1

Italy 1400 to 1500

2

Goals

• Understand the social, religious, and political influences of 15th-

century Italian art

• Discuss the increased popularity of Humanism

• Observe the influence of classical art and architecture in the

painting and architecture of Renaissance Italy.

• Discuss the role of wealthy and powerful families

• Cite and understand art and architectural terms in relation to this

historical period

• Analyze visual aspects of art and architecture

• Identify various artists of the period and their stylistic

accomplishments

• Discuss the various roles of commemorative portraits

3

Rebirth of Italian Culture

• Understand the social, religious, and political influences of

15th-century Italian art

• Discuss the increased popularity of Humanism

• Discuss the role of wealthy and powerful families

4

Artistic Achievements in 15th Century Florence

• Cite and understand art and architectural terms in relation to

this historical period

• Analyze visual aspects of art and architecture

• Observe classical artistic and architectural features in the art

and architecture of 15th century Florence

• Identify various artists of the period and their stylistic

accomplishments

Important Artistic Elements to

Observe • Attention to the human form including the return of classical

nudity and contrapposto --- influence of classical Roman statues

• Discovery and codification of linear perspective to create the

illusion of three-dimensional space, usage of aerial perspective ---

these values were important to classical painting

• Use of chiaroscuro to model forms, use of single light source ---

greater realism

• Paintings that have balanced, symmetrical compositions, often

using pyramidal composition

• Classical forms are incorporated more into architecture

(triumphal arches, domes, coffers, harmonious geometric

relationships)

5

6

Renaissance Florence

The Medici

Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464)

• Was virtually dictator of Florence for 30

years

• Lower classes of the city LOVED him

Why???

• Spent a lot of his own money on artistic

and scholarly projects.

• Built the first free PUBLIC LIBRARY

since ancient times.

Piero the Gouty 1416-1469

• Son of Cosimo, father of Lorenzo

• Ruler for 5 years

• Success in war preserved what his

father had established

• Patron to Donatello, Andrea del Verrocchio, and Sandro Botticelli.

Lorenzo “the Magnificent”

(1449-1492)

• Ruled with absolute power

• Kept the common people happy with

balls, festivals, carnivals,

and parties!

Figure 17-26 Baptistery of San Giovanni,

Florence, Italy, dedicated 1059.

15

Andrea

Pisano’s

Bronze

Doors

Personification of Hope Baptism of Christ

Entombment

of St. John the

Baptist

The Combattimento

VS.

Ghiberti Brunelleschi

24

Figure 21-2 FILIPPO

BRUNELLESCHI, Sacrifice of Isaac,

competition panel for east doors,

baptistery, Florence, Italy, 1401–

1402. Gilded bronze, 1’ 9” x 1’ 5”.

Museo Nazionale del Bargello,

Florence.

25

Figure 21-3 LORENZO

GHIBERTI, Sacrifice of Isaac,

competition panel for east doors,

baptistery, Florence, Italy, 1401–

1402. Gilded bronze relief, 1’ 9” x

1’ 5”. Museo Nazionale del

Bargello, Florence.

Ghibert vs. Brunelleschi

Ghiberti: The Gates of Paradise

30

Figure 21-10 LORENZO GHIBERTI, east

doors (Gates of Paradise), baptistery, Florence,

Italy, 1425–1452. Gilded bronze, 17’ high.

Modern copy, ca. 1980. Original panels in

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence.

31

Figure 21-11 LORENZO GHIBERTI, Isaac and His Sons (detail of FIG. 21-10), (Gates of Paradise), baptistery, Florence,

Italy, 1425–1452. Gilded bronze, 2’ 7 1/2” x 2’ 7 1/2”. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence.

Moses

Joseph

David & Goliath