Renaissance Art

The Renaissance popularity of Humanism and classical readings, combined with the availability of literature such as Dante's Divine Comedy, led to an interest in mythology, pagan and secular themes. Humanism emphasized the importance of education and knowledge, as well as the potential of the individual and civic responsibility. So in the Renaissance, we might see a civic mural like Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Peaceful City, a secular mural like Raphael's School of Athens with its themes of philosophy and science, or Boticelli's lyrical, mythological Birth of Venus. Formally, Renaissance art is characterized by naturalism, the use of expressive gesture, linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, and chiaroscuro. In painting, figures are placed in a three-dimensional, believable space, and their posture and gesture is part of a complex formal arrangement. Compare, for example, Leonardo's Madonna of the Rocks, 1483 to Cimabue's Madonna Enthroned, ca. 1280-1290. The gestures of Cimabue's figures are varied and angled to make a pleasing formal arrangement and to lead the eye to the Madonna and child, but they are not naturalistic. There is the beginning of perspective in the work, but not is a sense that makes the space look real. 

The Renaissance, translated as "rebirth," was a time that is considered by many scholars to be the beginning of modern history. It was in this era that European artists started becoming interested in the world around them as well as more aware of their surroundings. Consequently, much of the art created at this time became affected by this new "realistic" style. Whether it's in sculptures, paintings, or even architecture, the art became more focused on a real life feel that centered the spotlight on nature as well as depicting people's feelings. As a cultural movement, it encompassed a revival of learning based on classical sources, the development of linear perspective in painting, and gradual but widespread educational reform. Traditionally, this intellectual transformation has resulted in the Renaissance being viewed as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. Renaissance scholars employed the humanist method in study, and searched for realism and human emotion in art.

The Renaissance came into being through the humanists and their ideas.
The impact of humanism on the arts was enormous. The subject matter of painting prior to the Renaissance was primarily religious: it was concerned not with the naturalistic portrayal of human life, but primarily with provoking a religious reaction in the viewer. Painters were not interested in making a picture "realistic" they did not use perspective. The more important figures in the painting were frequently made larger than all the others, and often the element of landscape was omitted completely.
During the Renaissance, all that changed. The period was characterized by a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman design and included an emphasis on human beings and the environment. The feature of Italian Renaissance that distinguishes it from preceding eras is the extent and depth of its devotion to Classical Antiquity. Renaissance art demonstrates how the search for the idealization of form itself can be a spiritual exercise, summoning up for the viewer a sense of the perfection of God via the perfection of the idealized human figure or the proportions of a building. The rediscovery of classical art that glorified human beauty and emphasized individual differences had a profound effect on painters of the Renaissance. 

Christian Art

Early Christian art survives from dates near the origins of Christianity. The oldest surviving Christian paintings are from the site at Megiddo, dated to around the year 70, and the oldest Christian sculptures are from sarcophagi, dating to the beginning of the 2nd century. The largest groups of Early Christian paintings come from the tombs in the Catacombs of Rome, and show the evolution of the depiction of Jesus, a process not complete until the 6th century, since when the conventional appearance of Jesus in art has remained remarkably consistent. Until the adoption of Christianity by Constantine Christian art derived its style and much of its iconography from popular Roman art, but from this point grand Christian buildings built under imperial patronage brought a need for Christian versions of Roman elite and official art, of which mosaics in churches in Rome are the most prominent surviving examples. Christian art was caught up in, but did not originate, the shift in style away from the classical tradition inherited from Ancient Greek art to a less realist and otherworldly hieratic style, the start of medieval art.

Christian art is sacred art produced in an attempt to illustrate, supplement and portray in tangible form the principles of Christianity, though other definitions are possible. Most Christian groups use or have used art to some extent, although some have had strong objections to some forms of religious image, and there have been major periods of iconoclasm within Christianity. Images of Jesus and narrative scenes from the Life of Christ are the most common subjects, and scenes from the Old Testament play a part in the art of most denominations. Images of the Virgin Mary and saints are much rarer in Protestant art than that of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

My Reaction about the dominant style and its subject matter is " I'm amazed". I not only amazed by the art itself but what message it wants to convey. Usually paintings in this era is more realistic and its all about the great gospel. In every medium, they show the story behind the life of Christ. The era has influenced me when it comes to my style. Sometimes, I tend to do some mosaics which started in this era of art. But i'm too busy now, so that i can't do any mosaics anymore. I guess i could do if it is a must.

Ancient and Classical Arts

Ancient art refers to the many types of art that produced by the advanced cultures of ancient societies with some form of writing, such as those of ancient China, India, Mesopotamia,Persia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The art of pre-literate societies is normally referred to as Prehistoric art and is not covered here. Clear and simple lines combined with simple shapes and flat areas of color helped to create a sense of order and balance in the art of ancient Egypt.

