The Renaissance

Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, 1505

Renaissance is the French term for rebirth. The Renaissance was a period of classical revival, not only in the visual arts, but also in literature, architecture and the sciences. Humanism gained popularity. The core of the Renaissance was to shift the focus of art towards the individual in society from the religion-based medieval art and revive the classical notion of perfection in architecture and the human form.
The Renaissance Period can be split into two categories and subsequent sub categories:
The Italian Renaissance:
The Early Renaissance
The High Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance

 

Italian Renaissance

1420 - 1600

Florence. Spread to Rome and Venice.

At the end of the Middle Ages there was an economic boom in Europe, particularly in Florence and other Italian cities. Increasing political stability within Florence allowed the Renaissance to evolve. This allowed for a new and drastic change in the arts. In this case the rebirth of the classical ideals of ancient Rome and Greece, following the hibernation period of the Medieval Dark Ages. Modern values had their beginnings during the Renaissance period. By the 16th Century, the Renaissance was overtaken by Mannerism as the dominant style of Europe.

Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo (1475 – 1564) are the key renowned artists from this period.

The Early Renaissance

Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus, 1486

The desire to recapture antiquity and its mythology was crucial to the Renaissance painters. The Florentines believed that the ancient Greeks had superior knowledge and their myths held hidden truths. Mythology became a common subject matter during the beginning of the Renaissance.

Sandro Botticelli (1446 – 1510) is one of the most renowned artists of the Early Renaissance. The Birth of Venus was commissioned by the prominent Florentine Medici Family. The image depicts the story of Venus emerging from the sea and symbolizes the birth of beauty into the world.

The High Renaissance

Michelangelo, Creation of Man, 1510

It is widely accepted that artistic creative genius reached its pinnacle during the High Renaissance. The ideals of classical Greek and Roman art were captured in perfect harmony, balance and movement in paintings, sculpture and architecture. The High Renaissance introduced the world to the artistry of da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo and set a yardstick for artistic perfection that even today, makes their names famous around the globe and their works some of the most beloved art in mankind's history.

Northern Renaissance

1500 ­ 1615

The Netherlands and Germany

Albrecht Durer, The Knight, Death and the Devil, 1514

The influence of the Renaissance in Northern Europe began in the 16th Century. Many artists influenced by the era studied in Italy and brought the philosophies back to their homelands. The Renaissance brought about religious reform, primarily the rejection of the authority of the Church. In the north, the Renaissance ultimately led to some of the most beautiful and hauntingly realistic images ever painted.

Albrecht Durer (1471 –1528) became well known for his etchings in Germany. Durer’s etchings often depict religious themes. The Knight, Death and the Devil, is an example of his work.