Lecture 5: Medium of Art and

Presentation of Art

MEDIUM OF ART

● An artwork's medium

refers to the different materials or supplies that an artist utilizes in order to create
a work of art.

● In painting, medium can refer to both the type of paint used (oil, acrylic,
watercolor, etc) and the base or ground to which the paint is applied (canvas,
wood, paper, etc).

MEDIUMS OF ART CONTEXT

The context of every work of art includes the

genesis of the work of art,

the artifact or work of art, which is a

publicly available object or thing

made by the artist and viewed by the

audience.

The effects of the work of art upon the

audience - This includes all the effects of the
work of art upon those who experience it.

CLASSIFICATION

Visual arts

● Visual arts are two-dimensional arts such as paintings and drawings, as well as three-
dimensional arts such as sculpture and architecture.

● These arts appeal first and foremost, though not exclusively, to the sense of sight, and an
artifact is an object in the visual medium.

Auditory art

● Auditory art is music except for songs or opera. While the medium of visual art is sound,
the medium of auditory art is sound.

● In this group, there are no real objects that can be viewed and or touched.
Verbal art

● Verbal art is literature.

● In this medium, the sound values in poetry, particularly when read aloud, is paired with
the knowledge of the meanings of the words heard.

● The importance in literature of knowing the meanings of the words is paramount in

verbal art.

Mixed arts

● Mixed arts combine the above three types of arts. This group is the art of performance.
“…Drama combines the art of literature (verbal art) with the visual arts of costuming,
stage designing, and so on.

● Opera combines the art of music (its predominant component) with the art of literature
(the libretto) and the visual arts of stage design.

● Dance combines the visual spectacle of moving bodies (the principal component) with
musical accompaniment, sometimes with accompanying words and often with stage
design.

● Song combines words with music.

● The motion picture combines the visual component (a series of pictures presented in such
rapid succession that they appear to be moving) with the verbal component (the script)
and usually an intermittent musical background as well.

Temporal art refers

● Temporal arts must be attended to in a certain order: it is impossible to hear the

symphony played backward, or the drama, or the movie; even when technically it can be
done (as in running a motion picture in reverse), the results usually are an aesthetic
catastrophe.

● The recipient is supposed to attend to the temporal work’s various parts in an order
predetermined by the artist. For this reason, painting is not capable of telling a story in
the way that a novel is, for a story is a series of temporally successive happenings.

Visual arts Bi-Dimensional

Painting
 ● When a work of art is classified as being 2-dimensional, it means that the composition
possesses the dimensions of length and width but does not possess depth.

● Two-dimensional works of art, which are created on flat surfaces, can only be observed in
terms of height and width.

Visual Arts / Three Dimensional Sculpture and Architecture

● In three-dimensional art, such as sculpture and architecture, the ent impossible to even to
see (much less to look at) all of it at once:

● the back of a statue cannot be seen at the same moment as the front and the exterior of a
cathedral cannot be viewed by someone inside it.

● Three-dimensional art pieces, presented in the dimensions of height, width, and depth,
occupy physical space and can be perceived from all sides and angles.

● ire object is present, but it is

● Traditional types of three-dimensional media, like sculptures and reliefs, have been
around since the beginning of human history as evidence of people’s’ need for artistic
expression.

● Sculptures have been predominant

● 3D art forms for centuries, evolving continually throughout different periods of art
history.

● However, progressive art movements that boomed in the 20th century challenged the
traditional perception of fine art, introducing unconventional art mediums to express their
aesthetic and principles.

● This process resulted in the appearance of installation art and performance art as the
contemporary variants of 3D

Performing Arts

● Performance art, a time-based art form that typically features a live presentation to an
audience or to onlookers (as on a street) and draws on such arts as acting, poetry, music,
dance, and painting.

