Renaissance

Hi everyone.

Renaissance

So, Renaissance. That's pretty wide-known term but there's only few scientists who would dare to define it completely. It is certain though, that Early Renaissance experienced it's climax with Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rafael. The period begins in Italy in 15th century (although there is some disagreement when you consider late Gothic and Giotto in 14th ct.) and lasts till Raphael's death in 16th ct.
Word renaissance means rebirth and revival of Man and old Antique (Classical Period) values. Italians in 14th and 15th centuries considered themselves superior to other periods after the fall of Roman Empire. The Idea that led to Renaissance was to revive literature and arts after a sleep of almost thousand years.
Platon's philosophy was again closely studied and it was important burst of spirit, institutionalized in Accademia Neoplatonica in Florence. Marchio Ficino, the head of Accademia Neoplatonica said 'This century is similar to golden ages of humanity, it revived almost extincted free arts, poetry, rhetoric, architecture, painting…. all in most impressive way and all in Florence…' (1492.)
Latin language was also awakened and it became the language of every educated individual everywhere. To be perfectly honest, those people were still in minority and also very rich.
Visual style of Renaissance is, of course, inspired with Classical Period of Greece and Roman Empire. Especially sculpture. That includes Early Christian and Late Roman era since the Church was still important financial source in some cities. In Florence, the Medicci family was ultimate purchaser of art. They were money loaners and later bankers that 'ruled' Florence for 60 years. After their fall artistic lead proceeds to Rome (which is, again, financed through Church and Pope). Venice, on the other hand, is inspired with same revival and belief but very interested in Eastern features, therefore it developed Bizantine qualities.

Brief Artist overview:

Donatello:
-the most powerful individual of Florential Art
-best known for dramatically intense sculptures
-Donatello's David is first nude figure after Classical Period
-it stands in easy, relaxed pose with softly finished surface
-it is actually the only sculpture of that kind that Donatello did. His own spirit haven't let him to impersonate such profound peace
-other artists were trying to learn from him but to develop completely different styles – gentile and elegant figures etc.

Leonardo da Vinci
-the biggest of all, even his colleagues thought so
-explorer of natural sciences and inventor
-he literally invented perspective in painting and 'sfumato' technique (blending)
-best known for Mona Lisa

Now some myths about Mona Lisa we're gonna to explain
-she was a wife of one Florentine clerk
-she was not extremely beautiful or important
-the painting does not consist any mystical features or symbols
-da Vinci painted this portrait and later used her face as a stock in works where he had no female model
-her pose is common in Renaissance painting
-the background was ordered by the commissioner – to look like background of other one da Vinci's painting
-made in oil and sfumato technique – really soft shading and skilfully blended colors
-she does not 'look at you' – any poster on a wall looks at you, but none of them are made in perfect sfumato oil

Michelangelo
-wasn't that brilliant student, but he had learned from the best (not from da Vinci)
-he was hard, rude, aggressive, aforethought, and quarrelsome
-he thought of himself as of sculptor
-every time he needed to paint he was frustrated
-he peed on Pope while doing Sistine Chapel
-therefore, his characters 'want' to explode because they are captured in their bodies – teachings of Accademia Neoplatonica
-each and every of his works wants to explode, that's what makes them so special and Michelangelo famous
-Michelangelo is more important for Manirism than Renaissance
-his skill defies the laws of static and logic
-he has beaten the hell out of da Vinci
-he was beaten by da Vinci

Nice examples I found on da:

Interpretation of Rafael's Sistine Madonna:

That would be it. Thanks for reading!
Cheers!