The female form in the high renaissance.

Realism is a bond that continues from the early renaissance to the high renaissance. In the early renaissance the paintings gain technologically in thin layers of oil paints and glazes which cause depth but they also start to have backgrounds that add space, form, line, texture, the start to become about men and who they are where they come from. We begin to chart our family’s heritage with a portrait of each important member back to the beginning of human history in the eyes of the church and men. In the High renaissance there is more than just a flat portrait of the world and side views of men. There is the gained knowledge of the actual physical appearance of the female form and men and women gain a three dimensional appearance. From a side view portrait to a three quarter pose the artists are becoming more exposed to the true carnal knowledge of who we are and they begin to have a greater understanding of the physical form. It is striking how much knowledge is gained about the human body and the visual aspect of the female form. Knowledge and experience begin to bring humans to a closer view of the world around them and the gestures of who we are.

We begin to see just how little the artists may have know about the female form in one of the works of Michelangelo’s Figures of Day and Night on the tomb of Giuliano De’Medici (pg. 648). Here the breasts of the female figure are hard round masses with disfigured nipples that have been carved over the pectoral muscle of a male form. This gives them the appearance of being more of a tumor than a soft round mass that many of us in current times know so well. While from this extremely muscular figure that is very obviously that of a male we may have to chalk that up to the inability to get the church to allow for female models, or perhaps as it has been hinted he was no so into the females. However considering that we as humans have always had issues with the exposure of the female body to the eyes of men this would be the most likely explanation. After all how many of us still have relations in the dark?

Also there are many other works with more physically corrected images of the female form is toward the end of this chapter shows in a truer form in the Allegory with Venus and Cupid. Here we see the soft gentle curves of their bodies of Venus and her lover in sensual contact. While in the background we are confronted with the turbulences of love in the wake of desire. This suggests that the artist Bronzino was more experienced with and knowledgeable about the female form.  His models seemed to have been more relaxed and willing to be portrayed in their most intimate moments of tenderness.  The female figure in this work is a more visually accurate representation.

Finally, while it can be argued that the use is grouping, depth of field, the golden triangle, and layers of paint that give paintings the realism of sculpture are the greatest advances of the renaissance period as a whole I think that the most important advancement may have been the realistic portrayal of the female form. For the first time in the history of art women’s bodies were no longer a representation based off of the male ideal and carved as perceived by the artist. Instead they were based off of real women whom were portrayed as either the goddess mother Mary or as the sensual temptation that is brought to mind by the goddess Venus. Soft yielding females in comparison with the solid masculine forms pieced together from the nude male forms with vague ideas of the forms that should be beneath the cloth that covers. 

Week 3 The Battle of the Nudes

Chapter 19 pages 608 + 609 The Battle of the Nudes

This work of art is all about the lines and strokes of the artists tools. This network of  lines are composed not just the outline form of the men and their surrounding but also the shading that is used to define the figures and create space within the work. Symbols tell us that the daily existence in this scene needs to be protected from outsiders. We have well developed men, grapes, corn, and weapons made from steel.  Every small stroke creates texture and detail from the looks of stress and anguish in the faces to the strain in the pose of the bodies. 

In the background we have a scene of plenty. The corn field and grape vines along with what appears to be olive trees speak of wealth and health in this place. Using the small overlapping strokes of the tool the artist creates the implication of darkness and depth. This depth of perception and extreme detail in the plants and trees of the background imply space and provide what appears as a good way to escape in the background. In and of itself it would be a print worth spending the time to enjoy based on the background alone. The shading and care taken in producing a nearly 3 dimensional landscape for our figures to wage their war against each other in allows for the eye to conceive a difference in this space before it. 

Speaking of this layered effect the three men occupying the middle ground of the work create an additional layer of space. Their battle is closest to the background and they work to have a very open stance. Two men working to overcome another serves to create a feeling that this is a battle of sides and the lines have been drawn. Their muscles are strained in the act of motion created by the lines of the arrow, ax and sword. You can see that each figure on either side of the central character in this group is prepared to bring about his death. These weapons serve also to move the eye back to the center of the engraving. The two figures to the left are slightly darker in shading than the one on the right and this also serves to give the impression that these men are closer to the background and the use of overlapping gives the figure on the left the appearance of being the furthest away from the viewer.

In the foreground of the work we see three groups of figures. On the left are two men in the struggle of hand to hand combat. The figure at the bottom of these two is serious about fighting for his very existence the other is serious about ending it. We see this in the grasp on the dagger by him and his attempt to wound his adversary first. They are darker shaded than the central characters framing them on one side. On the right hand side we are three men in battle with each other. The man laying upon the ground is being given a potentially mortal wound while his enemy is unaware of the fate awaiting him. Behind this man is another whose ax will soon cause his death. While not as dark as the figures on the left they are also given a shading that reminds the viewer these men are not the central characters in this play either.

At the center of the foreground space on this one dimensional surface is two men who are posed to begin a battle of swords and chains. Their bodies along with the right hand character in the center ground create the perfect triangle. Their swords point inward while their bodies are flexed away from each other. Faces tense bodies prepared we expect the movement to complete itself as we view it. All of the men and their weapons draw our eye through the work causing continuous movement within the work. 

