Donatello

David
Medici Commission
First nude free
standing statue since
antiquity
Classical body
Praxiteles
Contrapposto and S-
curve
Restrained pose --- not
moving

Verrochios David
Medici Commission
David is symbol of
Florence
He stands with jaunty
pride
Shows psychology of
young, brash men
Donatello
Feast of Herod
Bronze relief
Early use of linear
perspective
vanishing point in
center
Figures decrease in
size from foreground
to background
recessional space


Donatello
Saint Mark
Placed in niche in Or
San Michele Church
Florence
Revival of classical
contrapposto
As his body moves,
his drapery moves

Donatello
Penitent Mary
Magdalene
Rare example of wood
sculpture
Deviates from
Renaissance ideals of
beauty
Spiritual and intended
for devotion

Botticellis Birth of Venus
Mythological and based on a Neo-Platonist Poem of
ideal beauty
First female nude since antiquity, modest Venus pose
Controversial because of nudity and pagan theme
(Savonarola condemned this type of work)

Botticelli (Master of
line)
Portrait of a Youth
Almost full-face view
(influenced by
northern Europe)
which replaced the
profile view popular in
Florence until the
1470s
Reveals psychology of
the sitter
Pure outline with
shading and graceful
pose (graceful
linearity)

Donatellos Equestrian
Statue of Gattamelata
First life-size equestrian
statue since antiquity
Gattamelata was a
condotierri (military
leader of a city-state)
Orb under horses foot
ancient symbol of
power over the earth
Verrochios Equestrian
Statue of Colleoni
He was a condotierri
(military commander) of
Venice
Taut muscles, rider has
fierce erect body
Demonstrates power
Nanni di Banco
Four Crowned Saints
Or San Michele,
Florence
Note separation from
architecture
Note how characters
interact with gestures
will influence
Leonardo
Influenced by Roman
portrait statues

Pollaiuolo
Medici commission
Hercules and Antaeus
Mythological Battle
Interested in muscular
male form and
movement
Stress and strain of
violent action

Pollaiuolo
Hercules and Antaeus
(tempera painting)
Muscular male form
Violent action
Ghiberti
Sacrifice of Isaac
(sample for
competition for bronze
doors of Florence
baptistery)
Gothic element ---
Abraham S-curve pose
Renaissance elements
---- Isaac first
classicizing nude since
antiquity
Altar resembles
Roman sarcophagi
Ghiberti
Eastern doors of
Florence Baptistery
Gates of Paradise
Ghiberti , Isaac and his sons Bronze relief panel
Eastern doors of Florence Baptistery (10 panels altogether make up
the doors)
Medieval/Gothic element rhythmic line and continuous narrative
style
Classical poses, motifs and architecture
Linear perspective, changing relief (higher relief in foreground,
lower in back), new realism in bodies


Ghirlandaio
Portrait of Giovanna
Tornabouni
Sensitive, beautiful,
aristocratic young woman
*Tells viewers about
Florentine life such as
value of cultivating beauty
in life and art
Also the breeding of
courtly manners
Reveals value of classical
literature for humanists
(quote from Roman poet
in background)
Ghirlandaio
Birth of Virgin, Tornabuoni Chapel of Santa Maria
Novella, Florence
Popular technique --- Secular figure shown in a sacred
theme (Tornabuoni woman leading the procession)
Medici commissioned similar works (Adoration of Magi)
Fra Angelico Annunciation
Fresco, San Marco monastery, Florence
Not everyone was a humanist, he was a monk
Simple, serene style from humble monk
Devotional image
Fra Angelico --- Annunciation scene
Simple, serene figures --- not fancy in secular
(worldly) sense
Interest in perspective and pictorial illusionism
Luca Della Robbia
Madonna and Child (Or
San Michele, Florence)
Terracotta reliefs for
people of modest means
Popular, became family
business della Robbia
ware
Tondo (circular)
Bright, colorful, Easter
season (white lilies
Marys purity)
Different from Byzantine
style, people were able
relate with this kind of art

Lucca della Robbia
Madonna and Child
Glazed terracotta
Popular, less
expensive
della Robbia ware

Gentile da Fabriano
Adoration of Magi
Altarpiece
International Gothic style
popular from 14
th
to 15
th

Century
Typical sumptuous
costumes and lavishly
decorated
Pomp and ceremony
Some radical naturalism
(foreshortened bodies,
animal bodies shown from
new angles
Blends some new
naturalistic techniques in a
traditional, conservative
style

Masaccio
The Expulsion
The Brancacci Chapel,
Florence
1425
Fresco
Idealized nudes
Eve --- pose based on
classical statue of Venus


Massacio
Tribute Money
Fresco
Demonstrates continuous narration, chiaroscuro, linear
perspective, atmospheric/aerial perspective
Figures are balanced and solid


UNSEEN LIGHT SOURCE TO THE
RIGHTWHAT EFFECT DOES THIS
CREATE?
CHIAROSCURO
NOTE HOW THE
LIGHT-DARK
CREATES A
SCULPTURESQUE
FORM
Massacio
Holy Trinity
Medium is fresco
Geometric composition ---
uses balance symmetry
Linear Perspective and
recessional space
Donors are the kneeling
figures shown on bottom
Classical Architecture
Influenced by Giotto
Skeleton on bottom is
Adam and death reminder

Mantegna
Saint James Led to
Martyrdom 1455
Fresco (largely
destroyed in WWII)
Interest in perspective
Antique Roman attire
on the soldiers (shows
classical interest)
Antique architecture
(same point)
Interest in body
proportions


Mantegna
Ceiling of Camera
degli Sposi
Fresco
Oculus
Trompe loeil
(deceives the eye)
illusionism
Foreshortened bodies
Putti (little cupids)
Influenced Baroque
ceilings
Mantegnas Dead
Christ 1501
Note foreshortening
but not accurate
Feet are small so they
wont cover the body
of Christ
Castagnos Last Supper 1447
Monastery --- Sant Apollonia, Florence
Biblical narrative, shows Judas sitting alone
on outside of table
Interest in perspective but inaccurate (reality-
-roof and ceiling cant be seen at same time)

Fra Savonarola
Florentine priest during late 15
th
century
Objected strongly to Florences humanist
tendencies (interest in mythology and inclusion of
nudity in art)
After Lorenzo de Medici died and the Medici's
were driven from Florence, Savonarola became
dictator for a short while.
He held bonfires of the vanities, in which
Florentines would throw worldly possessions,
humanist literature and art into fires.
Luca Signorelli
Damned Cast into Hell
Fresco, San Brizio Chapel,
Orvieto, Italy
Strong psychic impact
(suffering and torment
after living a sinful life)
Savonarola would approve
Influenced Michelangelo
(Last Judgment)
Lean muscular bodies,
foreshortening, careful
study of nudes
Similar action to
Pollaiuolo work

Luca Signorelli, Damned Cast into Hell