The Renaissance was considered to be a great period of change in the culture and society of Western Europe. The Renaissance started in Italy and slowly spread throughout Europe. The church was still a major political, social and economic power as well as primary patron of the arts. An emerging middle class began to question the old foundations. Education, especially the literary aspects began to enlighten the people. Literature, became more available as a result of the printing press. Individual achievement, scientific inquiry and new wealth set the stage for the Renaissance to match and even surpass Classical Greece and Rome. Advancement from the Medieval into the Renaissance era occurred primarily directly effecting art, literature, the sciences, and the One of the most prominent changes in the aspects of society was the way in which art was now depicted. In the Medieval times no expression appeared on the faces of individuals because we were all a reflection of God. God’s children and peoples clothes were all painted the same color. (Example, site reading)
Renaissance sculptures were proportioned to the human body and dramatic results were achieved as did Michelangelo with his prized David. The main employer of artists and painters was the Church or the Pope.(example, site reading).
With the transition of time to the Renaissance, more people were now working (site reading), and had money, so they became the employer. The term used to describe this was known as patronage. Art or realism changed as a result of the buyers or purchasers of the works being people other than true representatives of the Pope. Expressions of art, realism, was now depicted in the works of artists. In their faces are seen love, fear, wrath, or even sorrow, at not being able to understand the meaning of Christ.(Vasari, P.243) Other Renaissance pieces included works in sculpture and in clay. These pieces portrayed some heads of women that were smiling and some heads of boys that were issued from the hand of a master. Also introduced in this era was many drawings of ground plans and other designs of buildings, as well as designs of industrials mills and engines. ( Vasari, P.241) This helped set the stage for the modernization of Western
The Essay on Comparing Medieval Art to Renaissance Art
Medieval art period Medieval art covers a large scope of time. The period covered over 1000 years of art in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. The period was characterized by major art movements based on national art and regional art. There was also the aspect of revivals and artists crafts. Art historians have been successful in classifying medieval art into major periods and styles. This is ...
