#4. High Italian Renaissance Art.

  I would like to compare between the Early Renaissance period and the High Renaissance period. From the Early Renaissance period, I want to talk about Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. From the High Renaissance period, I will talk about Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. The reason why I choose these painting is two painting looks similar even though it made in different period so I want to know more about two of them.
The major similarity between these two artwork is dynamic unity. As I can see that usually dynamic unity is rare to find in the Early Renaissance period, but as textbook explains that dynamic unity is a prime characteristic of High Renaissance art. In the Birth of Venus, curve lines are made this painting dynamic. Even though Venus is doing anything, her hair is blow so it could make vigorous and gorgeous woman. Also, on the left side, I guess two angels surrounded by falling flowers with wings and clothes come to Venus. On the right side, a woman tried to hide wind from Venus with blanket. All the fabric and hair are blowing dynamically, so this painting got full of life. In the Creation of Adam, on the left side, Adam is looking and reaching out his hand to God and his gesture and pose are dynamic. On the right side of the painting, nine of kids are surround by God and God also reaching out his arm and finger to Adam. Hair, cloth of God and some fabric from kids are blowing as well, so it makes dynamic painting.  
About the Birth of Venus, this painting is famous and it stylized with classical realism. Most of lines, especially Venus, are made of very soft lines, and it makes separate her from the other figures. Her body looks silky skin and it looks beautiful. Venus is come out from the sea and she is standing on the huge shell. It looks as gift from God. In this painting, variety of green color is used such as light and deep green. In addition, using deep and light colors, Botticelli made three-dimensional painting. When we look at this painting, first thing our eyes focused on the nude Venus figure. On either side, even three of their bodies are toward to Venus so it makes point our sight directly to Venus.  
About the Creation of Adam, this painting is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with Diagram Identifying Scenes. It is also famous and familiar painting. Michelangelo depicted the moment when God gives a life to Adam. Dynamic unity in this painting make me think that it is some kind of real image of scene. Except God, all the figures are nude. I feel like details with muscles in body provide with full of life. Sharp lines are used in figures' body and because of that I could focus more on this painting. Also, I think that major point of this painting is that God's right arms is outstretched to impart the spark of life from his finger to Adam.

#3. Early Italian Renaissance Art.

                                                                                               theheavenly.tumblr.com

  In the Art History by Marilyn Stokstad, at chapter 19 in page 608 , we can see ‘The Delivery of the Keys to St. Peter’ by Perugino and painted from 1481. It is place in Fresco on the right wall of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome. This painting is really big that height length is 3.45m and width is 5.70m. This painting depicts the situation that delivery guy gives the key to St. Peter with interesting perspective. Firstly, we could know that this painting is made with schematic drawing, also we could see that orthogonal and vanishing point. As Perugino designed, when I saw this painting, firstly I saw the middle of the building and the entrance. After that, I saw the two people and key in the foreground. I guess that in the composition, Perugino intentionally focused on linear perspective. Basically, linear perspective is based on the observation that all parallel lines that drift apart into the distance at the same angle (called orthogonal) appear to gather toward a single point (called vanishing point). And this point appears along a horizontally which corresponds with the point of viewer. Linear perspective makes this flat painting look more three-dimensionally. Controlling by diminution of scale as structures move back toward the vanishing point, artist could make optical illusion. On the ground, there are lines as pattern and it looks same as perspective line. So it makes this painting more like three-dimensional structure.

Horizontally, the composition is well divided by foreground, middle part, and background. In the background, three buildings look solid structure with mountains and trees. Two same buildings are placed by symmetrical architectural forms on either side. By standing stability on either side, this painting looks more well-balanced. Center building of the background is also looks symmetry. This structure made with eight angles and it called octagonal. It looks rigid but I think it looks simply and beautiful. The octagonal dome and decoration have gorgeous gold color. It looks like some kind of sacred church. Even though this church placed in background, actually it is center of this painting. And in the vanishing point of this painting, which is the entrance of the church, there are two people in there and it feels like some story could be in there. Because this painting focused on linear perspective, the landscape was of little importance. In the middle part, many people look really small and that’s because of the distance, also it makes depth of this painting. Some kids are playing around and other people are just look around it. All the people in this painting are wearing colorful clothes. And in the foreground, there are many people look central figures. As we can see, St. Peter just got the key from the delivery and other people look at it. The lines created detail on their face, clothes are exquisite and it makes more depth. Winkles on the clothes seem like photo and each people's hair detail is also great. Most of people have long curly hair and it seems like elegant somehow. Also, their all standing position is different. It could have expressed each person's personality. Even few people barely show their face and standing by seeing back side. Because all the people focused on the key, I was curious about the story of what is that key for. If I know about the story of this scene, that would be more helpful to understand this painting. However, I think that this painting looks gorgeous and fabulous just what it seems like.  Also, the key seems like bigger than any other keys. So I guess that the key should be something special. Maybe it could have connected with god or that church.

