Christian depictions were classically humanized in Renaissance art.
The Renaissance revolutionized the Western world with advancements in technology, science, architecture and art. The Renaissance literally translates to an era of rebirth, which the Italians introduced during the 14th century and soon invaded the rest of Europe. The rebirth refers to revisiting classical ideas applied in a modern sense. Renaissance painters used techniques to represent their art as realistically as possible to uphold "Humanism," a focus on an individual person rather than an entire concept. According to the Annenberg Foundation, Renaissance painters were concerned with placing their subjects strategically in their work, individualizing their subjects' presence, rather than forming a sweeping image, compared to their Middle Age counterparts.
Early Renaissance Painting
The early 1420s in Italy introduced early Renaissance paintings. Painters such as Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio used a new perspective for their art that focused on scientific and architectural approaches when painting their subjects. These painters were influenced by classical Greek and Roman art, and they valued antiquity while also focusing more on humans and less on religious subjects. Even religious figures were represented with more humanistic qualities than idealistic qualities.
High Renaissance Painting
The late 15th and early 16th centuries in Florence, Italy, and in Rome marked the High Renaissance for painters, such as da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Harmony and balance were two significant characteristics of High Renaissance paintings that propelled the belief in Humanism and unity in art. da Vinci's paintings "The Last Supper" and "Adoration of the Magi" both represent the quintessential visual concepts of unity. But the High Renaissance lasted only until 1520, when the focus shifted to single elements in painting.
Late Renaissance Painting
Mannerism dominated the Late Renaissance period from 1525 to 1600. Mannerism was a movement that focused on art's beauty, valuing elegance and grace via surrealism, according to Nicolas Pioch. Artistic individuality was the primary focus of Late Renaissance painters. Some painters used more dynamic and surrealistic qualities in their art to break away from the typical realistic aspects of the Early and High Renaissance. Images were distorted, and objects were painted unnaturally, as in El Greco's "The Burial of Count Orgaz."
Elements of Renaissance Painting
Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" showcases realism of the Renaissance.
The fundamental period of Renaissance painting focused on new and classical elements in harmony. Chiaroscuro was introduced again to showcase realistic and human qualities of subjects. Chiaroscuro is a technique that contrasts light and dark in paintings. During this period, human subjects in art were represented as measurements. da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" accurately portrayed this idea because his subject had equal proportions. Renaissance painters also focused on producing realistic postures, movements and emotions in their work.
Renaissance Influence in France and England
France and England experienced an impression of Italian Renaissance art during the 15th century, when French and English royalty began purchasing Italian art and hiring Italian artists to paint for them. Unlike the focus on secularism in Italian art, humanists in Northern Europe focused more on religious ideals, while still capturing the realistic elements in their work, according to European Renaissance and Reformation. This focus led to religious reformation in Northern Europe influenced by the Christian value system.
German and Flemish Painters of the Renaissance
Realistic landscapes in Northern Europe were a mark of the Italian Renaissance.
German and Flemish painters were also influenced by the Italians during the Renaissance. They, too, were drawn to the humanistic qualities that focused on the individual realistically. European Renaissance and Reformation states that Germany's most famous painter, Albert Durer painted himself as a Renaissance man, someone who was worldly. He also painted landscapes, most notable for their realistic depictions. Jan van Eyck, a Flemish painter, was best known for portraying emotion and personality in his work. Pieter Bruegel, another influential Flemish painter, often painted peasants in his work, which depicted the real trials of less fortunate people in Flanders.
