RENAISSANCE QUESTIONS Flashcards
Where did Fabriano visit before arriving to Florence that influenced his painting of ‘Adoration of the Magi’
Venice before 1408 where he was influenced by the Venetian love of coloré, and then Siena in 1420 were he would have been exposed to the Sienese gothic style
Who commissioned ‘adoration of the magi’ and what was it for?
Palla Strozzi, for his family’s burial chapel in the church of Santa Trinita
Why did Palla Strozzi commission this type of painting?
Because Palla Strozzi was a banker, he would give out loans to make a profit. This type of act was called usury and was one of the seven deadly sins - Avarice - a greed for money. To avoid this bankers would commission religious paintings to expiate their sins and buy their way into heaven
What sin is usury and what does it mean?
Avarice - a greed for money
What did Palla Strozzi own a copy of and what did it say?
Aristotle’s Nicholomachean Ethics which asks rich men to provide lavish adornment for their city in line with their own wealth
How is the narrative told in ‘Adoration of the Magi’ (starting from top to bottom including the frame)
Tondos - The annunciation, god blessing us, Mary holding baby Jesus
Background - Three kings climbing the mountain in search for the star, Three kings following the star to Jerusalem, Three kings following the star to Bethlehem
Foreground - A queue of people spectating Mary and baby Jesus with the three kings presenting frankincense, gold and myrrh
PREDELLA - The Nativity, The Flight to Egypt, The presentation at the temple
What are the three kings presenting to baby Jesus in ‘Adoration of the Magi’?
Gold, frankincense and Myrrh
What style is ‘Adoration of the Magi’ and how is it shown?
International gothic style - it is shown through the highly decorated and ornate format of the altarpiece, the religious subject matter and the graceful figures e.g three kings shown with a variety of graceful gestures as they present their gifts
What animals are shown in ‘Adoration of the Magi’?
Horses, dogs, cheetahs, hawks, ox
What are the materials used in ‘adoration of the magi’ that exhibit Strozzi’s wealth?
Gold leaf and gesso would have created a glimmering surface sparkle when viewed in candelight. Lapis lazuli used for Mary’s robes show wealth
How are the figures in ‘Adoration of the Magi’ easily identifyable?
The Three kings have gold circular halos around their heads and Mary is depicted wearing blue robes
Who was Masaccio friends with that influenced his work in ‘The Holy trinity’?
Brunelleschi and Donatello. Brunelleschi’s knowledge of mathematical proportion and Donatello’s knowledge of classical art that led him away from the Gothic style and towards a greater realism
Why did Masaccio on particular paint ‘The Holy Trinity’?
With the help of Brunelleschi, he won a prestigious competition to paint the fresco
What was Massacio’s ‘Holy Trinity’ for?
The Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence
Who were the patrons of Masaccio’s ‘Holy Trinity’ and what type of portrait is this?
Domenico Lenzi and his spouse, who are shown kneeling in the work, making it a donor portrait
What classical and architectural features are shown in the setting of Masaccio’s ‘Holy Trinity’?
Coffered barrel vault, Corinthian pilasters and ionic columns which form a triumphal arch. Suggesting triumph over death
What does the triumphal arch in Masaccio’s ‘Holy trinity’ suggest?
Triumph over death
What does Masaccio’s ‘Holy trinity’ depict?
An illusionary chapel containing three figures of the Holy trinity: God (the father), Jesus Christ (dead on the cross) and the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove above Christ’s head). Mary and St John the Evangalist on earthier side below Christ. The patrons are on a level below Mary and St John, kneeling.
What are the symbolic shapes in Masaccio’s ‘Holy trinity’ and what do they represent?
Circle (created by the barrel vault) = God, who has no beginning nor end
Triangle (created by the orthogonal lines of the barbell vault) = three members of the holy trinity
Square (Masaccio said the work could be divided into three stacked squares/rectangles) = Earth
How does Masaccio use psychological realism in ‘The Holy Trinity’?
- St John the Evangelists sorrowful look
- Mary is depicted as an old woman with tired, wrinkled eyes, whereas traditional depictions show her as youthful and beautiful
What is written on the illusionary altar in Massacio’s ‘Holy trinity’ and why?
I once was what you are and what I am you also will be. A momento mori.
Why was ‘Sistine Madonna’ commissioned?
In July 1512, the northern Italian town of Piacenza joined the Papal States. This prompted Pope Julius II to commission this painting, for it to hang above the high altar at the church of San Sisto in town of Piacenza
Why were the saints chosen to be depicted in ‘Sistine Madonna’
St Sixtus and St Barbara we’re both patron saints of the San Sisto church and there were relics of them in the church
Who was St Barbara?
Patron saint of soldiers. Because she was liberated from a tower, she is also the patron saint of the hour of death
How does St Barbara link to Pope Julius II?
She is the patron saint of soldiers and pope Julius was often referred to as the ‘warrior pope’
What is the role of putti?
To accompany the dead from earth, where they are judged, before they go to heaven
Why did Julius II have a strong connection to St Sixtus?
