THE LOWER CARRICULAM NOTES
FOR SECTION A. PAPER 612/1
HISTORICAL ART AND Summary by Francis wanyama
RENAISANCEART. These noted were typed in comparison with Roots, Vision and longhorn publishers
with references to Appollo baker Historical book old curriculum
PeriodinEuropebetween14thto17thcenturies.
Itdescribesawaveofintellectualdevelopmentinscienceandtechnologyliterature
And music.
RenaissancestartedinItalianstateofflouncebeforeitspreadtootherpartshenceItalianrenaissance.
Renaissance means rebirth of knowledge and revival of classical leaving.
ARTWORKS
Sculpture
Painting
Drawing
Architecture
ARTISTS
Leonardo davinci
Michelangelo bonarrotti
Raphael sancio
Fillippe brunellschi
Donatello
Subject matter themes
Influenced by Greek mythology and Roman history.
Imitation of proportions, postures, realism expression.
Devotion on Christianism following classical approach.
Study official expression revealing feeling.
Study of human figure details and realism.
Portraits contemporary life and historical Narratives.
Painted Religions and Biblical scenes.
Three Major Periods
Early1400-1500
High1500-1520
Late1500-1600
Qn: Research in groups of disc the 3major renaissance periods.
Compare classical and renaissance sculpture
Both has/used contrapposto pose
Humanism was the key in Italian sculpture
Depicted Nudity and draped figures
Used Marble and Bronze
Captured 3D form and natural form.
The statue displayed energy and power.
Balance of statues in body weight.
Study of anatomical details of body structure
Realism/individualism
Created strong bases to give strength to statue
Differences
Architectural features in renaissance
Subject matter are gods, war, Athletics, than renaissance biblical scenes
No study of classical facial expression
Dynamic poses in classical sculpture
Greeks used lost wax method to carve bronze
x-tics of Renaisance art
Forms were presented in Realism styles
Subject matter grew to majorly biblical scenes
Dynamic forms/poses showing expression and gesture
Study of human anatomy in painting and sculpture
Foreshortening and study of proportions.
Study of landscape in most compositions.
Biblical paintings had architectural features
Showed depth through light and shade
Symmetry in most dominant proportion style
Linear perspective (one paint perspective)
Combined nature in their art compositions
Classism–revival of Greek Roman art forms
Use of chuarscuro
ART OF PROMINENT ARTISTS IN RENAISANCE PEROID
Leonardo Davinci; Monalisa and last supper are both paintings
Raphael; school Anthems
Donatello; David(sculpture)
Question
As individual/group, identify other art work done in renaissance and discuss/critique.
Who is Leonardo Da vinci?
High renaissance artists
Born in 1452in Florence in Italy
He died in1519 atage of 61years
Was a scientist, engineer, mathematician a potter, painter, sculptor
His art work was influenced by his uncle who had love for nature
Made analytical studies of humanfigure and inner structure of bones and muscles
Made analytical sketches before making final artwork
Invented style of chiaroscuro from the Italian words(lightanddark) meaning adramatic effect
contrasting light and dark effects in painting
Use of tone and colour to create contrast for images to be identical from eachother within
apainting
Used dull and hazycolors to depict aerial perspective as compared to sharp contrast on
frontimages (monalisa)
Discovered sfumato where tones and color are blended in composition without using clear
demarcation of line
Combined architectural features in his painting ie; the last supper.
Who is Michelagelo Bounarroti?
Bornin1475 in caprese, Florance Italy and died1564
His full name is michelagello di lodovico Bounarroti simon
Was a sculptor, painter, architectect, poet and engineer
Was trained by Botoldo di-Giovanni.
Was inspired by writers of Lorezo’s intellectual circle
He greatly studied human figure detail i.e. painting of creation of Adam
His painting was done in fresco technique.
These were paintings done on free plaster
Painted his famous work as Sistine chapel in Vatican that took him six years
His compositions are depicted from biblical stories i.e. creation of Adam
He used marble to curve sculpture ie David
Used/curved nude figures in humanism
Made in realism style in sculpture
Used architectural features in sculptures
Who is Raphael Sancio?
