Art Events - Assignment Example

Art History Study Questions Art History Study Questions Introduction The totality of artistic events in the between 14th century and 17th century in Italy depict cultural change in the Italian societies of that time. Designations like Trecento (1300s), Quattrocento (1400s), and Cinquecento (1500s) suggest the changing cultural and intellectual outlooks of post-medieval Italy. For example, Trecento refers to the falling interval between the Gothic and the Renaissance periods, which was an interval of growth and promise. The Quattrocento refers to the period of steady progression and increasing prosperity in the arts. The Quattrocento period started in 1401 with the competition inorder to design the eastern doors of the Baptistery in Florence. The period ended in 1503 immediately after Cardinal Giuliano became Pope Julius II. The Cinquecento is the period of violent and intense changes in the Italian culture. It is a period of political domination by Habsburg, Protestant Reformation, and conversion to Mannerism arts. Question 1 Changes in Painting between Trecento and Quattrocento Trecento Period Annunciation There are clear changes between the arts of Tracento and Quattrocento. However, for this paper, the difference between the Annunciation and The Last supper are considered. There are various famous paintings in the Trecento period, and one such painting is the Annunciation by Lippo Memmi and Simone Martini. A painting consists of a wide central panel showing Annunciation and two panels on the sides with St. Ansanus on the left and its right, a female saint widely identified as St. Margaret or St. Maxima. It also contains four tondoes in curves, which portrays Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, and Jeremiah. The Annunciation portrays Archangel Gabriel going into Virgin Mary’s house to communicate to her that she will bear a son named Jesus. The artists used extensive gold leafing, extensive lacquer, and lapis lazuli to depict the prestigious state of the commission. The painting is similar to the illuminated manuscripts from England, Germany, and French. Quattrocento The Last Supper The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is famously recognized paintings in history. It shows the story of the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. The painting is remarkable as it depicts the disciples as real human beings. In the painting, Leonardo tried to use new materials due to the thought that it would result in an extensively varied palette. In his work, Leonardo sought to illuminate the painting beyond what could traditional fresco give. He thus used unreal fresco as he was working on a dry wall. Borrowing, from the panel painting, he applied a white lead to improving on the brightness of the tempera and oil he had used on top. In conclusion, the two paintings from the two periods have certain differences that portray cultural change. The Annunciation painting has medieval painting styles. It included panel painting, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and fresco. Even though Leonardo used the fresco, it was not real forcing him to apply a white lead to improving the brightness of the painting. Question 2 Development of Secularism in Cinquecento and Quattrocento Period In the period, which started in the late middle ages, European continent started evolving into big states controlled by monarchies. The Italian urban centers expanded due to growth of population and expansion of trade. Land paved way for money as the means of exchange thus freeing the serfs. The changes brought cultural, social, and economic changes. Literacy increased leading to the expansion of vernacular literatures that led people to adopt secular themes in their arts. The growth of wealth led to the rise of bourgeoisies who patronize arts. In most painting in the two periods, artist depicts women as beautiful, pleasing, courageous, sweet, and attractive. Before, when the Christian religion was dominant, woman were thought to be imperfect. However, due to secularism, people were introduced to new perceptions of women. Artists portrayed these perceptions in the arts of the time. People started seeing women as perfect and beautiful. In the Mona Lisa, Leonardo placed a calm, beautiful looking woman on the space of painting. In Portrait of Isabella, Titian depicts women as courageous and intellectuals as she portrayed Isabella as confident of herself. The presentation of women changed with the introduction of secularism. Therefore, the changes brought about by expansion of knowledge due re-birth made people free to express themselves. They were not anymore confined to religion. Secular knowledge freed them from the moral standards that were earlier fostered by the church. Again, secularism brought new perceptions. They, therefore, started expressing themselves freely, as is seen in how artists portrayed women as beautiful and perfect. Question 3 The Use of Human Elements In the Renaissance, secular themes exposed people to new ideas, which were not in the religious texts. Through these secular themes, which came from the Greek and the Roman cultures, people increased their perceptions. In The Birth of Venus, Santro Botticelli shows the Venus goddess that has emerged out of the sea in a woman form. Bortticelli’s painting shows the influences of Roman culture on the Italians as Venus was the Roman god of beauty, natural productivity, and love. In the sculpture of David, Donatello depicts the biblical David in a natural ways that try to hide the prophetic nature of David. Donatello sculptured David in this way, as he wanted to represent the Medici family as a strong family that fought for their homeland. Therefore, artists also used humanistic elements in an attempt to put imaginary situations into real life events. In conclusion, Arts changed with the introduction of secularism. Just as portrayed by Donatello and Santro Botticelli, secularism