RENAISSANCE

• The Renaissance was the period between the 14th to the 17th century.
• Renaissance means "rebirth"
• The Renaissance period lasted from the 14th to the 17th century, starting in Florence and spreading to other parts of Italy, Venice, Rome, and eventually throughout Western and Northern Europe
• The Renaissance was ushered in by the cultural movement in Italy called Humanism, which promoted the idea that man was the center of his own universe and emphasized human achievements in education, classical arts, literature, and science
• Humanism was influenced by an interest in the classical philosophies of Greek and Roman civilization, leading to the Renaissance being known as the "rebirth" of classical styles
• Art during the Renaissance included secular art alongside religious art, with common themes being Biblical, Mythological, and Historical
• Humanism in the Renaissance emphasized the importance of man and his achievements, leading to the recognition of art as a legitimate study with the flourishing of literature, music, visual art, and advancements in fields like medicine, mathematics, and astronomy
• Renaissance artists introduced realism into their artworks, moving towards humanistic themes and emphasizing the identity of individuals
• Renaissance sculptures and paintings depicted mythical figures in realistic settings, focusing on human movement and activity
• Renaissance art downplayed secular and religious dogma, giving greater significance to the worth and dignity of individuals
• Renaissance paintings represented humanism through realistic human bodies and faces, paying attention to details and portraying individuals realistically
• Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance artist, set higher standards for anatomically correct bodies in art, incorporating detailed studies of musculature, organ placement, and bone structure into his works
• Renaissance artists used shadows, perspectives, and light elements to draw attention to specific figures in their paintings, achieving perfect realism in still life
• Renaissance art aimed at making drawings more realistic and natural, especially in portraying human figures with emotions and solid forms
• Renaissance art works featured domestic interiors of common people and portrayed the lives of peasants carrying out their everyday tasks, connecting viewers with their thoughts and feelings
• During the Renaissance period, there was a period of decline and weakness, which was reflected in the paintings of the time
• As Churches became weaker, more significance was given to humanism and human actions
• Popes started spending extravagantly on paintings, sculpture, and architecture to recapture lost influence
• The Sistine Chapel frescoes are a perfect example of the attempt to revive lost identity through art
• Exploration during the Renaissance period led to a great craving to explore the world and nature
• European explorers were discovering new continents, sea routes, and establishing new colonies
• European sculptors, painters, and architects were seeking newer methods of gaining and imparting knowledge and perspective
• Society during the Renaissance had a phase of respect for art, with artists developing a desire to imitate and study things in their natural form
• Italy, being a rich trading country, had a massive repository of artifacts and classical ruins
• Roman architecture could be seen in almost every city and town in Italy, including replicas of lost artworks from Greece
• Many Greek scholars emigrated to Italy, bringing significant texts of Greek classics with them
• Contrapposto is an Italian term used in the visual arts to describe a human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot, giving the figure a dynamic or relaxed appearance
• Contrapposto can also refer to multiple figures in counter-pose to one another
• The Medici family made significant contributions to Renaissance art, including patronage of artists, architects, scientists, and philosophers
• Lorenzo Medici had a fondness for Greek sculptures and supported young artists like Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Verocchio
• Domenico Ghirlandaio was a master of fresco painting during the Renaissance period
• Sandro Botticelli, known for works like "Primavera" and "The Birth of Venus," was a prominent artist of the Renaissance
• Andrea del Verrocchio, a master of Leonardo da Vinci, created works like "David with the Head of Goliath" and "Putto with a Dolphin"
• Donatello, an Early Renaissance sculptor, was known for accurately showing emotions in his sculptures and for his sculptural style "rilievo schiacciato"
• Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, also known as Raphael, was famous for his Madonnas and his painting style "unione"
• Michelangelo Buonarotti, often called the Divine One, was primarily a sculptor but also a painter who influenced the style called "mannerism"
• Michelangelo's painting style included "cangiante," a technique of changing hues in highlight or shadow areas due to limited pigments available at the time
• Leonardo da Vinci, epitome of the Renaissance man, was not just an artist but also a scientist and inventor
• Leonardo da Vinci's painting style included "sfumato," giving a smokey effect with no harsh outlines or borders
• Leonardo da Vinci's notable works include "Mona Lisa," "Anatomical studies of the shoulder," "Virgin of the Rocks," and "Vitruvian Man"