Renaissance + portrait

Question 1

When did the Renaissance begin?

Answer 1

Early 1400s in Florence, Italy. 1500s spread to rest of Europe

Question 2

What were the top four breakthroughs in the Renaissance?

Answer 2

1. Oil on stretched canvas. Change from chalky tempera paint on wood allowed greater range of rich colours with smooth gradations of tone
2. Use of light and shadow. Chiaroscuro means light and dark
3. Perspective. Gave illusion of weight and depth
4. Pyramidal composition

Question 3

Who were the 3 big people early Renaissance?

Answer 3

Masaccio. Paint.
Donatello. Sculpture.
Botticelli. Mythology

Question 4

Who were the heroes in the High Renaissance?

Answer 4

Leonardo da Vinci
Michelangelo
Raphael

Question 5

List some interesting points about Leonardo

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

List some interesting points about Michelangaelo

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

List some facts about the Sistine Chapel

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

Describe the process to paint the Mona Lisa

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

List some interesting points about Raphael

Answer 9

-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

Question 10

List and describe the four Rs of Renaissance Architecture

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

What was it like before the renaissance?

Answer 11

-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)

Question 12

If Renaissance means rebirth, what was reborn?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What shape is the head?

Answer 13

Egg

Question 14

The vertical line through the centre of a head is called what?

Answer 14

The central axis

Question 15

How far are the eyes down the skull?

Answer 15

Half

Question 16

The width of one eye equals…

Answer 16

the space between the eyes and the spaces at the edges of the eye

Question 17

The tip of the nose is…

Answer 17

a bit less than halfway between the eye axis and chin

Question 18

The centre line of the mouth is…

Answer 18

1/3 of the way down between nose and chin

Question 19

Straight down from the centre of each eye is..

Answer 19

the tips of the mouth

Question 20

Straight down from the inside corner of each eye is…

Answer 20

the edges of the mouth

Question 21

Atmospheric perspective:

Answer 21

Uses diminishing details and hazier colours to convey depth

Question 22

Linear perspective

Answer 22

Uses a system of vanishing points and converging lines to convey depth

Question 23

Chiaroscuro

Answer 23

Italian word meaning light and dark. Describes the way artists use shadow and light source to create illusion of depth

Question 24

Sfumato

Answer 24

Italian painting term referring to the use of many thing glazes of colour built up in a painting. Creates a soft, hazy look

Question 25

Classical Antiquity:

Answer 25

Refers to ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Very big influence

Question 26

Contrapposto

Answer 26

Italian term referring to a relaxed pose in the human form which places weight on one foot.

Question 27

Golden mean

Answer 27

A mathematical ratio of 1:1.618. Allowed artists to find beauty through mathematical proportions

Question 28

Fresco

Answer 28

Painting on wet plaster. The pigment becomes part of the wall. Very common.

Question 29

Pyramidal composition

Answer 29

A composition scheme where most important objects are placed in the top, other objects help form the triangle

Question 30

Anatomical studies

Answer 30

Study of human bodies and its internal parts through autopsies

Question 31

Humanism

Answer 31

Philosphy that suggests humans are worthy of being the subject of artworks. Contradicotry to the teaching of the Bible.

Question 32

Describe Humanism vs. Christianity

Answer 32

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