Innovations in the Visual Arts of the Renaissance

All links in this section are required.

Many innovations mark the differences between art of the Italian Renaissance and works from the Middle Ages.  Some of these innovations were:

• The use of Greek and Roman mythology as subject matter
• Linear perspective
• The development of chiaroscuro
• The use of fresco for huge projects
• Sculpture patterned after sculptures from Greek and Roman times
• A naturalistic depiction of human anatomy
• Experiments in oil based paints

Understand What Art Looked Like Before the Renaissance

Two short articles – required reading

Read about some of the techniques that made the Renaissance paintings and sculptures such a departure from the works of Medieval times.

View how art has evolved by examining the depiction of the Virgin Mary.

Explore

A Pinterest board – skim through this to see more art.

There were many, many artists during the Italian Renaissance. Begin your exploration by watching this slideshow with musical accompaniment (no other audio) with a glance at a few masterpieces.

Three Important Renaissance Artists Everyone Should Know  

Leonardo da Vinci      required

Important Works: Use the links below to learn more about specific works- optional

• The Mona Lisa   no other audio
• Madonna of the Rocks
• The Last Supper
• Lady With Ermine

Michelangelo    required  

Important Works –  Use links below to learn more about specific works – optional

• David
• Sistine Chapel Ceiling
• Pieta
• Last Judgement – A Mannerist work

Pinterest Board – Michelangelo  –  optional

Raphael – Raffaello Sanzio    required

Important Works  Use links below to learn more about specific works – optional

• Madonna of the Meadows
• The School of Athens
• The Sistine Madonna
• Galatea
• Castiglione – A portrait of the author of The Courtier

Mannerism – A Departure from the Renaissance

The Climate of the Italian High Renaissance shifted.   With it came a new, modern, and short-lived style of art – Mannerism.

Lecture on Mannerism

Required – you don’t want to confuse Renaissance humanism with Mannerism.

Lisa Kljaich’s Pinterest collection of Mannerist works –  optional browsing.

Get acquainted with Mannerism –  optional links to help you further understand Mannerism. Helpful if you decide to select The Sack of Rome as a topic for your Renaissance blog.  

• The Sack of Rome
• Benvenuto Cellini
  • Saltcellar of Francis I – Perseus
  • Female Mannerist Artists
    • Sofonisba Anguissola
    • Lavinia Fontana
  • An optional discussion of Parmigiano’s “Madonna of the Long Neck”

Other Artists to Know

Optional material to help those that want to tackle more unique works for the Renaissance Blog assignment.  

Lorenzo Ghiberti
Gates of Paradise

Donatello
David
Mary Magdalene

Titian
Venus of Urbino
Fete Champetre

Botticelli
Primavera
Birth of Venus

Masaccio
The Tribute Money – a work that depicts all the chronological events in the story in a continuous narration
Trinity with the Virgin (more about this work)

Fra Angelico
Collection

Explore Further With These Optional Links

Commercial – But Good Links on the Left
Properzia de’Rossi —A Female Artist