Other Arts:

GUSTATORY ARTS : Food preparations and cooking

PRACTICAL ARTS

FINE ARTS : Painting Sculpture, Architecture

Types of Performing Arts

● Performing Arts may include dance, music opera, theatre and musical theatre, magic,
illusion, mime, spoken word, puppetry, circus arts, performance art.

● There is also a specialized form of fine art, in which the artists perform their work live to
an audience. This is called performance art.

METHODS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT OF THE

The artists have several ways of presenting his artwork.

● He has his style of doing it.

● His style is always under his choice on how he will present his artwork.

● There are methods of presenting his artworks.

Below are different methods that will help us understand his subject:

1. Realism is the method of presenting subjects as they appear in real life.

2. Abstractionism – is “drawing away from realism”.

● The word abstractionism is taken from the verb abstract

● Which means to ‘draw away’.

● Therefore, an abstractionist draws away from reality as he creates his artwork.

● His product is a departure from what is present in real life.

● For example, in painting an human body, a person is shown with no facial

features, no fingers, no toes, and no hair.

● An abstractionist selects from any of the following methods, distortion, mangling,

elongation cubism, and abstract expressionism.

3. Distortion -is presenting the subjects in misshaped form. For example, an apple is shown
as a square or a circle or a star apple as ovoid (egg shaped) or cylindrical (funnel -like)
4. Mangling is presenting the subject with parts which are cut lacerated, mutilated or hack.

5. Elongation as the word suggests, elongation is presenting the subject in an elongated

form. It is done by stretching the object, for example the human body vertically.

6. Cubism is presenting the subject with the use of cubes and other geometric figures
(triangles, squares rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons.

7. Abstract expressionism is presenting the subject with the use of strong colors uneven
brush strokes and rough texture and with the deliberate lack of refinement in the
application of the paint.

8. Surrealism is “beyond realism” It is presenting the subject as if the subject does not form
part of the real world but belongs to the dreams and fantasy. This method was influenced
by Sigmund Freud, the father of Psychoanalysis.
9. Symbolism is presenting the subject symbolically, that is, the artist shows his subject as it
appears in real life, but he intends to let it represent something. For example Juan Luna’s
‘Spolarium” depicting a soldier dragging a slave exposes the oppression suffered by the
Filipinos from the hands of the Spaniards as he let the soldiers symbolize the Spaniards
and the slave represent the Filipinos.

10. Fauvism is optimistic realism. It is presenting the real life subject with the use of bright
colors. Suggesting comfort, joy and pleasure. The colors bright red, yellow, orange,
purple and the like are use instead of blue, black Gray green and brown. Henry Matisse.

Leader of the Fauves, formed this art movement in the 1900’s. Thought the movement
was short lived many later artists were influenced by Matisse and his contemporaries.
One of his works is the Red Room (1908-1909)

11. Dadaism is shocking realism. It is presenting the real-life subject with the intention to
shock the audience through the exposition of the evils in society. Derived from the
French word dada meaning hobby horse, Dadaism started as a protest art movement
composed of painters and writers whose desire was to revolutionize the outworn art
traditions. Marcel Duchamp, who espoused this desire, was the best known Dadaist.

12. Expressionism is emotional realism. It is presenting the real-life subject with the intention
to express emotions, pathos, chaos, fear, violence, defeat, morbidity and tragedy.
Introduced in Germany (Central Europe)

13. Impressionism is realism based on the artist’s impression. It is presenting the real-life
subject with emphasis on the impression left in the artist’s mind or perception,
particularly the effect of light on the object used as a subject.

For example, an apple on a table is presented not as entirely red, but with white areas
showing where the light rays full upon.
 ● Impressionism is a late 19th century style of painting which puts stress on capture
of transient atmospheric effects, use of broken color and color complementariness
to render form, and direct observation of subjects emphasized. Painters in this
genre include Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir,
Camille Pissaro, and Vincent Van Gogh. Edward Hopper’s paintings illustrate this
method.

