Humanism in the High Renaissance

            Throughout the Early and High Renaissance, many artists were interested in a theory known as humanism. Humanism, which is the celebration of human achievement, first emerged in the Classical Era. Then, in the 15^th and 16^th centuries, the theory of humanism was revived by artists and other intellectuals. Artists at this time were often considered “Renaissance Men” because of their focus on self-improvement and knowledge of a multitude of subjects. This interest in learning and progress was influenced by humanism and lead artists to create and use many new techniques. During the High Renaissance, artists refined ideals regarding naturalism, idealism, and the depiction of anatomy. There was also an increased awareness of realism, because this represented an appreciation for human kind.

Of the many Renaissance artists, one of the less famous painters is Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian today. Titian was the assistant to the Venetian artist Giorgione. The two artists collaborated for almost three years until Giorgione passed away from the plague. Titian’s artistic style practically mirrored Giorgione’s and he eventually became the official painter to the republic of Venice. Titian created rich, luminous images by layering oil paint onto canvas. He created this vibrant paint by layering pure colors of red, white, yellow and black. Like many of the Renaissance painters, Titian showed an interest in humanism, which is highlighted in his artwork.

In the spring of 1538, Titian was commissioned to paint a nude portrait for the duke of Urbino, Guidobaldo della Rovere. The painting, titled Venus of Urbino, depicts a naked woman reclining on a bed, with her left hand covering her genitalia. In the background, two servants are removing or storing her clothing. At this time, it was popular for male patrons to request “Venus” paintings that they could enjoy and appreciate. However, the nude form also represents the celebration of humanism and the human form. The Venus in this painting is incredibly idealized. Her face is flawless and beautiful, her skin is pale and soft, and her body is attractive and curvaceous. These characteristics reflect an appreciation of human beauty. Titian also utilized some of the artistic techniques developed during the Renaissance. He uses both linear and atmospheric perspective to accurately portray depth. In addition, Titian shows an interest in anatomy in both the Venus and her servants. All of these figures are realistically proportioned. And, although the Venus is very idealized and perfect, her body is still very similar to that of a naked woman. The many techniques Titian used when creating the Venus of Urbino, represents a greater interest in humanism and the acquisition of new knowledge.

As you can see, humanism was a very influential aspect on the artwork of the High Renaissance. Artists created and refined many techniques, which demonstrates the incredible accomplishment of humans during this period. The revival of many classical ideas also represents the celebration of human achievement throughout history. Artists were able to create beautiful representations of the real world through painting, sculpture, architecture, and more. Today, the Renaissance continues to be one of the most renowned artistic periods in history.  

Formal Analysis: The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds

           In 15^th Century Italy a period known as the Early Renaissance emerged, which was influenced by humanism, illusionism, and a rebirth of classical history. Artists celebrated human achievement and worked to create realistic paintings that correctly illustrated perception and depth. In Florence, a painter named Domenico Ghirlandaio was commissioned to create a large fresco and altarpiece for the Sassetti family burial chapel in the church of Santa Trinita, Florence.  The altarpiece, the Nativity and Adoration of the Sheperds, depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child surrounded by shepherds and animals. In the background, a large group of people approaches the nativity from a winding road, traveling from cities in the distance. Ghirlandaio utilizes illusionism, historia, and humanism to captivate the viewer and create a realistic depiction of this biblical scene.

            Both atmospheric and linear perspective are used to correctly represent depth in the painting of the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds. The colors in the foreground of the painting are clear and bright while the colors in the background are dull and have a bluish tinge. The sky fades from a rich blue to an off white when it reaches the mountaintop. This technique, known as atmospheric perspective, uses color and saturation to show depth similarly to the way we perceive distance in the real world. Domenico Ghirlandaio also utilized linear perspective, which creates the illusion that the background is receding into a vanishing point. The road curving along the left side of the painting leads the eye back to the vanishing point. The combination of atmospheric and linear perspective creates an incredibly realistic image that is similar to a mirror, allowing the viewer to look into and experience the nativity scene.

            To influence his viewers Domenico Ghirlandaio utilized a theory known as historie. Historie is a narrative painting that instructs the viewer in a pleasurable way. Ghirlandaio includes many different figures to interest viewers such as the baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the shepherds, and the large group of people approaching the nativity.  Throughout the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds, these people are shown in different poses and various movements. In earlier artwork different people were usually represented very similarly and without much variation. However, in the Early Renaissance, the positions of people became incredibly dramatic. Ghirlandaio used new representations of motion within the altarpiece to express emotion and illustrate individuality among figures. The people represented in this painting vary in size, shape, and color, making them more realistic and adding validity to the narrative. Ghirlandaio also incorporated a figure in communication with the viewer, which is a central aspect of histories. The shepherd to the right of the manger is pointing to the baby, showing that the Christ Child is the most important feature of the painting. In addition, the Virgin Mary and the other Shepherds are gazing directly at the baby Jesus, supporting that the focus is on him.

            The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds also illustrates an interest in humanism that was prevalent throughout the Early Renaissance. The theory of humanism first gained popularity in the classical era but was revived by artists and intellectuals in the 15^th century. Domenico Ghirlandaio incorporates aspects of classical history, such as the pillars with Corinthian capitals and the ancient sarcophagus, as a way to commemorate the achievements of humans throughout history. The people represented in this painting are very idealized forms, which references the search for perfection throughout the Classical Era. Although the Virgin Mary looks quite realistic she is still very idealized because of her astonishing beauty and flawless appearance. This perfection enforces the biblical story that Mary remains pure and a virgin even after she gives birth to the Christ Child. The shepherds show some signs of aging like gray hair and a few wrinkles but overall their features also represent perfection.

