In the 15th century, the Medici family ruled over Florence. They were a family of bankers and merchants who rose to power due to their enormous wealth. They were also influential in the art community by being patrons of artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo. Their interest in humanism would have them seek out artists to paint or sculpt classical figures such as Venus from Roman mythology or David from the Bible. They would also help with funding the construction of the Florence Cathedral dome by Filippo Brunelleschi. Santa Maria del Fiore was first built by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1367. This was because of the existing church at this time, Saint Reparata, outgrew its original location. They built Santa Maria del Fiore on top of
…show more content…
This would be known as one of Da Vinci’s greatest works, The Last Supper. Da Vinci was always interested in learning and pushing himself from a young age. During the period of his childhood was when books began to first print and people gaining the interest to learn about the world. Because of Da Vinci’s interests in not only art, but also in architecture, engineering, science, music, and more, he would later coin the term of ‘Renaissance Man’. Like most of the humanists during this time, Da Vinci’s paintings and drawings were either scenes from everyday life, classical mythology, or Christianity. Before he would leave his hometown of Florence for Milan, for the first time, Leonardo would sketch out his Adoration of the Magi for a local altarpiece, but never finish the painting. Da Vinci lived in Milan for two decades before painting the Last Supper, his final piece during his first stay in Milan. The refractory of Santa Maria delle Grazie had another painting on the other wall before Da Vinci’s commission, Crucifixion by Giovanni Donato da Montorfano. Da Vinci would start with a sketch in both his notebook and the wall with red chalk. Paying attention to both the architecture of the building and the fresco across from it, Da Vinci used his fresco to make a response to both objects by using symbolic gestures on Jesus …show more content…
The Renaissance is a movement that spans over three centuries with different movements within each of them. All of these pieces of art connect to two things: A love for the artist’s community and the artist trying to figure out their place in the world. Historians try to classify time periods in order to show particular characteristics in order to study similarities of objects throughout a period. However, periods of time are often difficult to define as there may be objects or events that can be an outlier. This can include styles of art, techniques used, and the content within the art. This is not true for the Italian Renaissance as this period became well-known for its documentation of history and works of art. We can thank Vasari for his biography Lives of the Artists for making a compilation of artists throughout this time frame. He credits Cimabue, Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo with being touchstones of this period, but artists and architects I would include in this narrative would be Cambio, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Bramante for their involvement, not only with creating different styles, but their overall influence in their community, pursuit of knowledge, and the importance in their works of art to the overall narrative of Florence and the Italian Renaissance. These people will influence the Mannerist movement which would flow into the
This would be known as one of Da Vinci’s greatest works, The Last Supper. Da Vinci was always interested in learning and pushing himself from a young age. During the period of his childhood was when books began to first print and people gaining the interest to learn about the world. Because of Da Vinci’s interests in not only art, but also in architecture, engineering, science, music, and more, he would later coin the term of ‘Renaissance Man’. Like most of the humanists during this time, Da Vinci’s paintings and drawings were either scenes from everyday life, classical mythology, or Christianity. Before he would leave his hometown of Florence for Milan, for the first time, Leonardo would sketch out his Adoration of the Magi for a local altarpiece, but never finish the painting. Da Vinci lived in Milan for two decades before painting the Last Supper, his final piece during his first stay in Milan. The refractory of Santa Maria delle Grazie had another painting on the other wall before Da Vinci’s commission, Crucifixion by Giovanni Donato da Montorfano. Da Vinci would start with a sketch in both his notebook and the wall with red chalk. Paying attention to both the architecture of the building and the fresco across from it, Da Vinci used his fresco to make a response to both objects by using symbolic gestures on Jesus …show more content…
The Renaissance is a movement that spans over three centuries with different movements within each of them. All of these pieces of art connect to two things: A love for the artist’s community and the artist trying to figure out their place in the world. Historians try to classify time periods in order to show particular characteristics in order to study similarities of objects throughout a period. However, periods of time are often difficult to define as there may be objects or events that can be an outlier. This can include styles of art, techniques used, and the content within the art. This is not true for the Italian Renaissance as this period became well-known for its documentation of history and works of art. We can thank Vasari for his biography Lives of the Artists for making a compilation of artists throughout this time frame. He credits Cimabue, Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo with being touchstones of this period, but artists and architects I would include in this narrative would be Cambio, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Bramante for their involvement, not only with creating different styles, but their overall influence in their community, pursuit of knowledge, and the importance in their works of art to the overall narrative of Florence and the Italian Renaissance. These people will influence the Mannerist movement which would flow into the