Early Renaissance Period(14c -16c).
Basic Overview:
The renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the period roughly from the 14th to the 17th century. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political upheaval, it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Renaissance began in Florence, Italy, in the 14th century. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence was felt in literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion.
The Art Of Florence:
Florence, like many cities of the Renaissance, had been built over many years and so was home to numerous churches, public buildings, and houses constructed with Romanesque or Gothic architecture.
Many Florentine structures that outwardly exemplify architecture from earlier times also house interiors, paintings, and sculptures typical of the Renaissance. An example is the church of Santa Croce. On the outside, Santa Croce is an example of Gothic architecture, but the chapel inside is Renaissance in design.
Renaissance style in art, exemplified in works from Florentine artists, flourished largely because of the patronage, or financial support, of wealthy citizens and the church. By purchasing numerous works of art, Renaissance men and women provided a livelihood for many painters, sculptors, and architects.
The Term Paper on Renaissance Art Painting Figures Century
... Renaissance art. The Renaissance brought together Classicism and Christianity in painting, sculpture and especially in architecture. Filippo Brunelleschi's Church ... period that covered the twelfth and thirteenth century. The architecture reflected a geometric relationship that could be ... artists active in Florence at the beginning of the 15 th century. The Italian renaissance suggests the rebirth ...
The style of painting, sculpture and decorative arts identified with the Renaissance emerged in Italy in the late 14th century; it reached its zenith in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, in the work of Italian masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael.
Leonardo da Vinci, the ultimate “Renaissance Man,” practiced all the visual arts and studied a wide range of topics. His famous paintings include the “Mona Lisa,” “The Virgin of the Rocks” and “The Last Supper.”
Main Exhibit:
Gates Of Paradise.
The Gates of Paradise is the main gate of the Baptistry of Florence , located in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It is a masterpiece of the Florentine Renaissance and one of the most famous works of art in the world.The Gates of Paradise was created by Florentine goldsmith and sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti between 1425 and 1452. This wonderful door plays an important feature in Dan Brown’s novel “Inferno”.
Gates of Paradise panels are framed by two long strips on the sides depicting biblical characters and prophets. In the decoration are also included twenty-four protruding heads, dedicated to prophets. In the jambs and architrave are garlands of plants and animals in gilded bronze.
Each panel brings together more biblical stories represented simultaneously. The prospective technique blends the episodes, but it is never applied rigorously and focuses on the narrative clarity.A late Gothic style is present, however, both in the attention to minute detail and in the definition of the figures with wavy and elegant lines, as well as in the variety of plants and animals depicted.
Photography Exhibition
“City Of Florence”
To depict the beauty and art that is present in Florence many designers in the recent years have been inspired and have held exhibitions replicating the elegance of the City of Florence.These exhibitions take place all over the world.
The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum hosts one of the most-acclaimed masterpieces of the Florentine Renaissance through a special collaboration with the Guild of the Dome Association. The exhibition presents The Gates of Paradise as an “ambassador” to the Florentine Renaissance, accompanied by a rich collection of high-quality historical and contemporary photographs that document Florence.
The Essay on Florence And The Renaissance Art Era
Giotto, Cimabue, Donatello, Massaccio... these are a few artists of the Renaissance that impacted the era. With these artists a cult of genius began in the Renaissance. There was the Age of Exploration when Columbus "discovered" America in 1492, as well as Magellan's and other Europeans' discoveries around areas of Africa. The African slave trade fueled European Renaissance. There were several ...
The photographs help us visualize the urban and public spaces that served as a stage for the expression of a dynamic and diverse Florentine culture. In doing so, the exhibition draws attention to the nuanced urban and historical contexts surrounding the creation of The Gates of Paradise rather than focusing on the latter as an isolated example of artistic and technical mastery.
It depicts the various kinds of drapes which were used in those times. A lot of focus is also done on the use of different kinds of perspective for the photographs.
The exhibition is co-curated by Dr Gerhard Wolf, Director of Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, Max-Planck-Institute and Dr Timothy Verdon, Director of the Museum of the Opera del Duomo. The idea was to show how Florence has integrated the contemporary and historic; and restoration as a process. Mrs Mehta brought in the correlation between the cities. She says, “Florence has preserved its past and yet it is a very modern city. It’s really important because Mumbai was built as the first modern city, an urban agglomeration, built at the same time new London and Paris were built. It was built with a vision to be a great urban center. A lot of focus is on the civic value that art helps to generate and cultivate. I was very keen that we find ways to integrate heritage and contemporary structures. The idea is that you respect your heritage while building the new.”
To provide context to the doors and the age in which they were created, the exhibition also has a set of historical and contemporary photographs of Florence courtesy a loan from Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, Max-Planck-Institute. The exhibition also has replicas of five restored panels from the North Door of the Baptistry and replicas of five bronze statues by Benvenuto Cellini, including Perseus with the Head of Medusa which is on display in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. A short film explains the lost wax method that was used to create the replicas.
Bibliography
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gates_of_Paradise
www.florenceinferno.com/gates-of-paradise/
Glossary
Jambs- a side post or surface of a doorway, window, or fireplace.
The Essay on Florence
Given that the state of Florence throughout the 14th century was nothing less than precarious, it was crucial that something astounding must be accomplished to resurrect the heart and soul of the city. Constantly in fear of being overtaken by warring factions and decimated by the plague, the city was ripe for a resurgence of both their economy and their reputation as an economic and artistic ...
Architrave- the moulded frame around a doorway or window.
Rhea Kukreja.
7/6/14.