The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds incorporates many important aspects of Early Renaissance such as illusionism, historie, humanism and an influence from the Classical Era. Throughout this period, artists such as Domenico Ghirlandaio experimented with numerous techniques to create realistic artwork that would fascinate and amaze viewers for centuries. These ideas from the 15^th century were later combined and expanded to create the magnificent artwork of the High Renaissance. 

The Northern Renaissance: Influence of Jan Van Eyck

      In the 15^th Century, a period known as the Northern Renaissance emerged in northern Europe in countries such as Germany, France, and Belgium. Unlike stylized art from earlier eras, artwork from the Northern Renaissance focused on the concept of naturalism. This naturalistic art visually mirrored the real world. Artists created incredibly lifelike and realistic images by utilizing new techniques of perspective, detail, proportion, use of oil paint, and more. Throughout the Northern Renaissance, artists such as Jan Van Eyck, Claus Sluter, and numerous others, expanded and perfected the use of naturalism in their artwork.

      One of the most prominent artists in the Northern Renaissance was Jan Van Eyck, a highly regarded Flemish painter. In his early career, Van Eyck painted Books of Hours- small prayer books, which included lavish paintings of sacred and everyday scenes. Van Eyck was skilled at creating the tiny illustrations that filled these written manuscripts. Van Eyck later became a visionary regarding the artistic style of naturalism. Some of his most famous paintings include the Ghent Altarpiece, Madonna with Chancellor Rolin, and the Arnolfini Portrait.

      In 1432, Jan Van Eyck completed the Ghent Altarpiece within a cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. This huge, folding altarpiece was one of the first examples of naturalism in the Northern Renaissance. The altarpiece is covered in detailed, religious paintings and, when open, portrays the redemption of man. The interior paintings depict lifelike images of God, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Adam and Eve, and other religious scenes. One of the most esteemed panels on the altarpiece is the representation of Adam. He is proportionate, his skin appears tanned, his body creates shadows, he renders movement, and he is visually identical to a living being. Since the Ghent Altarpiece was first displayed, the public has been astounded by its realism. People were amazed by the lifelike, humanistic qualities of the altarpiece, which were completely revolutionary paintings at this time. Contrary to beliefs that he invented a new kind of oil paint, Van Eyck was the first person to use layering and glazes to create deep, rich colors that realistically reflect light.

      After the fame of the Ghent Altarpiece, Jan Van Eyck became a renowned portrait artist because of his ability to paint people so accurately. During this period, portraits became less expensive and for the first time middle class people could afford to have their image preserved through paintings. In 1434, Van Eyck produced his most mysterious portrait, the Arnolfini Portrait. This portrait is a full-length image, depicting a man and a woman holding hands within a lavishly decorated room. The man stands solemnly with one hand raised while the woman, who appears to be pregnant, holds one hand over her stomach. Records show that this portrait was commissioned by the wealthy Arnolfini family however, it is unknown exactly who and what is represented in the painting. Although some historians believe the portrait represents a wedding, recent theories speculate that the painting illustrates a widowed husband and his deceased wife. On one side of the painting, where the husband stands, the candles above him are lit and the mirror is surrounded by images of Jesus’ life. On the side of the wife, the candles have burnt out and the mirror includes images from after Jesus’ death. Although we may never know what the Arnolfini Portrait truly represents, theories about its history continue to intrigue and puzzle viewers.

      The contributions of Jan Van Eyck are a vital aspect of the Northern Renaissance and the artistic style of naturalism. His realistic paintings continue to astound viewers and inspire artists to create lifelike images, nearly 600 years later. 

Introduction to the Renaissance

Hi! My name is Hannah and I’m an Elementary Education major here at Central Washington University. I am very fascinated with art history because it is such an interesting visual approach to understand and interpret history. When I become a teacher, I hope to use my knowledge of art history as a tool for introducing history to my students. I have some familiarity with the history of the Renaissance but I look forward to expanding my knowledge of this era and following periods throughout the quarter.

The Renaissance was a period in European history from about 1400-1600 that revolved around an intellectual movement within society. During this period following the middle ages, an academic and scholarly culture emerged. Although nearly 500 years have passed, art created during the Renaissance continues to be highly regarded throughout society. This era was fueled by the desire to gain new knowledge concerning art, science, literature, technology, and more. Today, these subjects are still vital aspects of our culture, which may explain why people are so fascinated by the Renaissance.

Art from this period was inspired the ambition to learn, which led to the creation of many important artistic styles and techniques. This beautiful artwork was often used as an outlet to illustrate and document the enormous amount of information gained during this era. Artwork from the Renaissance is incredibly realistic because of the extensive use of detail, perspective, proportion and color. During this period, artists experimented with these techniques and became skilled at creating lifelike artwork. These characteristics make it easier for the viewer to understand and interpret the art. Throughout the Renaissance, artists created artwork that reflected real life, utilizing people as the subject and focus, to make their pieces esthetically pleasing to the public. People often think art from the Renaissance is some of the “best” artwork in history because it is so realistic and believable. While some people have a very broad and open-ended definition of art, others believe that art consists of skilled drawing, painting, sculpting and more. The realistic art from the Renaissance illustrates some of the most magnificent and detailed and lifelike examples of drawing, painting, and sculpting in history.

Although there were countless artists throughout the Renaissance, people often connect famous artists, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, with this era. These men were not only artists, but also brilliant intellectuals who studied many other subjects in addition to art. Scholarly artists appeal to viewers today because of their intriguing personal histories and the history of their artwork. Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci combined their knowledge of other subjects into their art to create accurate portrayals of the real world. These talented artists experimented with techniques, such as perspective and proportion, in order to accurately portray the world.

As a progressive society, people today continue to be fascinated by the artwork and culture of the Renaissance. The timeless art produced during this era will be appreciated and respected throughout history because of its innovativeness and realness.