Classical art dates back to as early as 500 B.C. during the rise of the Greek Empire. The Greeks celebrated the human figure through sculpture in highly naturalistic detail. This is one of the eras defining qualities. After the Romans conquered the Greeks they still regarded Greek culture and art as superior to any other. The Romans imported thousands of original Greek artworks and had them copied in even greater numbers. In fact, much of what we know about Greek art, we only know through Roman copies. Ancient architecture in Greece and Rome are also considered classical works of art including: The Pantheon, The Parthenon, The Arch of Constantine, and the Column of Trajan.

My most striking impressions about the Ancient and Classical Art are about the fact that they're actually not to art but they made art for communication. It may be accidental...but I believe that it is on purpose. I believe that these two different eras of art really influenced me in my style of art. It may not be the same as it should be but you can still see the very foundation of it. During those times, i also have been interested in their artistic style and subject matter. For example, the Stongehenge it started the things how architecture should be. And in the classical art era, the Architecture became more complex each part of it is made wonderfully and all functional. It is easy to create artworks inspired of these eras. Because, This things are the foundation. We might not know that we're inspired by it. But it is really there. And I think it's very impossible to create a more complex figures if we did not know how to create its foundation.

“The more the Realistic, The Better”

If I were to choose on what kind of art that would prefer, I’d choose Realistic art. In realistic art, we can easily define what is the artwork all about. We see figures that are not vague so that means we can completely understand it. We see a vivid illustration of human figures. From head to toe, and other models of things. Mostly realistic art portrays life. What it is all about? What are the common things happening around us. It is a story in a canvas or in papers. Would you believe it a story of life in just an artwork. Every time I look on artworks, I search for realistic artworks. Because it somehow tries to converse me and tell me its story. I love stories so much. Maybe that’s why I love Realistic art too. Realistic art is so amazing to view. But how can a person create such as this?

Realistic art known as Realism” is the general attempt to depict subjects as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation and "in accordance with secular, empirical rules." As such, the approach inherently implies a belief that such reality is ontologically independent of man's conceptual schemes, linguistic practices and beliefs, and thus can be known (or knowable) to the artist, who can in turn represent this 'reality' faithfully . Realism was an artistic movement that began in France in the 1850s, after the1848. These Realists positioned themselves against Romanticism, a genre dominating French literature and artwork in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Seeking to be undistorted by personal bias, Realism believed in the ideology of objective Reality and revolted against the exaggerated emotionalism of the Romantic movement. Truth and accuracy became the goals of many Realists. Many paintings depicted people at work, underscoring the changes wrought by the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions. The popularity of such 'realistic' works grew with the introduction of Photography— a new visual source that created a desire for people to produce representations which look “objectively real.”- Wikipedia

While Art as Alteration and Distorted Art are not realistic. They’re only made by human imagination. In this kind of arts we’ll often see the Abstract Technique. The Output of the artworks here really came from the reality. But the artist only modified the parts and made them unreal and out of this world illustrations. I find it hard to understand it. It seems only the artist can express its true meaning. It doesn’t matter what art do you prefer. Every person has a unique sense when it comes to art. Art is an expression of what we feel, we see, and what we hear. It doesn’t matter what technique you feel like using. The important thing here is we express!

“Doing an Impromptu Art”

I would like to share in this blog post my experience doing an impromptu art. Impromptu means “With little or no preparation”. We have experienced it during the opening of the Private Schools Athletic Association in Laguna. Where our school is its host and we thought we’ll have no works to do. In my mind, it’s the time to have fun enjoy the ambiance. But When things start to be fun. We are told to do an artwork that shows the different movement in the Event. I was shocked at first. Even though I lost my enjoyment a little bit. I regained it again because I made the art quickly. That move helped me to avoid spoiling my enjoyment.

As multimedia arts Students, we’re gonna have more of this impromptu art in the future. We’ll never know what art project we’ll receive. It’s indeed unpredictable. Even in your times of leisure, this impromptu arts will come to you. It’s a bit unforgiving haha! But if you’ll finish it, you’ll say to yourself that you can do things unexpected. It can give you additional confidence and the experience in the times of pressure. Doing impromptu art must not degrade your work. If you do great in projects that are notified you must also do the same thing here. You must sustain your style and techniques. It’s much better if you do more here to pass your limitations.

