Art History
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Art History
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I. Religious and Mythological
Up until the Renaissance, most art had to do with religion. Architecture, sculpture, music and painting all centered around the scenes from the Bible, the lives of the saints, and portraits of Madonna and the Christ Child. But this changed as the Renaissance progressed. Greek and Roman gods reappeared everywhere. Sculptures imitated those of ancient Greece. ROMEO AND JULIET and most of Shakespeares work are full of references to the ancient gods and their myths. A good example of this transition might be to view a strong Biblical theme from the early 1400s and then take a look at one artists version of mythological subjects painted about 75 years later.
A. Religious: Lorenzo Ghiberti was a sculptor whose greatest work was the bronze doors he designed and completed for the Baptistry at Florence in the first half of the 15th Century.
Check the web sites on the bronze sculptures of Ghiberti and the Eastern Door of the Baptistry in Florence for the following questions:
1. Describe the panel of the Sacrifice of Isaac. What
Bible scene is Ghiberti portraying?
2. Describe the detail in the Creation of Adam, a panel on
the Eastern door of the Baptistry. How does it differ
from Michelangelos depiction of the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel?
3. Choose one other famous Biblical scene and describe
Ghibertis interpretation of it.
B. Mythological: Now to the mythological – Botticelli painted religious scenes as well, but two of his most famous works deal with famous myths, stories which the ancient Greeks told to explain nature and the world around them. Using his Allegory of Spring or Primavera, answer the following:
1. Name a major god and a major goddess in the painting.
2. What other minor gods or goddesses appear in the
painting?
3. This painting is considered an allegory as its title
suggests. What story might it be explaining?
4. Viewing Botticellis Birth of Venus and reading the
text, answer the following:
a. Describe the scene, explaining the myth behind it.
b. Why do you think it was so important to have a
Venus of such grace and beauty?
c. According to the text, what imperfections are there
in Botticellis model of Venus.
II. The Davids
Compare Donatellos and Michelangelos Davids. How are they different?
After consulting these web sites, answer the questions that follow.
Information on Michelangelos David
Donatello: Biographical information
A. Why is Donatellos David so “innovative” for its time?
B. Compare the two Davids
1. height
2. composition (What is each made of?)
3. stance (What attitude does each statue convey to the
viewer?)
C. Where are the two statues today?
III. High Renaissance
During the High Renaissance three brilliant artists emerged: Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Raphael (Raffaelo Sanzio).
A. Leonardo DaVinci
View the web site on the Mona Lisa for the following questions:
1. Why was Leonardo DaVinci called the original
Renaissance man?
2. Why is DaVincis Mona Lisa so famous as work
of art?
3. Why is the painting surrounded by mystery?
4. What technique does Leonardo use for the Mona
Lisa?
5. Where is the Mona Lisa today?
View the web site on The Last Supper for the following questions:
1. What method did Leonardo use to paint The Last
Supper? Explain.
2. Explain why this painting is so important to the idea
of perspective in art.
3. How does Leonardo convey the tension of what
Christ has just told the Apostles?
4. Compare this painting to Ghirlandaios Last Supper.
B. Michelangelo Buonarroti
View the web site on Michelangelo for the following questions:
1. We have already seen Michelangelos David when
we looked at it in comparison to Donatellos. One