Renaissance + portrait Flashcards
When did the Renaissance begin?
Early 1400s in Florence, Italy. 1500s spread to rest of Europe
What were the top four breakthroughs in the Renaissance?
- Oil on stretched canvas. Change from chalky tempera paint on wood allowed greater range of rich colours with smooth gradations of tone
- Use of light and shadow. Chiaroscuro means light and dark
- Perspective. Gave illusion of weight and depth
- Pyramidal composition
Who were the 3 big people early Renaissance?
Masaccio. Paint.
Donatello. Sculpture.
Botticelli. Mythology
Who were the heroes in the High Renaissance?
Leonardo da Vinci
Michelangelo
Raphael
List some interesting points about Leonardo
- charming and handsome
- often distracted, many incomplete projects
- fascinated with birds and flight
- less than 20 paintings survive
- lived in a hospital and dissected dead bodies
List some interesting points about Michelangaelo
- cruel wit
- emotional
- addressed as the “divine Michelangelo
- always sculpted from one block
- never married or had children
- considered painting an inferior art
- would not train apprentices or let people watch him
List some facts about the Sistine Chapel
- all pope wanted was some vines on blue background
- 340 human figures 10’-18’
- less than 4 years
- 10 000 square foot ceiling, almost half football field
- curved, worked on 7 story scaffolding
- had assistants but did most work himself
- plaster + paint (fresco)
- pope got angry because it was taking too long
Describe the process to paint the Mona Lisa
- used chiaroscuro to model light + shadow
- started with dark undertones and added layers of semi-transparent glaze (sfumato technique)
- triangular composition
- people entertained model during sittings
- hired to paint someone’s wife
- loved painting, carried around with him
List some interesting points about Raphael
-others admired, he was adored.
-by 17 considered an independent master
-taught basics by dad
-rich, handsome, successful
-star of the pope
died on 37th birthday
List and describe the four Rs of Renaissance Architecture
Rome- measured Roman ruins to copy style and proportion such as rounded arch and columns
Rules- work based on theories and rules
Reason- Theories emphasized architecture’s rational basis, grounded in math, science, engineering, not mythical/emotional
‘Rithmetic- Arithmetic produced beauty and harmony. Ideal proportions. Geometric layout.
What was it like before the renaissance?
-artists poor, unknown. Common trades persons
-All art had to be related to the Bible and Christianity. No artistic freedom
-The human body was considered sinful, no nudity
-art was not realistic, flat, and static
(-called the middle ages)
If Renaissance means rebirth, what was reborn?
Art and culture were reborn into a more exciting and realistic way. Not very successful in middle age but were revitalized. Concepts from ancient greece and rome were incorporated into forms of art.
What shape is the head?
Egg
The vertical line through the centre of a head is called what?
The central axis
How far are the eyes down the skull?
Half
The width of one eye equals…
the space between the eyes and the spaces at the edges of the eye
The tip of the nose is…
a bit less than halfway between the eye axis and chin
The centre line of the mouth is…
1/3 of the way down between nose and chin
Straight down from the centre of each eye is..
the tips of the mouth
Straight down from the inside corner of each eye is…
the edges of the mouth
Atmospheric perspective:
Uses diminishing details and hazier colours to convey depth
Linear perspective
Uses a system of vanishing points and converging lines to convey depth
Chiaroscuro
Italian word meaning light and dark. Describes the way artists use shadow and light source to create illusion of depth
Sfumato
Italian painting term referring to the use of many thing glazes of colour built up in a painting. Creates a soft, hazy look
Classical Antiquity:
Refers to ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Very big influence
Contrapposto
Italian term referring to a relaxed pose in the human form which places weight on one foot.
Golden mean
A mathematical ratio of 1:1.618. Allowed artists to find beauty through mathematical proportions
Fresco
Painting on wet plaster. The pigment becomes part of the wall. Very common.
Pyramidal composition
A composition scheme where most important objects are placed in the top, other objects help form the triangle
Anatomical studies
Study of human bodies and its internal parts through autopsies
Humanism
Philosphy that suggests humans are worthy of being the subject of artworks. Contradicotry to the teaching of the Bible.
Describe Humanism vs. Christianity
Hum:
-individual people were worthy subjects of art, subjects not biblical / only biblical stories were worthy
- life was worth celebrating, live for the here and now / life after death was the main concern
- ancient greeks and romans celebrated the human body / the human body was considered sinful and needed to be covered
- greeks and romans not christians / everyone was Christian
- fascinated by ancient greece and rome / The church had ruled for hundreds of years, pope was most powerful man in italy