14. Futurism is realism in the future. It is presenting a subject that relates not to the present,
but to the future. An example is a painting of a futuristic machine or a futuristic human
being such as an android. In the art of filmmaking, “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” “E.T,” and
“Back to the Future” are considered futuristic.

History of Art: Pre-Historic

● Art history is the academic study of the works of art in their historical development and
stylistic contexts.

● Style change through time and artists introduce new materials, techniques, subject matter,
and purposes for art.

● It is more than a stream of objects created over time. It is closely tied to history itself that
is recorded evidence of human event.

● Art history spans the entire history of humankind, from prehistoric times to the
twenty-first century.

● The nature of early art works particularly in Europe and other countries is briefly
discussed here.

● It is comprehensive since only a few representative areas are presented where ancient art
evolved.

● The history of western visual art can be traced back to the prehistoric times. Pre-historic
time has different proofs all-over the globe.

● The remaining evidences of prehistoric times are the ones saved for documentations, the
pictures and texts seen and read from the books.

● Knowledge of art during the prehistoric period is based on archaeological discoveries.

1. PREHISTORIC TIMES

Prehistory is the span of time before written records appeared. This includes the
Stone Age, Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. Art appeared to be one of the earliest activities as
early as the prehistoric period. Man, even before he knew how to read and write, was
already an artist.
 1. Stone Age

Illustrates early human creativity through small portable objects, cave painting and early
sculpture and architecture.

The Stone Age has been divided into three distinct periods:

● Paleolithic Period or Old Stone Age (30,000 BCE–10,000 BCE)

● Mesolithic Period or Middle Stone Age (10,000 BCE–8,000 BCE)

● Neolithic Period or New Stone Age (8,000 BCE–3,000 BCE)

A. Old Stone Age or Paleolithic Period (30,000 BCE–10,000 BCE)

Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) characterized by emergence of basic stone tools and stone art
in the archeological record. Early humans focus on either food (hunting scenes, animal carvings)
or fertility.

The diagnostic art of this period appears in two main forms: small sculptures and large
paintings and engravings on cave walls. There are also various examples of carved bone and
ivory flutes in the Paleolithic era, indicating another art form utilized by prehistoric humans.

B. Middle Stone Age –covered a brief span of around 2,000 years

Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) an important bridge between the upper Old stone age and
the New Stone

Archaeological discoveries across a broad swath of Europe (especially southern France,

like those at Lascaux; northern Spain; and Swabia, in Germany) include over two hundred caves
with spectacular paintings, drawings, and sculptures that are among the earliest undisputed
examples of representational image-making. Paintings and engravings along the caves’ walls and
ceilings fall under the category of parietal art.
 A. New Stone Age

Neolithic (New Stone Age) beginnings of civilization - cave art disappeared as people
began to adopt a more settled existence, based on agriculture, the rearing of domesticated
animals and the use of polished rather than chipped stone tools.

Sample work of art:

Weaving, architecture, megaliths and pictographs as predecessors to writing

2. Bronze Age Art

The Bronze Age is part of the three-age system of archaeology that divides human
technological prehistory into three periods: the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The
Bronze Age spanned from 3,300 to 1,200 BCE and is characterized by the use of copper and its
alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacturing of implements and weapons. This
period ended with further advancements in metallurgy, such as the ability to smelt iron ore.

Advent of metalworking focused on artistic rather than other functions. Rise of artisans
specializing in the production of art, as well as in early writing systems.
 Ancient Egyptian Art

Ancient Egyptian art is the painting, sculpture, and architecture produced by the
civilization in the Nile Valley from 5000 BCE to 300 CE.