Was born in Rome 1484 and died in 1520
Full name was Raffaello sancio da urbino
Painter and architect
Made painting with clear forms and dramatic composition
His painting combined da-vinci style of sfamato and rendered forms like michallagelo
Combined architectural features in his painting of school of Anthems
Followed linear perspective incomposition and can locate vanishing point
Used contrast (chaivosairo) with dull backgrounds and bright figures ie madona and the child
Who is Titian
Born in 1485 in Pieve di-cadore died in1576
Believed to be the greatest artist of venetian school
Made many paintings (frescoes, altarpieces, portraits and landscapes
Used chiaroscuro approach
He was colorist for he revealed great sense of colors in his painting
Use portraits and Christian mythology as subject matter (pope paul iii, Mary with christ) oil on
canvas.
Made dramatic composition with rich creamy highlights chiaroscuro to make his subject appear.
He uses chiaroscuro to make his subject appear
Naturally placed with in the picture space
Painted many portraits with dark background and highlights on the sitter
MONALISAPAINTING
Done between1503 and1505 using oil on wood and is worldmost famous painting
Depicts a woman putting on black velvety dress captured in half length
She sits upright in an arm chair in 3quater view posture
With no jewelry, she sits quietly with her hands folded across her laps with her soft face and
magical smile
Behind her, is mysterious lush landscape with winding roads and Bridges that leads to no where
Landscape with no vanishingpoint (aerial) has smoky lightblues that sharply contrast with
manalisa’s dark figure
Used chiaroscuro and sfumato, atmospheric perspective
Painted like soft smile and treated skin and body forms in softbrush strokes and garment
Last supper
Painted by Da-vinci, last supper is a high renaissance masterpiece
Paintedbetween1495and1498usingoilwithtemperaonwall
Paintingmeasures15by29feet, Putin dining hall of santa maria delle Grazie in Milan
Depicts the Biblical lastsupper where twelve disciples shared ameal on longtable aday before
crucification.
He captured figures in rectangular room with coffered ceiling
At the back of the room, shows 3windows through which beautiful and landscape in grayish
horizon is seen
He created narratives in which Christ out stretched hand, had just announced his betrayal
The painting shows excitement, fear, emotions doubt sadness, acceptance and love
Linked together with their hands movement, the apostles look around questioning each other
on who to betray Jesus.
Judas is captured in ashadow with his face visible with bag containing silver coins
Leonardo put Christ at the center of the composition in a triangular shape.
He placed four sets of groups of apostles at the table
By this arrangement, he made Christ center of focus
Used symmetrical balance by walls and long table
Created depth by painting background with aerial perspective
How to critique Artworks
Description: here, you are expected to the following;
Title of work
Size (measurement)
Name of the artist
Time/period artwork made (media used)
Interpretation: talk about why the artwork was created, purpose of the work, describe your
own reaction on the work and backup your ideas with examples.
Analysis: elements/ principals of arts used, tone. Texture, color, balance, movement, contrast.
Themes and subject matter like religious mythology figures and symbols.
Judgement: good/bad? Successful or not? Give your own reason for the above judgement.
Tools used in renaissance period
Marble (a soft white stone)
Bronze (clay mold and casting)
Gold
Pigments (frescos)
Water-oil paint
Wood with tempera (egg York as abider)
Relevance of renaissance to modern artists
Question
Leaners are put in groups and tasked to find out on their own, the relevance of
renaissance to modern art work.
Teaches us power on insight of the past inspiration in dealing with today issues
Help in addressing the current challenges that previous societies faced
Exploration of principal of perspective to create more realistic c forms in painting and sculpture
Today there is chiaroscuro technique trending in photography as anew normal.
Study of anatomical body details today like the namugongo matryrs.
Teaches us the use of 3d forms in production of sculpture and other visual forms.
Renaissance architectural features still trend in uganda building techniques today.
