Day 30 - 15th Century Italy Recap

Due to the creation of a thriving merchant class and because Florence was the largest economic center in Europe during the 15th century, artists were drawn there and to Rome and other religious centers where they could pursue their art.  They also recovered from the plague more quickly than most other European cities.  During this time the art is shifting from purely religious to religious with wealthy merchant benefactors (the Medici family) included within the scenes.  There is a shift as art moves out of religious all together (the church has a monopoly of the creation of art until this time) and looks back at classical Greek and Roman art and ideas. Great artists were drawn together in the Italian centers of art and they learned from one another and developed further the Humanist and Classical styles.

Perspective, realism (including a new understanding and use of foreshortening), and emotion are important characteristics that can be seen in Italian art during this time, and the wealthy benefactors influenced wanting to be surrounded by beautiful things gave rise to more frivolous things then the serious religious scenes that were prevalent previously.  Some of my most favorite pieces are Bottichelli's masterpieces done for the Medici family, La Primavera and Birth of Venus.  They are beautiful feasts for the eyes: The Birth of Venus is light and airy while La Primavera's enchanted evening light under a canopy of trees is bold and electric.  He uses perspective, contrast, light effects, and great attention to details which combine to make every element envelope the viewer in the subtle and achingly beautiful mood of the scenes.

Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus, Tempera on canvas, (c. 1486)

Sandro Botticelli, La Primavera,
Tempera on canvas, (c. 1486)

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_%28Botticelli%29
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primavera_%28painting%29