Characteristics of Renaissance Art
Realism
Realism in the arts is generally the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, or implausible, exotic, and supernatural elements. Realism has been prevalent in the arts at many periods, and can be in large part a matter of technique and training, and the avoidance of stylization.
In the visual arts, illusionistic realism is the accurate depiction of lifeforms, perspective, and the details of light and color. But realist or naturalist works of art may, as well or instead of illusionist realism, be "realist" in their subject-matter, and emphasize the mundane, ugly or sordid. Realism depicts the world as it is.
Realism in the arts is generally the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, or implausible, exotic, and supernatural elements. Realism has been prevalent in the arts at many periods, and can be in large part a matter of technique and training, and the avoidance of stylization.
In the visual arts, illusionistic realism is the accurate depiction of lifeforms, perspective, and the details of light and color. But realist or naturalist works of art may, as well or instead of illusionist realism, be "realist" in their subject-matter, and emphasize the mundane, ugly or sordid. Realism depicts the world as it is.
Expressions
In Renaissance art, human emotions were depicted liberally. Medieval art made lesser use of emotions. Humans were very natural and lifelike. They had realistic expressions unlike the humans depicted in medieval art. Artists perfected the art of facial expressions. Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and the "Last Supper" are a good example of this.
In Renaissance art, human emotions were depicted liberally. Medieval art made lesser use of emotions. Humans were very natural and lifelike. They had realistic expressions unlike the humans depicted in medieval art. Artists perfected the art of facial expressions. Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and the "Last Supper" are a good example of this.
Humanism
Humanism relates to secularism in that it is the concept that places human beings, not God or faith, as the center of attention in life. Renaissance art, which portrayed the human body as a thing of beauty in its own right, not like some medieval "comic strip" character whose only reason to exist was for the glory of God. Along those lines, Renaissance philosophers saw humans as intelligent creatures capable of reason (and questioning authority) rather than mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God. Even the term for Renaissance philosophers, "humanists", shows how the focus of peoples' attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. It also described the group of scholars who drew upon the more secular Greek and Roman civilizations for inspiration.
Humanism relates to secularism in that it is the concept that places human beings, not God or faith, as the center of attention in life. Renaissance art, which portrayed the human body as a thing of beauty in its own right, not like some medieval "comic strip" character whose only reason to exist was for the glory of God. Along those lines, Renaissance philosophers saw humans as intelligent creatures capable of reason (and questioning authority) rather than mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God. Even the term for Renaissance philosophers, "humanists", shows how the focus of peoples' attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. It also described the group of scholars who drew upon the more secular Greek and Roman civilizations for inspiration.
Classicism
This is a movement that can be defined by its attention to traditional forms concentrating on elegance and symmetry. It takes the art of the Greeks and Romans as its idea of perfection.
Developing in Rome in the late 15th century, the classical style was widespread particularly among the Renaissance artists. Their aim was to capture the precision of the antique age which for them represented the possibility of attaining absolute beauty in their art. Using examples such as the ‘Belvedere Torso’ and the ‘Medici Venus’, the artists rejected emotionalism in favour of attention to form and detail.
The style’s main exponents included Michelangelo, Raphael, Correggio and Mantegna.
This is a movement that can be defined by its attention to traditional forms concentrating on elegance and symmetry. It takes the art of the Greeks and Romans as its idea of perfection.
Developing in Rome in the late 15th century, the classical style was widespread particularly among the Renaissance artists. Their aim was to capture the precision of the antique age which for them represented the possibility of attaining absolute beauty in their art. Using examples such as the ‘Belvedere Torso’ and the ‘Medici Venus’, the artists rejected emotionalism in favour of attention to form and detail.
The style’s main exponents included Michelangelo, Raphael, Correggio and Mantegna.
Individualism
Individualism takes humanism a step further and is the belief that individual humans are capable of great accomplishments. The more communal, group oriented society and mentality of the Middle Ages was being replaced by a belief in the potential of the individual to make great achievements. The importance of this concept was that it freed remarkable individuals and geniuses, such as Leonardo da Vinci, to live up to their potential without being held back by a medieval society that discouraged innovation or questioning traditional beliefs. Besides the outstanding achievements of Leonardo, one sees individualism expressed in a wide variety of ways during the Renaissance. Artists started signing their paintings, thus showing individualistic pride in their work. Also, the more communal guild system was being replaced by the more individualistic system of capitalism, which encouraged private enterprise.
Individualism takes humanism a step further and is the belief that individual humans are capable of great accomplishments. The more communal, group oriented society and mentality of the Middle Ages was being replaced by a belief in the potential of the individual to make great achievements. The importance of this concept was that it freed remarkable individuals and geniuses, such as Leonardo da Vinci, to live up to their potential without being held back by a medieval society that discouraged innovation or questioning traditional beliefs. Besides the outstanding achievements of Leonardo, one sees individualism expressed in a wide variety of ways during the Renaissance. Artists started signing their paintings, thus showing individualistic pride in their work. Also, the more communal guild system was being replaced by the more individualistic system of capitalism, which encouraged private enterprise.
