Art 101 Module 1 Case Assignment

Trident University International
Jorgbor S. Jorgbor
Art 101
Module 1 Case Assignment Introduction to Visual Analysis and Renaissance Art

Trident University International
Jorgbor S. Jorgbor
Eng 101
Module 1 Case Assignment
Introduction to Visual Analysis and Renaissance Art

The Renaissance Art period from (c.1400,-1600) was the defining movement in art history. Through careful reading of the subject one can say no other artistic movement has contributed more to development of art as a whole. In the past artist held the same position in society as any other skilled craftsmen and there recognition was more or less of greater value. But, in the 1400's the was changed. A new revolution in art opened the eyes of the world to the glory of the world itself. Before the Renaissance art era primary subjects of art were greatly influence by religion. Artists made their livings painting religious scenes, portraits of saints and painting commission by the nobles. It was widely assumed that only religious imagery was deserving of painting. The technique of painting was fairly primitive with little respect to correct anatomical form, atmospheric condition, or geometric shape. Paintings appeared flat and lack luster. The subjects where often showed in profile and a lack of appropriate shading made them level with no real depth or perspective. During the Renaissance era a new interest in Greek and Roman culture was ignited which lead to an explosion in knowledge about the human form along with innovations in mathematics and science. The world Humanism was introduce. Humanism is the term generally applied to the predominant social philosophy and intellectual and literary currents of the period from 1400 to 1650. The return to favor of the pagan classics stimulated the philosophy of secularism, the appreciation of worldly pleasures, and above all intensified the assertion of personal independence and individual expression. During this time man were not afraid to question religious belief. Theories were proven by the usage of other facts and patterns by questioning how and why things happen and used reasoning to try to understand these questions. Suddenly all creations of God and the human form in particular became revered as testament to God's great power and perfection. Beauty became connected to morality and the pursuit of beauty in art became widespread. The nude human form, linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, and a new found interest in observing the natural world hallmark the movement. Artist themselves were elevated in social status and their works were looked upon not as mere crafts, but as miraculous creations that were divinely inspired. Invention to note during the Renaissance era was the invention of the printing press this brought about the reformation of the church it made it possible for people to read the bible in their language. This era ended the ancient Greek model of the heavens which suggested that the sun was at the center of the solar system and that the planets orbited in circles around it. They were able to prove this theory to match observation. The Kepler theorized correctly explained that the planets moved in elliptical orbits not circular ones and that the speed of the orbits varied according to the planets’ distance from the sun. There were many brilliant artists at this time but two names standout. Leonardo da Vinci’s famous for the painting of Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s for Ceiling from the Sistine chapel.
Leonardo da Vinci Born April 15 1452, in Vinci, Italy he was raised by his father. He begins apprenticing at a very early age, he study under Verrocchio a Florentine artist. Under Verrocchio he learned a wide breadth technical skill, including metalworking, leather arts carpentry, and sculpting. By 1478, he had qualified as a master artist in the Guild of Saint Luke and established his own workshop. It was also doing this time he met the exiled Ludovico Sforza, the future Duke of Milan. In 1482, Lorenzo de' Medici, a man from a prominent Italian family, commissioned da Vinci to create a silver lyre and bring it to Ludovico il Moro, the Duke of Milan, as a gesture of peace. Da Vinci did so and then wrote Ludovico a letter describing how his engineering and artistic talents would be of great service to Ludovico's court. In this letter he describe the service he could perform for the Duke he said he could build bridges, tunnels, fortresses, and “make siege guns, mortars and other machines, of beautiful and practical shape and at the end of his letter he mention his painting skill. He has been called a genius and the archetypal Renaissance man. His talents are arguably extended far beyond his artistic works. Like many leaders of Renaissance humanism, he interest in science. His observations and inventions were recorded in plant studies, war machinery, anatomy and architecture. Among his many painting one that caught the eye of the world and for years this painting had marvel mankind is the Mono Lisa. This painting widely on of the famous panting of the Renaissance era.
Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy. Born to a family of moderate means in the banking business, Michelangelo became an apprentice to a painter before studying in the sculpture gardens of the powerful Medici family. What followed was a remarkable career as an artist in the Italian Renaissance, recognized in his own time for his artistic virtuosity. His works include the "David" and "Pieta" statues and the ceiling paintings of Rome's Sistine Chapel, including the Last Judgment.
Michelangelo was commission by pope Julius II to paint the ceiling chapel in Rome, this chapel was use to elect new popes. Michelangelo painted the ceiling with elegant nudes and powerful seated figures. The painting tells the story of the Old Testament from the creation of Adam to the prophecy of the savior. Michelangelo set a new standard for painting the human figure, one in which the body was not just an actor in a narrative, but emotionally and spiritually expressive on its own. In this painting Michelangelo envision Adam with a truly divine beauty. Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling gave the human body a new prominence. In a purely aesthetic sense, it was the principal subject of his frescoes.
After reading about the Renaissance Art era one can see clearly why these two individual were the torch bearer of that time. They prompted Humanist through art by increasing it value and give art a new meaning. They contributed greatly to their society they were not only artist but inventors, poets, scientist and more important change man perception of arts, through them Artist were counted among the intellectual.
From careful observation of various painting by Da Vinci one can say he use colors uniquely by blinding them well which give life to the image his painting can be compare to modern picture of our time. On the other hand Michelangelo painting and sculpture were energetic he give his painting masculine form example of which can be seen in his Sistine Chapel Ceiling and the seven feet David statue.
To conclude today we are privilege to have arts all around us in different form and shape recognition should be given to the fore runner most especially the Renaissance era.
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Reference: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Mona_Lisa.jpg ( Da Vinci painting of the Mona Lisa) http://www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/creation.gif( Michelangelo fresco painting of The Creation of Adam ) http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/for-the-beginner.html http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/leonardo-notebooks.html http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/michelangelo.html Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 03:40, Apr 20, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/leonardo-da-vinci-40396
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 04:53, Apr 20, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/michelangelo-9407628