Renaissance Art in 15th Century Italy Images

Question 1

Title: Sacrifice of Isaac
Location: Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Time Period: 1401-1402
Medium: Bronze with gilding
Artist: Filippo Brunelleschi (left), Lorenzo Ghiberti (right)

Answer 1

1. A competition was held to decide which artist would create replica’s of the Baptistery of San Giovanni doors
2. The sacrifice of Isaac told the story of how Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son in the name of God, right before Isaac was killed an angel appeared and stopped the murder
   - It was a test of faith
3. By choosing the story of the sacrifice of Isaac, there may have been a comparison being made to military events occurring at the time
   - Conveying that one should display or perform sacrifices that may exceed their personal comfort
   - Perhaps Florence’s attempt to instill the message upon its citizens that if they show faith to the state, they will be rewarded
4. Both sculptors were engaging with stylistic changes from the time:
   Brunelleschi - composition is more reminiscent of medieval times
   Ghiberti - pushing into three dimensionality was more modern, ultimately won the competition

Question 2

Linear Perspective

Answer 2

The design of three dimensionality on a two dimensional surface

Question 3

Title: Dome of Florence Cathedral
Location: Florence
Time Period: 1420-1436, lantern completed 1471
Artist: Filippo Brunelleschi

Answer 3

1. The dome took longer to complete because they knew they wanted a dome but they didn’t know how to make it happen
   - Instead the ceiling was exposed while they tried to figure it out
2. 1420 - Brunelleschi was commissioned to figure out how to design the dome
   - He created an internal buttress system through use of a “double shell” for his egg dome
3. The location for Ghiberti’s door design

Question 4

Title: Trinity with the Virgin, St. John the Evangelist, and Donors
Location: Church of Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Time Period: c. 1425-1427/8
Medium: Fresco
Artist: Masaccio

Answer 4

1. An example of linear perspective
   - Hierarchies of importance through pushing back into space
2. The holy trinity is the main programming of the painting and is to be understood through its progressively deepen recession into the background

Question 5

***Likely on Exam as a comparative to the other David’s
Title: David
Location: Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Time Period: c. 1446-1460
Medium: Bronze
Artist: Donatello

Answer 5

1. The first life-size, free-standing nude nude since antiquity*
2. Interpretations:
   a) Perhaps a presence of homoerotism in how Goliath’s feather caresses David’s thigh?
   b) More traditionally, thought to depict Florence’s triumph over the Milanese in 1425
   - Florence beginning to identify with David
3. Leonardo was his student

Question 6

**Likely on exam as a comparative to Hugo van der Goes’ Portinari Altarpiece
Title: Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds
Location: Florence
Time Period: 1485
Medium: Panel
Artist: Domenico Ghirlandaio

Answer 6

1. Known as one of the best storytellers in painting because of his use of composition, how he structured a story
   - Allowed him to tell the story of the Shepherd as well as the story of the Magi on one surface
2. Hugo van der Goes’ Portinari Altarpiece was used as a direct reference which is why they are similar
   - Ghirlandaio differs in: Depiction of columns with Corinthian capitals, sarcophagus being an iconographic reference to the Roman Empire