...From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance Brandi Morris American Intercontinental University Introduction Renaissance Art emerged as a cultural transformation which took place with the beginning of 14th Century. It was originated in France and brought historical art changes which subsequently marked a fine line between Middle Ages and Modern Age. Renaissance art was later identified as the return of Roman and Greek Art culture since it had focused over the humanism and reformation (Woods, 2007). This paper aims to compare two different art works of renaissance in order to identify their differences and similarities. The Portrait of Durer’s Father at 70 by Albrecht Durer, 1497. Material: oil on paint Size: 51×40cm Form It has two dimensions which have used different materials the most prominent ones are the oil on panel. The oil and lime painting process has been utilized in order to make this distinguishing piece of art (Examples of Renaissance works of art by artists born after 1469, 2010). There is a striking combination of black, brown, font, pink and red. Overall painting is made with the help of thin lines, for instance, the reflection of 70 years old man is clearly visible through the thin lines of his hairs and wrinkles on the face. The straight rectangular shape of the portrait has given it a more realistic and admirable look. Durer has used engraving texture techniques so as to give the portrait a more pragmatic appearance. Thin lines of Durer’s father...
Words: 896 - Pages: 4
...advancements to grand masterpieces, the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods were pivotal periods in our history that today are still greatly recognizable and appreciated for their beauty and awe inspiring captivation of humanity. The Middle Ages, a time of great turmoil, forced people to seek order in their lives and stay alive through dependence on community while the Renaissance period pushed the boundaries of personal enlightenment and ‘rebirth’ of classical humanism. Throughout the 700 year period, the development and advancements of innovations, art, and humanities clearly deviates between the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, displaying a striking portrayal of individualism versus community. The Middle Ages began in the early 10th century with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and continued throughout the late 15th century. During this time the Middle Ages experienced great political and social change from religious and political crusaders conquering lands, to the establishment of the first universities (Bishop, 1968). The Middle Ages was an age of revolts, religious imbalances, and devastating plagues that led to an economic depression (Bishop, 1968). With all of these external factors affecting their lives, the people of the Middle Ages sought to find order through a feudal government system and community outreach. The ‘dark’ time of the Middle Ages resulted in the expansion of knowledge and ideas known as the Renaissance period from the late 13th to the late...
Words: 964 - Pages: 4
...Western World Literature December 13, 2013 The Renaissance generation Medieval is described as the middle ages. The middle ages began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and then merged into the beginning of Renaissance and the European discovery. The Middle Ages was considered to have brought more positive things at that particular period. It concentrated more on the relationship with God and it was dominated by the Catholic Church. A lot of things happened in the middle ages, especially in the late middle ages where there was sickness, plague and war which wiped down the entire people in Europe. After the Middle Ages came Renaissance and it changed everything about the middle ages. Renaissance means “Rebirth” and it is described as a movement in European intellectual, cultural and political history that first began in Italy. So in my mini course I would like to talk about Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Marguerite de Navarre who had different ideas about the Renaissance. Miguel de Cervantes was born in 1547; he was the fourth child of an impoverished physician. He was captured by pirates and was sold as a slave to the Algiers. Cervantes was thirty-three when he returned to Spain without a job or a place to live. He wrote a number of plays but none of them were as successful as “Don Quixote”. Don Quixote is one of the longest novels ever written and among the first books that went through printings. The first part of Don Quixote is about a parody of romances...
Words: 673 - Pages: 3
...Toyin Debbie Osaro Western Governors University 11/08/2014 The Middle Ages, people lived under a lawless society. There were no order or structure during the fourteen and fifteen century; it was a long time of darkness; periods of severe weather that leads to crop failure and famine. (n.d.). The early middle ages arts also known as the Dark ages. The middle ages period was when European history fell from the Roman Empire to the renaissance. Art during the early middle ages went through many changes up to the early renaissance period. The Middle Ages art style known as the Byzantine art; while the dark ages followed by the medieval era of (1066- 1448 AD) encounter changes. Furthermore, the middle ages art and saw the emergence of early renaissance art. (WGU on line quote) The artist, by the name of Giotto di Bonedone, is one of the most famous people of the middle ages. His painting of “Madonna and Child” painted for a chapel in the church of Santa Maria. This picture made with temperas and wood and emphasized Christian faith, teaches spiritual truth, aid in the conversion of non-Christian. Renaissance art with the literal meaning “ Rebirth” played a significant part of our lives today. The early renaissance started right after the middle ages (1400-1600). During this period, the European history was marked by renewal of interest in intellectual and cultural legacies of ancients Greece and Rome. Renaissance was the time of tremendous creativity and intellectual moment. Beginning...
