12. 14th – 15th c. italy

11/14/11• What is an artist? Describe what he does,

what he thinks about, and what type of skills he needs. How might the idea of an artist have changed so far since prehistoric times?

13th – 15th C. Italy

The Early Renaissance

Highlights from Gardner’s1. Nicola Pisano, pulpit of the baptistery, Pisa, Italy, 1259–1260. Marble, 15 high.2. Lorenzo Ghiberti. The Sacrifice of Isaac. 1401-2. Gilt bronze, 21x17’. 3. Giotto di Bondone ,Madonna Enthroned, from the Church of Ognissanti, Florence,

Italy, ca. 1310. Tempera and gold leaf on wood, 10 8 6 8. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

4. Duccio di Buoninsegna, Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints, principal panel of the Maestà altarpiece, from Siena Cathedral, Siena, Italy, 1308–1311. Tempera and gold leaf on wood, 7 13 (center panel).Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Siena

5. Lorenzo Maitani, west facade of Orvieto Cathedral, Orvieto, Italy, begun 1310.6. Campo with the Palazzo Pubblico, Siena, Italy, 1288–1309.7. Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Peaceful City, detail from Effects of Good Government in the City

and in the Country, Sala della Pace, Palazzo Pubblico, Siena, Italy, 1338–1339. Fresco8. Arnolfo di Cambio and others, Florence Cathedral Florence, Italy, begun 1296.9. Doge’s Palace, Venice, Italy, begun ca. 1340–134510. Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy, begun 1386

The 14th Century: Its Framework• Italy consisted of numerous and

independent city states based on geographic and regional differences.– Important cities included Venice,

Florence, Lucca, Sienna, and Pisa– Republics governed by oligarchic

executive bodies• Some wealth was from religious

pilgrimage, some from maritime trade, others from banking, manufacturing, arms dealing.

The Rise of the Artist• Proto-Renaissance Italy marks a turning

point for the development of “the artist”• Platonic philosophy relegates the artist

to “craftsman” a title that will stick throughout the middle ages, and into the Gothic era

• The the slow but steady rise of a new philosophy (“humanism”), “the artist” will be seen within the same level of abstract thought as the philosopher or mathematician (soon utilizing and become experts in all three).

• Patronage will soon become a cult of artistry, as the collection of all things “Leonardo” or “Michalangelo” will soon be in vogue

Person of Interest: Fredrick II• 1194-1250:– House of Hohenstaufen– Controlled the Holy

Roman Empire from Sicily.

– Frequently at war with the Papacy

– Avid patron of science and the arts, promoting literature through schools of poetry

Nicola Pisano, pulpit of the baptistery, Pisa, Italy, 1259–1260.Marble, 15 high.

• Nicola Pisano’s baptistery pulpit at Pisa retains many medieval design elements, for example, the trefoil arches and the lions supporting columns

• The panels draw on ancient Roman sarcophagus reliefs, as well as the Ara Pacis (Augustus Altarpiece)

Fortitude, detail of the pulpit by Nicola Pisano• Pisano develops a strong

tie between classical Italy and the Gothic world

• Personification of the virtue,“fortitude” by using a Herculean archetype.

• Careful not to become pagans who love the body too much!

Giovanni Pisano. The Nativity, detail of pulpit 1302-1310. Marble. Pisa Cathedral

• Nicola’s son, Giovanni (1245/50-1314) was also equally gifted in pulpit sculpting.

• Includes his own Nativity depiction.

• Compare and Contrast

Giovanni Pisano. The Nativity, detail of pulpit 1302-1310. Marble. Pisa Cathedral

Lorenzo Ghiberti. The Sacrifice of Isaac. 1401-2. Gilt bronze, 21x17’.

11/16 Warm-Up• What would seem

revolutionary about the elements and principles of design found in Giotto’s work? Describe 5 principles or observations that are unique to early Italian Renaissance.

The Western Schism• 1305, The French “Clement

V” was elected pope.• He liked Avignon, and created

a permanent tradition for future popes.

• Election in 1378 of two popes (Clement VII and Urvan VI)

• Eventually, Martin V is elected to take over (finally accepted by everyone)

• Monastic orders in Italy boom as a result.

Warm-Up 11/17• Create a MARCS paragraph

from one of your art snapshots for the week.

• Use the following format:– Topic/hook sentence:– Culture:– Description 1:– Represents 1:– Description 2:– Represents 2:– Overall Meaning:

Nave of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy, ca. 1246–1470.

The Holy Trinity, with the Virgin and Saint John and donors, Masaccio, 1425

Bonaventura Berlinghieri,panel from the Saint Francis Altarpiece,San Francesco, Pescia, Italy, 1235. Temperaon wood, 5 3 6.

