Renaissance and its Significance

1. kkiKiersley Talbot Renaissance and its Significance If the renaissance had to be summed up into one word, the most fitting may be; a “rebirth!” This time of great change, which spanned over a few hundred years, transformed and reshaped Europe in a monumental way. It was a total rebirth of European culture and knowledge, a result of moving forward and advancing from the ignorant and monotonous ways of life which consisted of the Middle Ages. The renaissance allowed new light to be shed to the arts and literature, while also for a gaining of knowledge overall. Time was dedicated to studying the revived classics of roman and greek mythology, and it became an inspiration for many. Artists developed a linear perspective, allowing art to become something it had never been before, and artists such as Michelangelo and Da Vinci studied the human body with a strong regard to its natural form, making the art more realistic. Architecture also evolved greatly, and the first universities were founded for those who now had a taste for more knowledge. The renaissance marks one of the first times people as a whole actively sought for answers to questions, making a monumental impact on society as a whole for years to come.

2. Giotto di Bondone Born in a hilltop farmhouse of florence in 1266 and the son of a blacksmith, Giotto was asked to be an apprentice by one of the most highly renowned painters in Tuscany, after being discovered drawing an exceptionally lifelike picture on a rock of one of the sheeps he was shepherding at the time. Giotto thrived under his apprentice, leading to him being deemed by some as “the one who reintroduced realistic expression into Western art; furthermore, his art displays sometimes unprecedented iconography and self-reflexive imagery.” An italian painter and architect, Giotto is also generally considered to be the first in a line of great artists who contributed to the italian renaissance. Working in the very earliest part of the renaissance, he was the first artist to break away from byzantine styles and move towards naturalism and a clear sense of space. But Giotto’s biggest gift to the renaissance was his “unparalleled grasp of human emotion which he was able to transfer in astoundingly accurate detail into his work.”

4. Madonna and Child The painting depicts the virgin Madonna, and child. There is great detail in this painting.

5. Giotto's Campanile (bell tower) This tower proves Giotto’s great skill for architectural design.

6. Peruzzi Altarpiece

7. Peruzzi Altarpiece and the “isms” Individualism- This piece greatly displays individualism. Although the focus may seem to be on Jesus, the four other individuals still get an almost equal focus, all painted with equal detail. Each individual also has its own and unique pose, and they all seem to have very separate and distinct emotions occurring. Each individual in this piece is highlighted and expressed in their own way. Secularism- This piece does not display secularism. This is because this piece depicts Jesus and the cross at it’s center, the complete opposite of secularism. Humanism- This piece does represent humanism overall because humanism has to do with the arts, and this is a piece of art. Some of the figures are also holding books, which could represent the literature sid of the renaissance. Scientific Naturalism- Since this painting focuses more on the religious side and not on the scientific side, it does not really display scientific naturalism. But, the way in which the people painted appear to look look so real may count towards some of the “naturalism.”

8. Peruzzi Alterpiece and its Greatness This piece is considered to be one of the great works of the renaissance because it adequately displays two of the “isms.” It also embodies many of the criterias of renaissance art because it: -includes people that are painted to look very realistic and human, appearing 3-d -many mediums are used, such as paint, acrylics, and wood. -displays naturalism -emotion is clearly displayed -astounding detail -linear perspective -bodies are in natural form

9. Peruzzi Altarpiece and the Spirit of the Renaissance Although this pieces touches on the religion, it still embodies the spirit of the renaissance, largely because of its strong display of individualism. It shows men who look intuitive yet curious, which is largely what this period was all about. The fact that some of the men are also holding books embodies the importance of literature and knowledge that so largely contributed to the spirit of this period. One of the people in this painting also seems to be a woman who seems equal to the men, a revolutionary and new idea during this period.