O Rebirth was a cultural movement born during the 14th century in the rich city of Florence, Italy. Renaissance ideals spread throughout Europe until the end of the 16th century. The artists of this movement aimed to rescue the values of Greco-Roman culture, according to them, abandoned in the period known as Middle Ages.
The Renaissance placed human existence in the foreground, contrary to what happened in the medieval period, when there was an excessive concern with religious values. As the Catholic Church had become the most powerful institution in Europe, it controlled everything that was produced and disseminated in society.
God was not denied by men of the Renaissance, however the concern with the human being and earthly matters should be in first place. The basis of Renaissance culture was the humanism, movement that presented as main characteristics:
- Anthropocentrism: man as the center of the universe.
Retrieval of Classical Antiquity culture and studies.
- Rationalism: the search for the truth must occur through investigation, since man is a rational being.
The Development of Renaissance Art
The strengthening of the bourgeoisie in Europe stimulated the expansion of Renaissance ideals. Renaissance scholars and artists were financed by wealthy bankers and merchants known as patrons, these financed and publicized the work of artists in exchange for social recognition. The beauty of the works of art generated great prestige for the cities, which led the patrons to compete to hire the best artists.
Characteristics of Renaissance Art
The Renaissance and its most varied expressions emerged in Florence, but as it spread to other regions of Europe, it acquired specificities of each location. Despite the freedom of creation of each artist, Renaissance art had some characteristics in common, among which we can highlight:
Realism: the artists sought to represent their creations with the maximum of reality, for this at the center of their work was man and nature. In order to approach this reality, they developed techniques that aimed to express human feelings and emotions.
The earthly pleasures and the beauty of the body were highly valued, which was previously considered a sin by medieval society.
The Perspective Technique: the use of this technique created a feeling of depth and volume to the canvases. Its use was only possible through the use of geometric figures and mathematical studies. Even works of art were the result of tireless scientific studies.
Appreciation of Greco-Roman culture: The Renaissance admired the relationship of the Greeks and Romans with human feelings and nature. For them everything that was created by these two great civilizations of classical antiquity was lost during the Middle Ages, due to religious dogmas.
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Top Renaissance Artists
Giotto di Bondone: Italian painter and architect, the realistic traits expressed in his works make him one of the forerunners of the Renaissance movement. Among his main works, the Madonna of all saints, The Kiss of Judas, The Lamentation and the Final Judgment stand out.
Michelangelo Buonorroti: stood out in painting, architecture and sculpture. His main creations were the painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and sculptures such as Pietá, Davi and Moisés.
Rafael Sanzio: he was recognized by the painting of several Madonnas (representation of the virgin Mary with the baby Jesus). His works presented a style based on the clarity of the figures. Despite creations inspired by religious themes, Rafael sought to portray the human being and explore the real world. The realistic features are clearly perceived in his works. One of his best-known creations is the School of Athens, painted on one of the walls of the Vatican.
Leonardo da Vinci: one of the most complete artists of the Renaissance period stood out for his scientific studies on a wide range of subjects. Painter, sculptor, scientist, engineer, physicist, writer, etc. Leonardo gained greater recognition in his artistic works than in his scientific studies. Main works: Mona Lisa, Last Supper.
Sandro Botticelli: recognized for its depictions of scenes from classical mythology. Among his main works are The Birth of Venus and Spring.
Filippo Brunelleschi: his main creation was the dome of the cathedral in Florence, a model for Renaissance architecture.
Donatello: despite also exalting the human figure, the artist was known for his sculptures with religious themes. His main creations were São Jorge and Gattamelata.
Architecture
Greco-Roman culture continued to influence Renaissance artists, architectural works did not escape this rule. The rescue of Classical culture sought to combine elements of Christianity with the manifestations of the pagan world. The incessant search for beauty led architects to invest in the construction of artistically perfect works that imprinted their individual characteristics.
The architectural works were meticulously calculated, using Euclidean geometry (geometry, in two and three dimensions, based on the postulates of Euclid of Alexandria) was applied in the construction of houses, churches, villas, monuments, etc.
The New Means of Disclosure
The invention of the press, of literary and artistic academies contributed to the dissemination of Renaissance works. The new means of disseminating creations and artists made the renaissance reach the whole of Europe until the 16th century. The replacement of handwritten books by books that used movable types invented by the German Johannes Gutenberg facilitated the circulation of this cultural movement.
Lorena Castro Alves
Graduated in History and Pedagogy
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