical art piece Battle of San Romano?
Paolo Uccello
What philosophical influence is seen in Botticelli’s works like Primavera and The Birth of Venus?
Neo-Platonic philosophy
What architectural principles did Brunelleschi emphasize in San Lorenzo?
Classical modular design and rationality
What did Leon Battista Alberti write about in On the Art of Building?
He followed Vitruvius’ principles for architecture
What characterized Venice’s architecture in the 15th century?
Late Gothic style
Who established the Venetian High Renaissance school of painting?
Giovanni Bellini
What does Perugino’s Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to Saint Peter exemplify?
Renaissance linear perspective in papal commissions
What role did Federico da Montefeltro play in Urbino’s culture?
His patronage turned Urbino into a major center of Renaissance culture
What is the Camera Picta known for?
It was the first room to have fully consistent illusionistic decoration
What are the main functions of art in princely courts?
- Visual pleasure
- Prestige and culture
- Demonstration of wealth
- Propaganda
What was the Tomb of Doge Pietro Mocenigo designed by?
Pietro Lombardo and his workshop
What notable features are present in the Tomb of Doge Pietro Mocenigo?
- Portrait of Mocenigo in armor
- Sarcophagus supported by three warriors
- Reliefs depicting achievements of Mocenigo’s reign
What is the purpose of family chapels during the 14th to 16th centuries?
To ensure the salvation of the family’s souls and serve as burial sites
What significant change in Christian doctrine occurred in the late 12th and early 13th centuries?
The concept of Purgatory became more widely accepted
What is the Pazzi Chapel an example of?
Renaissance central-plan style
Define imitation in the context of Renaissance art.
The starting point in a young artist’s training, copying the works of masters
What is emulation in Renaissance art?
Modeling one’s art after another artist to improve or innovate
Who is credited with developing linear perspective?
Filippo Brunelleschi
What are the key elements of linear perspective?
- Horizon Line
- Vanishing Point
- Orthogonals
Name an example of linear perspective in Renaissance art.
- Masaccio’s Holy Trinity
- Donatello’s Feast of Herod
- Perugino’s Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to Saint Peter
What did Lorenzo Ghiberti write about in his Commentarii?
He provides a historical account of art from classical antiquity to the early Renaissance
Who is central to Ghiberti’s Book 2 in the Commentarii?
Giotto
What was Ghiberti’s artistic philosophy?
Emphasized understanding nature and visual perception