Well that’s all the things that I can share about doing an Impromptu art, I’ll share what happened that day. After we finished the given task, we have a lot time for enjoying the sports action. I’m a bit satisfied in what I saw in the volleyball game. But not in what I saw in the football game. Life is indeed unpredicatable. Maybe right now you’re happy, but not tomorrow. There are a lot unexpected things that come than the things that are expected. So we just only have to get ready. Prompt ourselves that when things come. There’s no shock we’re gonna feel…Haha…

“Renaissance as the Best Art Period”

I believe that the renaissance period is the best art period and the most influencial as well. Because knowing that Renaissance means “Rebirth” it speaks for itself the rebirth of art from the ancient art to pre-modern art. And In this Era , comes the great artists namely Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and many more. These guys are famous in their field of art each have their own techniques. Techniques that makes them unique from other artists. In doing art, it’s unpredictable if you’ll have someone that has the same technique.

           

            The Renaissance Period of art was divided into five time frames. Which is Proto-Renaissance in Italy, 1280-1400, Early Netherlandish art, 1400-1525, Early Renaissance in Italy, 1400-1479, Early Renaissance in France, 1385-1520, High Renaissance in Italy, 1475-1525. During these time frames the growth of renaissance art bloomed. Artist’s ideas started to brighten up. Renaissance artists painted a wide variety of themes. Religious altarpieces, fresco cycles, and small works for private devotion were very popular. For inspiration, painters in both Italy and northern Europe frequently turned to Jacobus de Voragine's Golden Legend (1260), a highly influential source book for the lives of saints that had already had a strong influence on Medieval artists. The rebirth of classical antiquity and Renaissance humanism also resulted in many Mythological and history paintings. Ovidian stories, for example, were very popular. Decorative ornament, often used in painted architectural elements, was especially influenced by classical Roman motifs.

 

           

          And here are some of the influences of Renaissance in the history of art and design which will justify that renaissance is the the best and most influencial era in my own opinion. Classical texts, lost to European scholars for centuries, became available. “These included Philosophy, Prose, Poetry, Drama, Science, a thesis on the Arts and Early Christian Theology.” “A revived interest in the Classics brought about the first archaeological study of Roman remains by the architect Brunelleschi and sculptor Donatello. The revival of a style of architecture based on classical precedents inspired a corresponding classicism in painting and sculpture, which manifested itself as early as the 1420s in the paintings of Masaccio and Uccello.” And lastly, “Humanist philosophy meant that man's relationship with humanity, the universe and with God was no longer the exclusive province of the Church.” These are the influences that I find very influencial in the list of the influences there are a lot more. Try to see for your self.

 

 

 

Who is Mona Lisa?: Mona Lisa and Her Enigmatic Smile

                           They said art has deeper meaning in it. That’s how famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and many more thought about their creations. The more hidden message it conveys, the better. But there are also mysteries about it. About what it is all about? Who is the creator portraying? What or who is the creator’s inspiration? And Masterpiece has really caught the eye of the critics and even also the simple people. The Painting entitled “ The Mona Lisa” it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci for about 500 years ago…Still the mystery remains a mystery. There are lot of speculations about the topic who really is Mona Lisa and what is the mysterious thing about her smile? Is She the alter ego of Leonardo da Vinci? Or Just some special woman?

                           There are reports that says that the Mona Lisa is not Leonardo da Vinci but a Woman named Lisa Gherardini. Lisa Gherardini, was the wife of Francesco Giocondo. Little is known about Lisa's life. Born in Florence and married in her teens to a cloth and silk merchant who later became a local official, she was mother to five children and led what is thought to have been a comfortable and ordinary middle-class life. Lisa outlived her husband, who was considerably her senior. “Mona Lisa fulfilled 15th- and early 16th century requirements for portraying a woman of virtue. Lisa is portrayed as a faithful wife through gesture—her right hand rests over her left. Leonardo also presented Lisa as fashionable and successful, perhaps more well-off than she was. Her dark garments and black veil were Spanish-influenced high fashion; they are not a depiction of mourning for her first daughter, as some scholars have proposed. The portrait is strikingly large; its size is equal to that of commissions acquired by wealthier art patrons of the time. This extravagance has been explained as a sign of Francesco and Lisa's social aspiration.” – Wikipedia.

                           But even though The Mona Lisa was portrayed as Lisa Gherardini. Still a lot of speculations arise from it. Reports says that “Although the sitter has traditionally been identified as Lisa del Giocondo (Gherardini), a lack of definitive evidence has long fueled alternative theories, including Leonardo's mother Caterina in a distant memory and the possibility that Leonardo used his own likeness. Other aspects of the painting that have been subject to speculation are the original size of the painting, whether it is the original, why it was painted, and various explanations for how the effect of an enigmatic smile was achieved.” The Mystery of Identity may be solved but the smile isn’t yet…In the generations to come further speculations will rise about the smile. The smile that Mona Lisa can only acquire.