St Sixtus had been adopted as the Della Rovere’s family patron, then Julius’s uncle took this name when he became pope
Why does Mary have a sorrowful face in ‘Sistine Madonna’?
The painting originally hung opposite a cross, suggesting she is anticipating the future
How is Julius II’s own identity reflected in ‘Sistine Madonna’?
St Sixtus represents Julius. He has a long white beard and his robes have the Della Rovere emblem (oak leaves) on them.
What is St Barbara doing in ‘Sistine Madonna’?
She gazes downwards, towards the person who is awaiting judgement and her right hand signals to the tower behind her, linking to her role as a saint
What does the papal tiara in ‘Sistine Madonna’ suggest?
It suggests that Julius’ coffin may have been placed under the painting after his death
How are neo-platonic ideas expressed in ‘Sistine Madonna’?
Mary is idealised due to her extreme beauty. Raphael follows Neoplatonic ideas of using physical beauty to express physical beauty
What do the green curtains act as in ‘Sistine Madonna’?
Coulisses that frame the scene
Why was ‘The Expulsion of Heliodirus from the temple’ created?
In 1507, Pope Julius II said he no longer wanted to live in the Borgia apartments of the Vatican because he was surrounded by portraits of his hated enemy Alexander VI, so he chose to move upstairs to the third floor
Explain the rooms in Julius II’s apartment.
The apartment consisted of 4 rooms, the room of Heliodorus was second in the sequence.
What was the theme in the room of Heliodorus and what did it mean?
Divine intervention. Each of the four frescos in the room depicts a miracle worked by a pope or religious leader, emphasising papal leadership
What does ‘The expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple’ depict?
A scene from the Apocryphal book 2 Maccabees in which the King of Syria sends Heliodorus to the temple of Jerusalem to steal treasure that was meant for women and children. However, answering the prayers of the high priest, Onias, God sends a horseman and two youths to drive Heliodorus out of the temple
What was pope Julius known as and why is this significant in ‘The expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple’?
The warrior pope due to his rapid expansion of the Papal States. The subject matter symbolises the expulsion of the French, therefore reinforcing the legitimacy of the Pope
What does ‘The expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple’ take influence from?
- Heliodorus’s pose recalls that of ancient river gods
- Horse recalls that of a work by Leonardo da Vinci
- The Trojan woman in the foreground on the left is similar to one by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel
What is Pope Julius being carried on in ‘The expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple’?
The papal sepia
Explain the situation with pope Julius’ beard.
Pope Julius II kept a beard for almost a year after losing Bologna to France
What is Onias wearing in ‘The expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple’ and why is this significant?
Onias is wearing blue and gold, the Della Rovere colours, which reinforces Julius II’s importance
What is the key message in ‘The expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple’?
Don’t steal from the church
What is the original location of Titian’s ‘Assumption of the Virgin’?
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Describe the position of Titian’s ‘Assumption of the virgin’ in the church.
Flanked by two large gothic windows which fill the apse with light
What does Titian’s ‘Assumption of the virgin’ depict?
The assumption of the Virgin Mary, a central event in Franciscan theology, in which Mary is moved to heaven at the end of her earthly life
Discuss the use of geometry in Titian’s ‘Assumption of the virgin’.
Titian breaks the composition into two sections using geometry. The figures at the bottom which are roughly the same height make up a rectangle, whilst the putti and angles near the top form a circle. A triangle is also created with the three figures dress in red. This triangle replicates the movement in which Mary ascends to heaven
What did John Steer say about Titian’s work when comparing it to Raphael’s?
“For Titian, light and shade are revealers of form, and colour the substance from which it is made”
How was Ghiberti cast for the baptistery doors?
In 1401, Ghiberti won a prestigious competition to find the best sculptor to make a new set of doors for the north entrance to Florence’s baptistery. He was then chosen for the next set of doors on the east side - the Gates of Paradise
Why are they known as ‘The gates of Paradise’?
Because of their beauty but also because the area between a baptistery and a cathedral is known as a paradise
Why is the baptistery important to florentines?
Up until the 1930s, the baptistery was the only place where florentines could be baptised. It is dedicated to St John the Baptist, who is Florence’s patron saint. Therefore the baptistery was a symbol of Florentine’s civic pride
Who were the patrons for Florence’s baptistery?
The Arte de Calima (the cloth merchants gild). They were responsible for looking after the baptistery. They were extremely wealthy and important as cloth was one of the prime trading products in Florence
What were the motives for ‘The gates of Paradise’?
- To thank John the Baptist
- To promote arte de calima who were rivals with the Lana guild (wool makers guild). The spirit of competition was an important social factor contributing to the cultural richness of Renaissance Florence
What was the original layout for the doors?
Quatrefoil panels. Though, Ghiberti fought for clear and rational square panels. He had artistic freedom on the project because by this point he was the most respected sculptor in Florence
Who made a comment to the Arte de calima about ‘The gates of Paradise’ and what did he say?
