Section outline
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9.5: European Art During the Renaissance
The word renaissance means revival. In the context of art history, the Renaissance period (the transition period between the Middle Ages and modernity during the 14th and 16th centuries) marked a return to the dominance of classical (Greek and Roman) styles in art, literature, and architecture. Mimesis – the accurate, even scientific, representation of form we discussed in Unit 1 – became increasingly important in the visual arts while the architectural styles of the Greeks and Romans were revitalized. Many factors led to this resurrection, including the rediscovery of classic works, new technological innovations, and increased interactions among different areas of Europe.
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Watch this video to understand the new formal qualities that characterized art during this transitional phase between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
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Read this to learn about the intellectual climate of the Renaissance.
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Masaccio's painting Holy Trinity exemplifies the ideals of the Early Renaissance in Florence, Italy.
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Read this short article about Flanders (an area in Europe that includes today's Belgium and parts of the Netherlands), which was the site of another "renaissance" in European art.
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Watch this video to get a sense of how the ideas and ideals of the Renaissance influenced the artists who lived in Northern Europe.
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Read this introduction to the art of the High Renaissance. What distinguishes the art of this time period from that created during the earlier Renaissance? What new ideas were the artists expressing during this time?
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Raphael was one of the masters of the High Renaissance. This article explains why his work is considered so emblematic of this period.
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Read this article and watch the embedded video describing Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting The Last Supper. How does this artwork exemplify High Renaissance values?
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Watch this video which describes Michelangelo's sculpture David. How does Michelangelo's work differ from that of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, two famous Italian painters of this time?
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