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THE HIGH RENAISSANCE
Between 1495 and 1527, a series of powerful and ambitious
popes created a new force in Italy-a papal state, with
___________ as its capital. Rome eventually took the lead
from Florence and became the art capital of Europe.
The popes, living luxuriously themselves, embellished the
city with great works of art. They invited artists from all over
Italy to Rome and provided them with challenging and
exciting commissions. The High Renaissance lasted only
about 20 years, but the work produced in Rome and Venice
during this period would influence European art for at least
three centuries.
During the High Renaissance, artists began being viewed as
geniuses rather than crafts persons. It was widely believed
that artists, like poets, created their work under divine
inspiration. Artists of the High Renaissance often
disregarded formulas and scientific perspective for more
emotional styles. The High Renaissance is thus more
_______________.
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Rome becomes the art center of Europe.
The notion of artist as genius is born.
The Venetian artists make dramatic innovations in
painting.
Leonardo, The Virgin of The Rocks, 15th c, oil on panel
Da Vinci considered painting the supreme form of art.
Leonardo was trained in Florence, but made most of his
works away from the city. The Virgin of the Rocks reveals a
____________ composition that joins together the figures.
The angel points to John the Baptist, blessed by Christ and
sheltered by the Virgin’s hand. The viewer’s eye is lead
around the painting from figure to figure and rests at the
Virgin’s face. Light forms emerge from the background to
create a dramatic contrast of values. This extreme contrast
of light from dark is called _________________.
Leonardo, The Last Supper, 15th c,
tempera wall mural
The Last Supper is a ___________ painting (painting on wet
plaster) on the wall of a dining hall monastery in Milan.
Despite its ruined state, the painting is impressive in form
and emotion. Christ and the apostles are celebrating the
Passover. Christ has announced that one of the apostles will
betray him. The intense shock and amazement is visible.
The vanishing point is behind Christ, emphasizing his
importance.
Michelangelo, Pieta, 16th c, marble
Michelangelo developed at an early age an intense interest
in Greek and Roman culture. He was accepted in the Medici
household and the Medici school for sculptors. Pieta is one
of his early masterpieces. Completed in 1500, this marble
sculpture evokes profound Christian feeling. The folds of the
drapery and human flesh are superbly handled. The seated
mother of Christ is overly large when compared with the
body of her son. Michelangelo was concerned with the
visual appearance of the pyramidal composition rather than
with exact _______________. The work was carved from a
single block of marble. The sculpture is highly polished in
the style of the Early Renaissance. In his later works, parts
are left rough from the chisel to contrast with polished
areas. The artist signed the work on the band across Mary’s
chest.
Michelangelo, David, 16th c, marble
Michelangelo’s David goes far beyond imitating nature. It is
huge in size and super-human in its muscular perfection.
The body is expressive, angry and defiant. The empty sling
drapes over his left shoulder and a round stone is cradled in
his over-sized right hand. He stands relaxed, but alert and
god-like. David expresses Michelangelo’s belief that human
beauty is the outward indication of __________________.
The sculpture was placed the main square of the Florentine
town hall.
Michelangelo, The Sistine Ceiling, 16th c, fresco
The Sistine Ceiling took Michelangelo over four years to
complete. It contains nine scenes from the______
_______________, and over 400 figures fill the architectural
elements and separate the scenes. The work depicts the
horrors of hell and the eternal life in heaven.
Raphael, The School of Athens, fresco, 16th c
Raphael was court painter in the Vatican until his early
death. To the bequest of the Pope Julius II, he worked on a
series of frescoes for the Vatican’s Room of Signatures,
where official papers were signed. One of the subjects was
The School of Athens. This work embodies the spirit of the
High Renaissance. The painting is Raphael’s way of
balancing pagan ____________ and Renaissance Christianity
in one monumental work. The masters of Classical Greek
thought, science and art, are in animated conversations.
Plato and Aristotle are at the center and are in deep
conversation. Leonardo is painted as Plato and
Michelangelo is included, as well as Raphael as bystander.
The sculptural quality, individual poses and the groupings of
figures were influenced by Michelangelo’s
______________________. Leonardo’s
____________________ influenced the balance and
composition. The vanishing point is behind the heads of
Plato and Aristotle.
How are the Early Renaissance and the High Renaissance alike? How are they different?
Of all the Renaissance pieces that have been reviewed, which is your favorite? Why?