made people see themselves in the position of God. They thus related things cosidered religious materials before, to their own lifes. Question 4 Similarities and Differences between Flemish and Italian Paintings There are several resemblances and divergences between the Flemish and the Italian paintings. In the examination of the Delivery of the Keys by Perugino and Double Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini & His Wife by Van Eyck, differences and similarities are identifiable. Similarities show the existence of influences while difference show unique developments in each region. In both paintings, there are influences of Gothic art and focus on representational, lifelike figures positioned in three-dimensional space. Differences are in mediums used. Van Eyck used oil paints thus portraying the preference for oil paint by the Flemish artists. The Italians preferred the fresco as seen in the Delivery of the Keys. Again, the Italians showed idealistic view of the world while the Flemish artists as exemplified by Van Eyck showed realistic few of the world. In the Delivery of the Keys, Saint Peter is taking the keys of heaven from Jesus. In the painting by Van Eyck, depicts a man and a woman standing together. In conclusion, the differences of the Flemish and the Italian arts portray the existence of cultural differences between the Flemish and the Italians. Each region had its unique characteristics, which show the unique perceptions and ways of doing things. However, due to cultural exchanges, most of the differences were overcome. In arts, similarities were brought about by artists who wanted to try new ideas. Question 5 How Mannerists Arts is Different from High Renaissance Arts High Renaissance is the age in the Italian rebirth when visual arts marked by the emphasis for the classical traditions, were at their high point. People usually consider it to have started in 1490s with the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci and ended with the attack of Rome Charles V in 1527 army. Apart from da Vinci, other famous artists of the period were Raphael Sanzio da Urbino and Michelangelo di Lodovico. Mannerism arts replaced High Renaissance arts. The adoption of Mannerism style is thought to have started after the death of Raphael and ended with the adoption of Baroque arts in 1600. There are many differences between the Mannerism art and the High Renaissance art as depicted in Entombment by Pontormo. In the painting, Portormo depicts a number of people carrying a dead man who is almost naked. The people in the painting are not in the same background as Pontormo portrayed some with the dead man in the sky. The painting of Pontormo is not similar to The School of Athens by Raphael. In the painting, Raphael created an extremely sensible linear perspective of the people in the house. For example, Raphael painted clear images of Plato and Aristotle in his work. Through the differences of these two paintings, Mannerism arts that are represented by Entombment have characteristic like irrational settings, exaggerated lighting, collapsed perspective, dangerously balanced poses, and elongated forms. The differences came about due to the motivation by the mannerist artists to go beyond harmonious ideas developed in the High Renaissance period. In conclusion, mannerism arts came after the High Renaissance arts. They are thus, modifications of the High Renaissance. Just as shown by Raphael in The School of Athens, High Renaissance arts were graceful, balanced, harmonious, and natural. The Mannerism arts as portrayed by the Entombment by Pontormo were abnormal and had bizarre themes, figures, and clashing colors. Question 6 Reformation and Counter-Reformation Reformation was a religious revolution led by John Calvin and Martin Luther in 16th century against the Western church. The reformists called for reformations of the Catholic Church; as a result, the protestant faith emerged. In response to the religious revolutions, the Catholic Church made up certain reforms. Pope Paul III started Council of Trent to reform the Catholic Church. The reforms suggested by the council required the Biblical guidelines in the church and by people. Therefore, the reformation and Counter-Reformation had impacts on the daily actions of the people including arts. For example, the Last Supper by Tintoretto depicted extra guest to the biblical last supper but was not ban. Even though the work included other guests like woman and servants, it fulfills all the requirements of the Council of Trent. Contrary to it, The Feast in the House of Levi contradicted the Bible by depicting drunken people, dwarfs, and the other ridiculous characteristics. The Catholic Church thus required its painter, Paolo Veronese to make the necessary, which he refused and only changed the name from the Last Supper. The changes of name by Paolo Veronese thus shows the impacts of the religious reforms on arts. The reforms in the church affected the way artists depicted religious teaching by requiring them to conform to the set standards (Rubinstein, et al 2004) In conclusion arts portray the happenings in the society. Secularism that entered the society in the 15 and the 16 centuries were depicted in the paintings of the Quattrocento and Cinquecento. For example, in the Birth of Venus, Santro Botticelli depicts an image of Venus goddess emerging from the water. Botticelli’s painting shows the existence of Renascassece as it shows the influence of the Roman culture on the Italian culture. Again, the change of the name of the Last Supper painting by Paolo Veronese to The Feast in the House of Levi shows the influences of the reforms in the church. Therefore, arts carry the history of the society that owns them. Reference Rubinstein, Nicolai, and Giovanni Ciappelli. Studies in Italian History in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Roma: Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 2004. Print. Read More