Michelangelo's "Pieta" is an example of an Italian Renaissance sculpture.
During the Middle Ages, works of art featured stylized designs meant to please the eye and provide ornate decoration rather than any sense of realism. After the Middle Ages, changes in the philosophy of the times led to changes in artwork, particularly in Italy, where the Renaissance began.
Time Frame
Renaissance art is a style of both painting and sculpture that began in Italy in the 14th century and continued through approximately 1550.
Philosophy
During the Italian Renaissance, scholars rediscovered a number of Greek and Latin literary texts, leading to a revival of the classical style in art which was far more realistic.
Features
Linear perspective, or the process of realistically portraying the depth of a three-dimensional scene onto a two-dimensional surface, began during the Italian Renaissance. Other common features of Renaissance art include realistic rendering of the human form, facial expression of emotions, classical architectural elements in paintings like columns and arches, and symmetry and balance when positioning figures or objects on canvas.
Themes
As during the Middle Ages, religious subject matter remained common in Italian Renaissance art, mainly because churches and religious figures were often those who commissioned paintings and sculptures. Mythological subjects and portraiture were also common.
Famous Works
Famous paintings produced during the Italian Renaissance include "Holy Trinity" by Massacio, "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, "The School of Athens" by Raphael and the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo. Widely known sculptures include "David" by Donatello, as well as "David" and "Pieta" by Michelangelo.