Ancient Egyptian art reached considerable sophistication in painting and sculpture, and
was both highly stylized and symbolic. Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and
monuments; hence, the emphasis on life after death and the preservation of knowledge of the
past. In a narrower sense,

Ancient Egyptian art refers to art of the second and third dynasty developed in Egypt
from 3000 BCE until the third century. Most elements of Egyptian art remained remarkably
stable over this 3,000 year period, with relatively little outside influence. The quality of
observation and execution began at a high level and remained so throughout the period.
2. Roman Art

The foundation myths of Romulus and Aeneas are the most common means of recounting
the founding of Rome, and ancient historians used them to justify their bloody culture. However,
the historical record provides a more reliable story. April 21, 753 BCE, is the date given by
ancient Roman historians to the founding of Rome. Archaeological research supports this
assertion, confirming that the site of Rome was inhabited by the mid-eighth century BCE.

The Romans were descended from the Italic tribes, mainly the Latins (originally from the
Alban Hills to the southeast) and the Sabines (originally from the Apennines to the northeast).
Imitations of Greek art forms are innovated to produce art on a grand scale. The goal of Roman
artists was to produce realistic portraits, often for decoration and art appreciation.
 History of Art: Medieval Period

• This tells how things were done and where the medium came from. It comes as formal
and informal. This could also mean the skill by which the artist manipulates a given medium to
advantage in order to achieve the best results, thus giving the impression whether the effect is
done in good taste by a virtuoso, or whether it is combined aesthetics and formational aspects.

• Presenting art subjects also varies according to the context of the national significance as
if it may come as an expression of a social issue, political significance, economical need, and
aesthetic value. There were also those art works that were practically produced under the
patronage of the church and state. These were commissioned for status symbols as material
manifestations of the beliefs of the people. (Marcos, 2010)

MEDIEVAL PERIOD
( 350 AD to 1550 AD)

• Medieval period is also known as “Middle Ages” of art. It illustrates passionate interest
and idealistic expression of the deep religious Christian and Catholic faith of Middle Ages
people.

1. The Byzantine Period

The Byzantine Empire, so-called for the former name of Constantinople, was the Eastern
portion of the Roman Empire. After the Western Empire fell in 476, the Byzantine
Empire would continue for another millennium.

Those living within the borders of the empire called themselves Romans, as
opposed to Byzantines. Cultural shifts between them emerged with the change of the
official language in the early seventh century, and the Byzantine split with the Roman
Catholic Church in the eleventh century.

The surviving Byzantine art is predominantly religious and follow traditional

models that translate their carefully controlled church theology into artistic terms.

Byzantine churches began in the style of many Western Roman churches but
gradually shifted to centrally plan and then to Greek-cross structures over the course of
the empire’s history.

• Start of the Middle Ages is often called the “Dark Ages”. The main form of art
was Byzantine art produced by artist from Eastern Roman Empire, also called
Byzantium.
• Characterized by its lack of realism, but focused on symbolism of their art.
• Paintings were flat with no shadows and subjects were generally very serious and
somber using religious subjects for paintings.

E.g. Figure 3 - 8 / pgs. 12 - 18

2. Early Christian Period

● Developed in countris borderig the Eastern Mediterranean region, but primarily in

Central Italy.
 ● Churches and monuments were constructed with stones found in the ruins of pagan
temples.

● Architectures have flat ceilings, semi-circular arched forms, elaborately paneled flat
wood ceilings, and straight high walls with small window openings at the topmost parts
of the structures

● Interiors were rich and elaborate with mosaics on the walls, ornately framed paintings,
and marble instructions

E.g. Figure 9 - 17 / pgs. 21 - 29

Ivory Carving - Carved, ivory relief sculptures were central features of Early Byzantine art.

E.g. Figure 18 - 19 / pgs. 31 - 32

3. Romanesque and Norman Period

“Romanesque art” refers to medieval styles of art that were greatly influenced by Italy
and Southern France (Romans and Byzantine Art). The invasion of England by William Duke of
Normandy in 1066 led to the construction of castles and churches to reinforce the Norman
presence. Several significant churches built at this time were founded as seats of temporal and
religious power or places of coronation and burial.

The Crusades (1095–1270) brought about extensive migration and resultant spread of
ideas and trade skills.

