Research on the Renaissance Period

This research Summary was delivered by our 12 year old Student Khadeejah H.

The Renaissance Period was an era in Europe in the Fourteenth to Sixteenth Century where a new style of painting, architecture and sculpture was created. It also impacted philosophy, science, music and technology. Artists learnt how to paint light, shadow and human anatomy (chiascuro). Some people say that it was the start of a new style and the rise of the Modern world, but other historians say that it was a sort of a modern carry on from the Middle Ages, though it over laps with the Late Middle Ages, and has similarities to both. Some of the things that were discovered in the Renaissance was perspective in oil paintings and the re-discovery of how to make concrete. The development of how to draw realistic linear perspective was also created. Perspective was part of realism in the paintings. The Renaissance was seen as an attempt by intelligent people to improve Europe. The Renaissance Period started in different countries at different times. It began seven-hundred and twenty years ago, which is 263,772 days ago. It is called Renaissance because this comes from the Italian Rinascita, which was first used in the Fourteenth Century.

It was first in Italy, in the Fourteenth Century, then in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century spread to other parts of Europe. The Medici Family, who ruled Florence for about sixty years, started it, and supported this art a lot, as they could afford it with all the money that they had. During this period artists and patrons needed money to be able to support their paintings, and this money was brought to them during trading in Asia and Europe. The Black Death Plague also came from Asia, as it was carried by fleas that were on the returning ships from Asia. Carpets from the Ottoman Empire, Egypt or Northern Africa were used as decorative features in paintings. People wearing Arab clothing were sometimes used as backdrops in paintings, and this was most seen in a bunch of Venetian paintings in which Syrian, Egyptian, Palestinian and Mamluk peoples were in.

 Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), who was born in Anchiano, Italy, was the most famous artist at that time. When he was fifteen, he was taught by Andrea del Verrocchio. Some other famous artists were Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337), who was born in Vicchio, Italy, Jan van Eyck (1390-1441), who was born in Maaseik, Belgium, Sandro Botticelli, who was also an important member of the Medici Family (1445-1510), and who was born in Florence, Italy and Michelangelo (1475-1564), who was born in Caprese Michelangelo, Italy, who’s rival was Raphael.

 Leonardo Da Vinci painted a lot of paintings, such as The Last Supper (1498), Salvator Mundi (1500), Virgin of The Rocks (1483-1485) and Lady with an Ermine (1489), but his most famous painting of all is the Mona Lisa, which he painted in 1503, and many people say that it is a portrait of Madam Lisa Giocondo, who was the wife of a rich Florentine. He also helped in Renaissance science by making drawings of anatomy and nature.

 Giotto di Bondone painted The Flight into Egypt, Lamentation, Pentecost, Stefaneschi Triptych and Ognissanti Madonna all in the Fourteenth Century. Jan van Eyck painted the Ghent Altarpiece, Portrait of a Man, Arnolfini Portrait, Annunciation and Leal Souvenir in the 1430’s. Sandro Botticelli painted the Adoration of the Magi (1476), Calumny of Apelles (1495) and Primavera (1482).

 Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo both rivalled each other, and both were polymaths, which is someone of wide knowledge and learning. Most Renaissance artists were inspired by the art of classical Greek and Rome.

 Giotto di Bondone was an apprentice to the artist Cimabue when he was young, and they both went to a prestigious school of fresco painters in about 1280. Jan van Eyck was apparently taught art by his older brother. Sandro Botticelli worked with a gold smith, but as he was really interested in art he was taught by Filippo Lippi once he finished school. Michelangelo was taught at the Medici Family’s Humanist Academy. Artists were treated quite well in the Renaissance Period.

The worst artist in the Renaissance Period was Baccio Bandinelli (1493-1560), who was born in Florence, Italy, and who painted the Self Portrait (1550) and Three Male Heads (1560), as well as some others. Baccio Bandinelli’s painting were inspired by the works of Michelangelo, who was his lifelong rival.

The Renaissance was about new ideas, and the invention of the printing press allowed these ideas to be spread around Europe. In the Netherlands the works of Jan van Eyck and Hugo van der Goes introduced oil paints and canvas, represented in naturalism, to Italy in their paintings.

 Giorgio Vasari wrote a series of books called Lives of the Artists, in which he divided into three sections. The first includes Cimabue, Giotto and Arnolfo di Cambio. The second contains Masaccio, Brunelleschi and Donatello. The third one is only about Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Donatello (1386-1466), who’s actual name is Donato di Nicollo di Betto Bardi, was born in Florence, and was an Italian sculptor. He received his artistic education from local goldsmith where he lived. Cimabue (1272-1306), whose full name was Bencivieni di Pepo, was born in Florence, Italy, and painted the Santa Trinista Maesta (1286), Maesta (1300) and Madonna Enthroned (1290-1300). Arnolfo di Cambio (1245-1301) was born in Colle di Val d ’Elsa, Italy, and was an Italian architect and sculptor. Masaccio (1401-1428), who’s full name was Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was born in San Giovani Valdarno, Italy, and he painted The Tribute Money (1425), Madonna Cassini (1426) and San Giovenale Triptych (1422). He was taught in Nicola Pisano’s workshop. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) was born in Florence and was a pioneer of early Renaissance architecture. He had liberal art schooling, and later trained as a goldsmith and a sculptor.

 Nicola Pisano (1220-1284) was born in Apulia, and he created the pulpit of the Siena Cathedral.

 The Renaissance Period ended in the Seventeenth Century, at the fall of Rome in 1527, and lasted thirty-five years.