All the texture and lines are solid and it makes beautiful artwork. Also, Perugino used deep primary colors, especially on clothes, and it gives us feeling like reliable. I think that in this painting, stillness and movement are beautifully harmonized. I guess that  this kind of color and perspective painting became popular from early Italian Renaissance art period. This painting style gives me reliable, stability and sacred. I think that linear perspective is interesting type of skill. And I learned how important it is.

#2. Northern Renaissance

The northern European tradition of Gothic Art was greatly affected by the technical and

philosophical advancements of the Renaissance in Italy. While less concerned with studies of anatomy and linear perspective, northern artists were masters of technique, and their works are marvels of exquisite detail. This difference between northern and Italian art remained important for many years. I think it is a fair guess to say that any work which excels in the representation of the beautiful surface of things, of flowers, jewels or fabric, will be by a northern artist, most probably by an artist from the Netherlands; while a painting with bold outlines, clear perspective and a sure mastery of the beautiful human body, will be Italian. The great artists who inspired the Northern Renaissance included Jan van Eyck. As Italy moved into the High Renaissance, the north retained a distinct Gothic influence. In the 16th century, as in the south, the Northern Renaissance eventually gave way to highly stylized Mannerist art.

Jan van Eyck, the most famous and innovative Flemish painter of the 15th century, is thought to have come from the village of Maaseyck in Limbourg. Van Eyck has been credited traditionally with the invention of painting in oils, and, although this is incorrect, there is no doubt that he perfected the technique. He used the oil medium to represent a variety of subjects with striking realism in microscopic detail; for example, he infused painted jewels and precious metals with a glowing inner light by means of subtle glazes over the highlights. Like Robert Campin, van Eyck carefully selected and arranged his subject matter so that it would contribute deeper symbolic meaning to his painting, a style that Erwin Panofsky has called disguised symbolism. The meticulous attention to detail in his paintings of architectural interiors and landscapes is also evident in his portraits, painted with unrelenting, dispassionate accuracy.

I think that the Northern Renaissance artistic style was focused on not only naturalism, but also artist styles was using variety of colors, for example, oil paint was produced rich natural colors. Jan van Eyck’s painting ‘The Arnolfini Portrait’ conveys his use of color in a naturalistic way. From the woman’s elegant green dress which appears like real fabric.  Also, the Northern Renaissance artistic style was focused on realism and religion. When we look in through Jan van Eyck’s artworks, we could know that it is just like a one of real scene. There is depth of details in variety of ways.

#1. Introduction to Renaissance Art

I think that Renaissance art was beginning of the modern art. Art history last long but it rebith to contemporary meanings with Renaissance art as a momentum. In fact, when we think about art, most people come to their mind and attitude toward art that go back even further to Renaissance art. For example, when we believe a masterpiece or think an artist have to try something new, we are thinking as Renaissance. From Renaissance period, we think that art work is artist’s result of inspiration, and even culture and art could improve the quality of life. Of course, all of human history is valuable. However, about the influence, some period could have even greater part of it. For instance, about the popularization of art, Renaissance’s influence is really powerful. Art become popular and people enjoy and talk about the art form Renaissance period. Personally, my favorite art period is also Renaissance. So many big name artist are in the same period and all of them are perfect. I guess that most of people know and like the Renaissance art because art works are perfectly great and famous. For example, Mona Lisa, The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci, and The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Buonarroti. Their art works are so great, also people love their works.