The continual movement of people, rulers, nobles, bishops, abbots, craftsmen and
peasants was an important factor in creating homogenous building methods and a recognizable
Romanesque style, despite regional differences.

● The period saw Europe grow steadily more prosperous, and art of the highest quality was
no longer confined to the royal court and a small circle of monasteries. Lay artists
became increasingly valuable, and this category included most masons, goldsmiths, and
painters by the end of the period.

● Architectural details include stained glass art, large murals on walls and domed ceilings,
and carvings on buildings and columns.

● Romaneques art also included illuminated manuscript art and sculpture.

E.g. Figure 20 - 27 / pgs. 37 - 44

 NORMAN ARCHITECTURE

Norman architecture is a style of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in

lands under their dominion during the 11th and 12th centuries.
The Norman dynasty had a major political, cultural, and military impact on medieval
Europe. Romanesque styles originated in Normandy and became widespread in northwestern
Europe, particularly in England.

The Normans were among the most traveled peoples of Europe and were thus exposed to
a wide variety of cultural influences, including those from the Near East, which were
incorporated in their art and architecture.

They elaborated on the Early Christian basilica plan, making it longitudinal with side
aisles, an apse, and a western facade with two towers.

The Church of Saint-Pierre in Normandy is a prime example of Norman architecture

• Figure 28. The Abbey of Saint-Étienne: The Abbey of Saint-Étienne is a former

Benedictine monastery in the French city of Caen, Normandy, dedicated to Saint Stephen. It was
founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror and is one of the most important Romanesque
buildings in Normandy.

• Norman painting, like other Romanesque paintings of its time, is best demonstrated by
illuminated manuscripts, wall paintings, and stained glass.

E.g. Figure 30 - 31 / pgs. 50 - 51

4. Gothic Period

● Gothic art developed after the Romanesque, in the 12th century. The style continued to be
used well into the 16th century in some parts of Europe, while giving way to the
Renaissance style earlier in other regions. The style was developed in Northern France
due to socioeconomic, political, and theological reasons.

● Uses brighter colors, dimensions and perspective, and moved toward more realism.

● Use more shadows and light in their art and tried out new subject matters beyond just
religion including animals in mythic scenes.

Gothic Architecture

● Gothic architecture is unique in that we can pinpoint the exact place, the exact moment,
and the exact person who developed it. Around 1137, Abbot Suger began re-building the
Abbey Church of St. Denis.
 ● In his re-designs, which he wrote about extensively, we can see elements of what would
become Gothic architecture, including the use of symmetry in design and ratios.

Figure 32. Ambulatory at St. Denis: We can see the Gothic style emerge at St. Denis in Abbot
Suger’s re-designs.

Gothic Cathedrals

● French Gothic cathedrals are characterized by lighter construction, large windows,

pointed arches, and their impressive height.

● The Gothic cathedral represented the universe in microcosm, and each architectural
concept, including the height and perfect ratios of the structure, were intended to convey
a theological message: the great glory of God and his creation of a perfect universe.
The building becomes a microcosm in two ways.:

● First, the mathematical and geometrical nature of the construction is an image of the
orderly universe, in which an underlying rationality and logic can be perceived.

● Second, the statues, sculptural decoration, stained glass, and murals incorporate the
essence of creation in depictions of events from the Old and New Testaments.

E.g. Figure 33 - 36 / pgs. 58 - 60

Gothic Architecture: The Abbey Church of Saint Denis

● The Abbey Church of Saint Denis, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Denis,
is a large medieval abbey church in the commune of Saint Denis, now a northern suburb
of Paris. This site originated as a Gallo-Roman cemetery in late Roman times. Around
475 CE, St. Genevieve established a church at this site. In the 7th century, this structure
was replaced by a much grander construction, on the orders of Dagobert I, King of the
Franks.

