History of World Art II: Day 36 - High Italian Renaissance Recap

During the Renaissance in Italy there was an amazing convergence of talent and extreme wealth. That and the fact that cities became identified with the artwork surrounding them and the churches desire to continue to commission artworks for the same reason - these things helped to elevate civic pride and drew visitor from all over. The church continued to commission beautiful works, perhaps even more so and more strategically for these same reasons.

The High Renaissance was the culmination of the Renaissance and only lasted about 40 years - starting in the 1490's and going through to the sacking of Rome in 1527. It was marked by the lives and careers of the three great masters: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Some believe that the death of Raphael in 1520 was the true end of the High Renaissance, but Renaissance style continued to dominate art throughout the rest of the 16th century. The Mannerist style of elongating the human form and portraying figures in exaggerated poses that Raphael developed was to live on after his death, becoming the style of the Late Renaissance.

The artists were looking to antiquity for inspiration, philosophy, and to guide their techniques and style. The scale of the works done, the complex compositions used, the highly detailed and accurate human figures portrayed, and a renewed interest in and use of iconography, mythology, and realism from classical antiquity of Greece and Rome during this time are all emblematic characteristics of the High Renaissance.