Words: 1105 - Pages: 5
...Historians of the 15th and 16th century used the term the “Middle Ages”. The culture at the time was similar to that of ancient Rome and Greece. But, differed from the time of the fall of Rome. The “Middle Ages” was later replaced by the Renaissance period. It was period of rebirth of ancient techniques and newly developed techniques that had major success in the art industry. Greco-Roman heritage and Byzantine examples inspired the artists. (Wikipedia, n.d.) This paper will discuss the relationship between Middle Age and Renaissance art periods. The middle ages also known as the dark ages were a period of barbarism, ignorance, and superstition. (Wikipedia, n.d.) The period saw a decrease in prosperity, stability and population in the first century. The period had a massive setback of population due to the Black Death plague. Invasions and incursions plagued Europeans during this period and had a major effect on art. Art was modest and had little creativity and was made mainly for religious purposes. Some art was rare and costly when associated with the church and mostly produced by monks. Since most of the art was used to spread religion it was viewed as utilitarian and not having much value. The renaissance abandoned the middle ages and its modest art and representations of monumental images. (Wikipedia, n.d.) Art became valuable, attractive, and profitable. Artists left behind the middle age thinking and broadened their horizons by developing new techniques...
Words: 960 - Pages: 4
...Middle Ages and Renaissance Art Western Governor’s University It is interesting how two different artistic periods can compare to each other. When comparing Middle Age art to art of the Renaissance, I find a vast transformation of ideas and mentality between the two eras. The Middle Ages, also called the Medieval period, lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. Christianity, religion and the church played an important role in life in the Middle Ages. Life seemed difficult in the Middle Ages. A vast majority of the population could read or write. The population’s hope was declining and this lead to a strong belief that the next life in heaven would be better than the current life that they were in. The basic government and society in Europe during the middle ages was based around the feudal system. (Eco, U. (1986). Because Christianity played an important role during the Middle Ages, early Christian art icons were popular such as images of Christ, the Virgin Mary or saints. Also popular were illuminated manuscripts that were of a religious nature. Because of the radiant glow created by the gold, silver, and other colors that were used, these handwritten and decorated or painted texts were called illuminations. These were still being created in the Middle Ages. Architecture of the Middle Ages also focused on a Christianity theme. Two...
Words: 1262 - Pages: 6
...Historians of the 15th and 16th century used the term the “Middle Ages”. The culture at the time was similar to that of ancient Rome and Greece. But, differed from the time of the fall of Rome. The “Middle Ages” was later replaced by the Renaissance period. It was period of rebirth of ancient techniques and newly developed techniques that had major success in the art industry. Greco-Roman heritage and Byzantine examples inspired the artists. (Wikipedia, n.d.) This paper will discuss the relationship between Middle Age and Renaissance art periods. The middle ages also known as the dark ages were a period of barbarism, ignorance, and superstition. (Wikipedia, n.d.) The period saw a decrease in prosperity, stability and population in the first century. The period had a massive setback of population due to the Black Death plague. Invasions and incursions plagued Europeans during this period and had a major effect on art. Art was modest and had little creativity and was made mainly for religious purposes. Some art was rare and costly when associated with the church and mostly produced by monks. Since most of the art was used to spread religion it was viewed as utilitarian and not having much value. The renaissance abandoned the middle ages and its modest art and representations of monumental images. (Wikipedia, n.d.) Art became valuable, attractive, and profitable. Artists left behind the middle age thinking and broadened their horizons by developing new techniques...
Words: 960 - Pages: 4
...The Renaissance; the transitional time period from the dark Middle Ages to the age titled Early Modern. During this time period, scholars in Florence--and then much of Europe--revived the ancient ideas of the Greeks and Romans. That being said, the Renaissance was a completely different era due to: the birth of Humanism, revolutionary ideas, and the amazing pieces of art that were created during this time. Stunning pieces of art distinguished the Renaissance as its own time period unrelated to Medieval times. The best place to start is with the medieval mosaic, “Justinian & Attendants” by San Vitale. The mosaic is flat, depicts Christian themes, has no vibrant colors, and its most important figure has a halo around them (Doc 11). On the...