Figure 37. Abbey Church of Saint Denis: This is the west facade of the Basilica of Saint
Denis, showcasing the distinct features of Romanesque architecture.

Gothic Architecture: La Saint-Chapelle.

● Louis IX’s patronage of the arts drove much innovation in Gothic art and architecture,
exemplified by his commission of La Saint-Chappelle, an example of Rayonnant Gothic
architecture
 Figure 38. Sainte-Chapelle, ceiling of the lower chapel: Saint Louis’ Sainte-Chapelle
epitomizes the Rayonnant Gothic style as was King Louis IX’s personal chapel

Early English Gothic Period

● The Early English Gothic period lasted from the late 12th century until midway through
the 13th century, according to most modern scholars. By 1175, the Gothic style had been
firmly established in England with the completion of the Choir at Canterbury Cathedral
by William of Sens

Figure 39. Wells Cathedral, Somerset, England: This Cathedral showcases

characteristics of Gothic architecture with the pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large
windows, and spires, but emphasizes the length of the building, rather than the height.

Decorated Gothic Period

● The Decorated period in architecture is traditionally broken into two periods: the
Geometric style (1250–1290) and the curvilinear style (1290–1350). Decorated
architecture is characterized by its window tracery, which are elaborate patterns that fill
the top portions of windows. The tracery style was geometric at first, and flowing in the
later period during the 14th century. Vaulting also became more elaborate, with the use of
increasing numbers of ribs, initially for structural and later for aesthetic reasons.

Figure 40. York Minster Cathedral: The west front of York Minster Cathedral is a fine
example of decorated architecture, in particular the elaborate tracery on the main window. This
period saw detailed carving reach its peak, with elaborately carved windows and capitals, often
with floral patterns.

Gothic Painting

● Illuminated manuscripts provide excellent examples of Gothic painting. A prayer book,

known as the book of hours, became increasingly popular during the Gothic age and was
treated as a luxury item.

● The Hours of Mary of Burgundy, produced in Flanders c. 1477, contains a miniature

showing Mary of Burgundy in devotion with a wonderful depiction of a French Gothic
Cathedral behind her

E.g. Figure 41 - 43 / pgs. 68 - 69

The Wilton diptych; the painting is an outstanding example of the

InternationalGothic style, and the nationality of the unknown artist is probably French or
English.
Sculpture and Metalwork

● Sculpture during the Gothic era really sheds light on the knowledge of artists working
during this time period. Some historians believed that artists and artisans during the
Gothic era had “forgotten” how to create realistic works of art, or art influenced by the
classical age.

● However, a viewer only needs to look at the work of Nicolas of Verdun to see that artists
could and did work in a classical style during the Gothic era. Additionally, sculpture
produced in Germany during the Gothic era is especially noted for its lifelikeness

Figure 44. Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral: The metalwork by Nicolas
of Verdun demonstrates his knowledge and understanding of classical elements in art.

RENAISSANCE

Comes from the French word that means “rebirth”. Painting, sculpture, architecture,
music, and literature produced during the 14th until 16th centuries in Europe. Increase awareness
of nature, a revival of classical learning, and a more individualistic view of man.
Renaissance art, characterized by individualism, religious, classicism, anatomy, linear
perspective, realism, and depth.

1. Early Renaissance (1400-1475 AD)

It is also known as the Quattrocento, derived from the Italian mille quattrocento, meaning
1400. It refers primarily to the period dominating the 15th century in Italian art.
During the Early Renaissance, artists began to reject the Byzantine style of religious
painting and strove to create realism in their depiction of the human form and space.
This aim toward realism began with Cimabue and Giotto, and reached its peak in the art
of the “Perfect” artists, such as Andrea Mantegna and Paolo Uccello, who created works that
employed one point perspective and played with perspective for their educated, art
knowledgeable viewer.

Figure 45. The Birth of Venus; by Sandro Botticelli; 1484–1485; tempera on panel;
height: 172.5 cm, length: 278.5 cm; Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy).