• Represents Saint Francis (1181-1226)• displays the stigmata— marks

resembling Christ’s wounds—that appeared on his hands and feet.

• Flanking Francis are two angels, whose frontal poses, prominent halos, and lack of modeling reveal the Byzantine roots of Berlinghieri’s style.

• Use of gold leaf (gold beaten into tissue-paper-thin sheets, then applied to surfaces), which emphasizes the image’s flatness and spiritual nature. The narrative scenes that run along the sides

Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, 1228

• The basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a hill and comprises two churches known as the Upper Church and the Lower Church, – crypt where the remains of the saint are

interred. The interior of the Upper Church is an important early example of the Gothic style in Italy.

• The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with frescoes by numerous late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools– include works by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone

Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti and possibly Pietro Cavallini.

San Francesco Floor Plan

Black Death and New Language

• The Black Death in the late 1340’s threatened Italy’s prosperity– 25-50 percent of its population is killed

in 5 years.– In cities, death tolls climbed as high as

60 percent

• Interesting developments due to Bubonic outbreak– Encouraged the commissioning of

devotional images– Construction of hospitals– Spurred on observational medicine and

scientific observation through art and medicine

– A blossoming Italian vernacular (established by Dante) will take root.

Warm-up 11/18/11

Giotto di Bondone,Madonna Enthroned, from the Churchof Ognissanti, Florence, Italy, ca. 1310. Tempera and gold leaf on wood,10 8 6 8. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Cimabue,Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets, fromSanta Trinità, Florence, Italy, ca. 1280–1290. Tempera and gold leaf onwood, 12 7 7 4. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

• Although still seen against the traditional gold background, Giotto’s Madonna rests within her Gothic throne with the unshakable stability of an ancient marble goddes

• Madonna's body is not lost in the folds but is accentuated.

• Characters appear to have weight, proper use of shading and earl forms of foreshortening.

• Each character is a human portrait.

Simone Martini, Annunciationaltarpiece, from SienaCathedral, Siena, Italy, 1333• A pupil of Duccio, Martini

was• instrumental in the creation

of• the International Style. Its• hallmarks are elegant

shapes,• radiant color, flowing line,

and• weightless figures in golden,• spaceless settings.

Pietro Lorenzetti, Birth of the Virgin,from the altar of Saint Savinus, Siena Cathedral, Siena,• In this triptych, Pietro

Lorenzetti revived the pictorial illusionism of ancient Roman murals and painted the architectural members that divide the panel as though they extend back into the painted space.

Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Peaceful City, detail from Effects of Good Government in the City and in the Country, Sala della Pace, PalazzoPubblico, Siena, Italy, 1338–1339. Fresco.

Arena Chapel (Cappella Scrovegni), Padua,Italy, ca. 1305

• Enrico Scrovegni built this chapel adjacent to his palace. – Trying to expiate his sin of usury– Designed by Gioto in 1305– Called “Arena” because...?

• 35 framed pictures arranged on three levels– Mission of Christ is in the middle– Passion of Christ in on the bottom– Grisaille is used as borders in

frescoe.– Last Judgement on the west wall

Giotto di Bondone, Lamentation,Arena Chapel (Cappella Scrovegni),Padua, Italy, ca. 1305. Fresco, 6 63–4

Warm-Up 12/05• What are the benefits of a free society?Is

there such a thing? Define three elements to a “free society” and argue for three fundamental values of that society.

• Predict how having a free society will affect Art in Italy during the 15th century.

15th Century Italy

Early Renaissance in Italy Janson, Chapter 12

Italian Gothic• MILAN CATHEDRAL 1386 -1910• – florid abundance of pinnacles• » ORVIETO CATHEDRAL ca. 1310• – Gothic elements “pasted” on a

basic basilica• » DOGE'S PALACE, VENICE• – Venice: wealthy sea power with

strong influence from East• – doge =chief magistrate of the

Venetian Republic; Doge’s Palace is the seat of government and court of justice (connects with the Bridge of Sighs)

• Lorenzo Maitani begins construction in 1310

• Point gables over dooreways, a rose window, large pinnacles are reminiscent of French building, but the triangular façade is masking a timber-roofed basilica

• No west front towers• Two story nave with arcade and

clerestory (Early Christian)

Milan Cathedral’s elaborate facade is a confused mixture of Late Gothic pinnacles and tracery and Renaissance pediment-capped rectilinear portals.It marks the waning of the Gothic style.

Milan Cathedral’s elaborate facade represents a confused mixture of Late Gothic and Renaissance elements. With its pediment-capped rectilinear portals amid Gothic pinnacles, thecathedral stands as a symbol of the waning of the Gothic style andthe advent of the Renaissance.

LET’S CLIMB OVER TO

FLORENCE