Perspective
During the Renaissance, from roughly the 14th to 16th century, there were many advances in science, math, philosophy, and art. One of the most monumental advances in art was the development of linear perspective. Linear perspective uses principles of math to realistically portray space and depth in art. Renaissance artists were largely concerned with painting realistic scenes, and linear perspective gave them a reliable method to accomplish this realism, which helped make their paintings all the more captivating!
During the Renaissance, from roughly the 14th to 16th century, there were many advances in science, math, philosophy, and art. One of the most monumental advances in art was the development of linear perspective. Linear perspective uses principles of math to realistically portray space and depth in art. Renaissance artists were largely concerned with painting realistic scenes, and linear perspective gave them a reliable method to accomplish this realism, which helped make their paintings all the more captivating!
Renaissance Triangles
Triangles are inherent in perspective, a characteristic artistic technique developed during the Renaissance. It is based on a triangular theory of vision, where lines recede to a point on the horizon to imply depth. This concept revolutionized visual art and the artists ability to create 'real' space in their paintings.Symbolically the triangle can represent a spiritual hierarchy, particularly in Christianity where the Trinity is depicted in three points of significance. Renaissance artists also used shapes and lines to arrange figures into a triangle on the surface of a painting for both hierarchical and compositional reasons—a practice modern scholars call triangular composition.
The orientation of a triangle can be important to it's meaning also. A point-up triangle might represent a strong foundation or stability, as it is rooted to the ground through a solid base. Point-up triangles can also represent ascension toward the spiritual world, while the point-down triangle can represent a descent into the physical world.
Triangles are inherent in perspective, a characteristic artistic technique developed during the Renaissance. It is based on a triangular theory of vision, where lines recede to a point on the horizon to imply depth. This concept revolutionized visual art and the artists ability to create 'real' space in their paintings.Symbolically the triangle can represent a spiritual hierarchy, particularly in Christianity where the Trinity is depicted in three points of significance. Renaissance artists also used shapes and lines to arrange figures into a triangle on the surface of a painting for both hierarchical and compositional reasons—a practice modern scholars call triangular composition.
The orientation of a triangle can be important to it's meaning also. A point-up triangle might represent a strong foundation or stability, as it is rooted to the ground through a solid base. Point-up triangles can also represent ascension toward the spiritual world, while the point-down triangle can represent a descent into the physical world.
Chiaroscuro and Sfumato
Chiaroscuro is a technique employed in the visual arts to represent light and shadow as they define three-dimensional objects.
Sfumato in painting or drawing, the fine shading that produces soft, imperceptible transitions between colors and tones. It is used most often in connection with the work of Leonardo da Vinci and his followers, who made subtle gradations, without lines or borders, from light to dark areas; the technique was used for a highly illusionistic rendering of facial features and for atmospheric effects.
Chiaroscuro is a technique employed in the visual arts to represent light and shadow as they define three-dimensional objects.
Sfumato in painting or drawing, the fine shading that produces soft, imperceptible transitions between colors and tones. It is used most often in connection with the work of Leonardo da Vinci and his followers, who made subtle gradations, without lines or borders, from light to dark areas; the technique was used for a highly illusionistic rendering of facial features and for atmospheric effects.
Naturalism
Naturalism in Renaissance art was inspired by the lifelike accuracy of Classical sculpture, a quality that had disappeared from artistic representation during the Dark and Middle Ages.
Elements of naturalism began to reappear during the Proto-Renaissance in the paintings of Giotto. In contrast to the flat, formal figures of Byzantine art, Giotto introduced more lifelike forms whose eye contact, expressions, postures and gestures conveyed an unprecedented range of emotions. They were also composed within an organized space where overlapping figures suggested the illusion of depth and constructed a narrative flow. Naturalism is a type of art that pays attention to very accurate and precise details, and portrays things as they are.
Naturalism in Renaissance art was inspired by the lifelike accuracy of Classical sculpture, a quality that had disappeared from artistic representation during the Dark and Middle Ages.
Elements of naturalism began to reappear during the Proto-Renaissance in the paintings of Giotto. In contrast to the flat, formal figures of Byzantine art, Giotto introduced more lifelike forms whose eye contact, expressions, postures and gestures conveyed an unprecedented range of emotions. They were also composed within an organized space where overlapping figures suggested the illusion of depth and constructed a narrative flow. Naturalism is a type of art that pays attention to very accurate and precise details, and portrays things as they are.
'Christ Blessing'
Left: 'Christ Pantocrator', Byzantine Mosaic (6th century)
Right: 'Christ Blessing' by Antonello da Messina (1465), Oil on Panel
Left: 'Christ Pantocrator', Byzantine Mosaic (6th century)
Right: 'Christ Blessing' by Antonello da Messina (1465), Oil on Panel