The chancellor of Florence at the time wrote: ‘The new doors should mainly have two qualities: one, that they show splendour, the other that they should have significance’
What is Ghiberti’s ‘The gates of Paradise’?
10 panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament: including Adam and Eve, Jacob and Esau, Moses, Joshua and Joseph
What style is Ghiberti’s ‘The gates of Paradise’?
A fusion of international gothic style and the early Renaissance style.
ISG - elongated forms seen in Eve’s creation and the heavy application of gold leaf
EARLY RENAISSANCE - pose of Adam recalls ancient river gods, contrapposto pose of figure in Jacob and Esau panel, classical influences with the nude figures
Give an example where Ghiberti uses diminishing scale in ‘The gates of Paradise’.
In the Jacob and Esau panel, Jacob is clearly in the foreground due to his larger scale, however, he is also seen being blessed in the background, made clear through his diminished scale
Who worked in a workshop to assist in the creation of ‘The gates of Paradise’?
Donatello and Michelozzo
Where did Donatello travel which influenced ‘Penitent Magdalene’?
Donatello travelled to Rome with Brunelleschi where he would have been exposed to antique sculpture and architecture
Where did Donatello’s artistic training come from for ‘Penitent Magdalene’ and what did he learn?
He trained in Ghiberti’s workshop for the North doors of Florence’s Baptistery where he learnt to sculpt in wax (the first stage of bronze casting)
Who was Mary Magdalene and why is she important?
A sinner who had given up her life of wealth and prostitution to follow Christ. She is devout and honoured because she stayed with Jesus during the crucifixion and she was the first to see Jesus’s resurrection.
What material did Donatello use for ‘Penitent Magdalene’ and what influenced this?
Polychrome poplar wood. He was influenced by Northern European sculpture which commonly used wood as a medium
What was the purpose of ‘Penitent Magdalene’?
A statue for reformed prostitutes in a convent in Cestello. It’s purpose was to encourage the prostituted to rebuild their lives
Why does Donatello depict Mary Magdalene in this way?
Traditional representations of Mary Magdalene show her as beautiful and young. By representing her as old, Donatello turns away from anything sensual or beautiful, and speaks to her issue of repentance
Why is Mary Magdalene so frail?
After Christ’s death she made a pilgrimage to Provence, France where she spent over thirty years living as a hermit, which explains why she is so thin and frail
Who commissioned Michelangelo’s ‘David’?
The Opera del Duomo, which mostly consisted of members from the Arte Della Lana (wool makers guild)
Where was Michelangelo’s David originally intended to stand?
It was originally intended to stand on a buttress on top of the cathedral which explains the size of the statue (13ft), so that it could be seen from afar
Why did Florence identify with David?
Florence identified strongly with David because it was a small city-state who stood up to larger powers e.g France and the Papal States with god on their side, as David had done with Goliath
What is depicted in Michelangelo’s ’David’?
David is depicted before his battle with the giant Goliath, who he will famously defeat with a single stone and faith in God
What is notable about Michelangelo’s statue of ‘David’?
It is the first monumental nude since antiquity
How big is Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and what does the scale recall?
13ft. Recalls famous colossal sculptures of antiquity, for example the Colossus at Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
How is Michelangelo’s statue of ‘David’ linked to Hercules?
- David’s pose and mature body, along with the nudity suggests a classical statue of Hercules, and therefore puts David on Hercules’ level
- The rocky terrain on which David stands as well as the blasted tree trunk behind his right leg, derived from the well-known tale of Hercules at the crossroads
What is notable about David’s eyebrow in Michelangelo’s ‘David’?
His furrowed brow in his fierce stare recalls the Florentine marzocco, showing Florence’s civic pride
What is Florence’s lion called?
Marzocco
Where does Michelangelo’s anatomical realism come from, and where is this evident in the work?
His extensive life drawings and dissections at the church of Santo Spirito. Can be seen in David’s bulging veins along his forearms and carefully sculpted muscles
Why did Michelangelo choose to depict David before the battle rather than his moment of triumph?
To illustrate his resilience and inner strength, which, according to the bible, is rooted im faith and divine support
Discuss the impacts of using marble for sculpture.
- Marble has a translucency like skin, which allows for a naturalistic depiction.
- Marble has associations with purity, nobility and wealth which makes it a suitable material for a religious sculpture
Who commissioned Michelangelo’s ‘Pietà’?
Cardinal Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas
What happened to Cardinal Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas and what did he say about the Pietà?
He said he wanted “The most beautiful work of marble in Rome, one that no living artist could do better”. However, he died in August 1599. Therefore, the sculpture was to be a memorial for his funerary chapel
What is notable about Michelangelo’s ‘Pietà’?
It was Michelangelo’s first monumental religious sculpture and his first sculpture made in Rome. It was also the first Pietà out of four that Michelangelo sculpted, and it is the only one he finished
What is the translation of ‘pietà’ and what does it mean in art?
Pity. It is a subject in Christian art of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ on her lap or in her arms after his crucifixion, death and removal from the cross