E.g. Figure 46 - 53 / pgs. 78 - 81

2. High Renaissance (1474-1525 AD)

• It refers to a thirty-year period exemplified by groundbreaking, iconic works of art made

in Italy during what was considered a thriving societal prime.
 • The cultural movement toward humanism arose and artists utilized and perfected a bevy
of techniques borrowed from Early Renaissance artists.

Figure 54. Marriage of the Virgin, by Raphael: The painting depicts a marriage
ceremony between Mary and Joseph

E.g. Figure 55 - 57 / pgs. 84 - 85

Michaelangelo and Bounarroti – Pieta

The Pietà (Italian: [pjeˈta]; English: "The Piety"; 1498–1499) is a work

of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican
City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue was
commissioned for the French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères, who was a representative in Rome. The
sculpture, in Carrara marble, was made for the cardinal's funeral monument, but was
moved to its current location, the first chapel on the north side of the entrance of the basilica, in
the 18th century.[1] It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed.

Figure 59. The School of Athens; by Raphael; 1509–1510; fresco; 5.8 x 8.2 m;
Apostolic Palace (Vatican City).

Late Renaissance/Mannerism (1525-1600 AD)

The mannersim comes from Italian word “maniera” meaning “style” or

“manner”Notable for its intellectual sophistication as well as its artificial (as opposed to
naturalistic) qualities.

Mannerism

High Renaissance painting evolved into Mannerism in Florence. Mannerist artists, who
consciously rebelled against the principles of the High Renaissance, tended to represent
elongated figures in illogical spaces. Modern scholarship has recognized the capacity of
Mannerist art to convey strong, often religious, emotion where the High Renaissance failed to do
so. Some of the main artists of this period are Pontormo, Bronzino, Rosso Fiorentino,
Parmigianino and Raphael’s pupil, Giulio Romano.

E.g. Figure 60 - 72 / pgs. 91 - 97

Renaissance Architecture

• During the High Renaissance, architectural concepts derived from classical antiquity
were developed and used with greater surety.

• Renaissance architecture adopted distinguishing features of classical Roman architecture.

However, the forms and purposes of buildings had changed over time, as had the
structure of cities, which is reflected in the fusion of classical and 16th century forms.
 The primary features of 16th century structures, which fused classical Roman technique
with Renaissance aesthetics, were based in several foundational architectural concepts: facades,
columns and pilasters, arches, vaults, domes, windows, and walls.
Although studying and mastering the details of the ancient Romans was one of the
important aspects of Renaissance architectural theory, the style also became more decorative and
ornamental, with a widespread use of statuary, domes, and cupolas.

E.g. Figure 73 - 74 / pg. 100

Renaissance Architecture in Florence

Renaissance architecture first developed in Florence in the 15th century and represented a
conscious revival of classical styles.

E.g. Figure 75 - 76 / pgs. 101 - 102

Renaissance Architecture in Rome

Rome, the second Renaissance capital after Florence, was one of the most important
architectural and cultural centers during this period.

E.g. Figure 77 - 78 / pgs. 105 - 106

Renaissance Architecture in Venice

● In the Veneto, the Renaissance ushered in a new era of architecture after a Gothic phase,
which drew on classical Roman and Greek motifs.

● Architecture in Venice and the Veneto was largely based on the work of Andrea Palladio,
who designed and completed some highly influential works, including Villas in the
mainland, Vicenza, Padua, and Treviso.

Palladian architecture, in masterpieces such as Villa Emo, Villa Barbaro, Villa Capra, and
Villa Foscari, evoked the imagined grandeur of antique classical Roman villas.

Palladio created an architectural movement called Palladianism, which had a strong

following in the next three centuries, inspiring a new generation of architects who completed
several works that echo Palladio’s aestheticism, including the first Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza.

Figure 79. Ca’ d’Oro: Ca’ d’Oro façade overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice pg. 109