art unit 2

High Renaissance Art Gallery Student Name

Columbia Southern University 9/20/2015

(Botticelli, ca. 1482)

High Renaissance Art: Introduction

I chose High Renaissance art because the artwork in this period shows real distinctive details and emotion.

I want to know why the human body was so inspirational to these artists.

I am interested in learning why this art period is called the rebirth of art .

High Renaissance Art: Introduction

• Renaissance Art was done in Europe from the late 1400’s to1600.

• Separated into three main categories: Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, and Late Renaissance.

• Marked by “logical thought and the new philosophical, literary, and artistic movement called humanism” (Frank, 2014, p. 279).

• Artists studied anatomy and “applied geometry to the logical construction of implied space through linear perspective” (Frank, 2014, p. 281).

• High Renaissance was peak of Italian art from 1490 to 1530 (Frank, 2014).

La Primavera Sandro Botticelli

1482 Tempera on panel

(Botticelli, ca. 1482)

La Primavera Visual Elements: • Lines- Vertical curved lines are used to create motion. • Light- The light is dispersed throughout the artwork, but the figures still look like

they are in shaded woods. • Color- The light colors stand out against a dark background; light colors are used

for the bodies and the shell. • Motion- Outstretched arms and legs indicate motion by the figures. • Shape- Female shapes are elongated to show their beauty. • Texture – The fabrics, some appear see-through, fruit and leaves on trees, and

scattered flowers on the ground all create patterns and texture throughout the work.

• Mass – The light shading creates the illusion of the figures taking up space and mass within the artwork.

• Time – The blue sky, but dark forest make the painting seem like it’s taking place in early or late day.

Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci

1503-1506 Oil on wood

(Da Vinci, ca. 1503)

Mona Lisa Visual elements: • Light- Da Vinci uses light on the subject’s face, but uses a hazy light in the

background. • Lines- There are no lines or edges, because colors and tones are merged

together in the Mona Lisa. • Colors- Colors are blended without borders in the Mona Lisa. Da Vinci uses dull

yellows and red colors with contrasting cool colors in the background. • Shape- Rounded shapes form the body and hands in the foreground. • Mass- The figure in his painting represents the majority of mass. • Texture- Folds in the clothing create texture. • Motion – Pathways in the background create movement for the viewer’s eyes. • Time – Figure’s clothing alludes to Renaissance, but time of day is not specific.

The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci

1495 Paint on plaster

(Da Vinci, ca. 1495)

The Last Supper Visual elements: • Light- Da Vinci uses light on the right side wall, and in the distance to create

space. • Lines- All lines converge at a vanishing point in the center. • Colors- White is used for table and walls with blue and orange clothing for the

figures. • Shape- Doorways, windows, and tabletop are dominating shapes in the artwork. • Mass- The gathering of figures in the foreground creates mass and movement. • Texture- Folds in the clothing create texture. • Motion – The apostles are leaning toward each other as if talking and motioning. • Time – The setting is just before the death of Christ, and appears to be during the

day.

Adam and Eve Albrecht Dürer

1504 Engraving

(Dürer, 1504)

Adam and Eve Visual Elements: • Light- ‘Chiaroscuro' technique provides tone in this art piece. • Lines- The use of line work emphasizes the vertical elements. • Shape- Vertical organic shapes show forms found in nature. • Mass- Figures in this paintings represent three dimensional mass. • Texture- Hatching and cross-hatching create the textured surfaces. • Motion – Figures appear to be reaching toward each other. • Color – The intaglio process uses black ink, and grayscale is seen

throughout the artwork. • Time – The image is bright and clear, making it seem like midday.

Virgin and Child before an Archway Albrecht Dürer

1495 Oil on panel

(Dürer, ca. 1495)

Virgin and Child before an Archway Visual Elements: • Light- Light appears to be coming from our left toward the figures. • Color – Dark, warm colors used for the clothing contrast with the figures

light, pale skin. • Lines- A variety of curved lines outline clothing and figures. • Shape- The body of the Child and Virgin are soft and curving shapes. • Mass- Figures in this paintings take up space and represent three

dimensional mass. • Texture- Folds in clothing and curled hair create various textures. • Motion – Mother appears to be reaching for Child’s hand and looking at

Child. • Time – The interior scene makes it hard to determine time of day; clothing

references the time of Christ.

References

• Botticelli, S. (ca. 1482). Birth of Venus [Tempera on canvas]. Retrieved from http://www.uffizi.org/artworks/the-birth-of- venus-by-sandro-botticelli/

• Botticelli, S. (ca. 1482). Primavera [Tempera on panel]. Retrieved from http://www.uffizi.org/artworks/la-primavera- allegory-of-spring-by-sandro-botticelli/

• Da Vinci, L. (ca. 1495). The Last Supper [Oil on canvas]. Retrieved from http://www.abcgallery.com/L/leonardo/leonardo4.html#note

• Da Vinci, L. (ca. 1503). Mona Lisa [Oil on wood]. Retrieved from http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa- portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo

• Dürer, A. (ca. 1495). Virgin and Child before an Archway [Oil on panel]. Retrieved from http://www.wga.hu/html_m/d/durer/1/01/07virgin.html

• Dürer, A. (1504). Adam and Eve [Engraving]. Retrieved from https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/19.73.1

• Frank, P. (2014). Prebles' Artforms: An introduction to the visual arts (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.