This brings us back to the lines. All of the outlines of the forms, shading with small strokes, light and lack thereof, along with the detail of the work serve to keep the eye in constant motion. This engraving and the prints made from it relied on the small lines and the ink upon paper to bring this very moment to life. The struggle between life and death is played out by man. The grapes and corn in the print suggest a life of plenty being protected by the men of this place as they are willing to battle to the death. Working together line, shading, and movement create a 3 dimensional space that moves the viewer to expect action.

Week 2 Northern Renaissance

The appearance of a nearly living figure seems to be one of the most important advancements of the northern renaissance. Through the medium of painting we can take a careful look at how the technological changes in the creation of the painting itself and the need of the everyday person to be closer to God played their part in the advancement of oil and brush. Paintings were on both sides of may works of art and originally was one of the lower crafts. We have a great deal to thank one artist for in this part of the world along with his ability to see and portrait a reality that is beyond all others before him.

Therefore painting was to become the most important form of art in this era. It began with the Illuminators whom used the printed page to spread their abilities and advancements. By making the greatest use of limited space while paying close attention to realist portrayals they were able to carry forth the art of painting in the miniature. Dealing primarily with the religious themes these artists spent time developing the illusion of space. In paintings that reminded the viewer of God and saints painters were bringing them into daily life.

One such man is the artist Jan Van Eyck. Van Eyck is the Northern Michelangelo his work is real in appearance. So incredibly modeled that the viewer is libel to be fooled into believing the figures of the piece to nearly step out and join us in our plane of existence.

A true 3 dimensional pictorial is an extremely difficult process in which to succeed. It is the paintings which are to be created that will bring about the birth of the northern renaissance. It comes not just at a time of great wealth but also at the height of religious dissention. In a desire to bring together a symbol of wealth and religious piety the patrons in all paying levels desired to have their portrait painted alone but will be delighted to be painted in the presence of a saint.

He discovered what could be done with layers of paint and glazes. In working to multiply the details within in addition to creating layers of both opaque and transparent layers he gave an image of life to those whom have gone before. Giving the work the appearance of being within our space rather than separate from it through modeling of not just the objects and subject within but by causing them to appear to interact with the light changes in the room they were housed. Due to his work painting rose in value however the documentary reminds us that he has never been surpassed and his techniques still live and breathe in modern artists just as he left them.

Common men began to seek out the artist requesting to have their own portraits created. The northern renaissance is more than just a step forward in the arts it is the affect that religion had upon society. Public works were often representative of the good and beneficial acts of the benefactor. Both the artist and others seemed to benefit financially and religiously by the funds used to create these works. It was also about the religious experience desired by all and believed obtainable by taking in visually the characters within. There seems to be an issue with how life and death along with religion touched each other in all planes of existence in his paintings causing them to be true works of art surpassed by no other.

Overall, the changes in the technology, religious beliefs, and social status made a previously less than desired craft into an art form we revere in museums today. Layers, glazes, and an ability to understand and use light and place to cause a work to interact with its viewer painting in the northern renaissance is at its height and will never be improved upon.

Renaissance art and the internet generation

I think that the main reason that the renaissance is so important to our society today is that we are currently working so quickly on our own revolution and renaissance in the world of science. We find the progression of the great artists such as Michelangelo who is known not only for his art but for his architecture and scientific inventions to be progressive plan to follow for our own changes.

Everything is changing in this day and time. We are rediscovering the past while we are re-inventing the wheel. The art world is included we are still discovering new genres and how to go about creating something new and different. We are learning how to do lost forms of art and creating new ones.

We appreciate the abilities of these men whose work is still with us and find that there are differences between their time and ours. A huge difference is that we are not supported with complete financial confidence by the powers that be. Thanks to the ability to find financial support these men were also the teachers of their times. Thanks to them we are treated to such beautiful pieces that are realistic as possible. In addition these artists have brought about the birth of new ideas and reintroduced the concept of classical art.

We who are now learning to do our art work on the computer are discovering how difficult it can be to create your own paint. A new canvas is being created in more ways than one. Display is different; who sees your work is expanded. More of the world is rediscovering art they never knew existed. The renaissance brought about the renewal of art after the dark ages. We are now coming out of the dark ages of human existence and into a place of enlightenment.

We are also being introduced again to these works as they are becoming an interactive and close up experience for those of us in other countries to poor to visit the real work. They are also used for movies, advertisements and we are becoming more inundated by different work in our daily lives. How many of us would have the opportunity to see the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or the note book pages of Michelangelo without this valuable resource.

This is about more than the crackle or modeling. We are now able to analyze the works and how they were completed by scientific methods we can now see the original works and the contemporary artists who are recreating them or borrowing elements thereof to make something new and original. The downside is that even though more people are becoming involved in the arts both creation and collection fewer understand what the differences are between great works and good craft. It makes the work of renaissance artists all the more important to the art student who is endeavoring to understand the complexities of what is great art and what is not. This is why it is important to me and I hope other students.