Words: 838 - Pages: 4
...Fatima Haidar AP European History Essay Everyone has a way to express themselves whether it's in writing or in arts such as music, dance, or drawing. During the Renaissance the arts were encouraged. The Renaissance was expressed through Italian art by incorporating religion, science, and math. They made self-portraits and wrote autobiographies. The Renaissance was more secular then the middle Ages, but they were still very religious. Although the Middle Ages wasn't secular, nevertheless during the Renaissance period ideas were expressed in the Italian art because religion was embraced, people valued learning, knowledge, education, self-confidence and secularism grew. Religious artwork such as the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo combines art, religion, science, and faith. It also contains a true connection between God and humans. The Old and New Testaments play a significant role in the painting, in the picture you see God reaching towards Adams' hand and there are angels all around God. It depicts God separated from light and darkness. The Sistine Chapel is a really good picture to use to prove that religion still played a huge role during the Renaissance period. Education also played a role in the artwork contributed during the Renaissance. The Vitruvian Man and The School of Athens are two perfect examples. The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci not only symbolizes art but it brings math and science into the painting. Leonardo, like most artists of his time, shared this...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
...Role of the Church in the Development of Modern Medicine throughout the Middle Ages During the Middle Ages, the culture and society of Europe and the Western world was under the control of the Church. The religious aspects of medieval European peoples were a great consideration in the matters of the body and health care. The majority of medical knowledge and research was under the influence and followed the expressed ideas of the Church. As the hold of the Church on society began to disintegrate, medicine was able to move from medieval practices influenced by religious belief into modern medicine, based upon observation and evidence. Causes of disease and illness were now understood and scientists were able to start searching for cures because restrictions that prevented modern medical theories from being discovered were lifted. Paracelsus discovered that agents outside the body caused illness. The study of the human anatomy was now practiced and became an essential part of medical knowledge, giving way towards new modern advancements such as blood transfusions and surgeries. Da Vinci conducted many autopsies and constructed detailed drawings of the human anatomy, which had never been studied earlier. Medical knowledge was no longer different and divided into sects but was now centralized under the modern scientific teachings taught to doctors in universities everywhere. As the culture of the Middle Ages moved away from the Church and religion so did scientific knowledge...
Words: 3196 - Pages: 13
...Reformation referred to a religious movement in the 16th century that resulted in the division of Christianity into Catholics and Protestants. Europe was split into the Northern part which was occupied by the Protestants and the Southern part remained occupied by the Roman Catholics (Schaff 105). Christian humanism, on the other hand, refers to an intellectual movement that originated from the Renaissance, and it had the aim of eliminating corruption of the church and also in reviving the classical learning (Schaff 108).Comparison between the two movements These two movements were both aimed at eliminating corruption of the Roman Church, but they used different approaches. Christian Humanism aimed to reform the church by blending in some of the best classical learning to the Christian religion so as to formulate an ethical lifestyle. Protestant Reformation, on the other hand, had deeper demands that were based on doctrinal and theological grounds (Schaff 125). Christian Humanism did not agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s educational approach and hence they wanted to incorporate Renaissance humanism’s educational system which could provide them with solutions to the current problems they were facing at that time. For instance, Jacques Lefevre worked tirelessly so as to formulate an accurate text of the Holy Book with the belief that if people understood the scriptures then they will increase their devotion to Christianity. These humanists perceived that a combination of their intellect...
Words: 922 - Pages: 4
...Comparing Renaissance vs Impressionism The beginning of the Renaissance, if asked in a question you may end up with an argument on your hands. Many believe the time frame is too difficult to track, that someone just tossed out a date in history and said, “This is when the Renaissance began and ended” and that time frame is 1300s to 1700s. However, some people believe it believe that it began at the precise year of 1401 and ended in the late 1600s. Either way they Renaissance period began after the Middle Ages when many countries were struggling with their economies, and there were gaps between the upper class and lower class populace. “First, as Petrarch sees it, the Middle Ages has an entirely negative quality. It is defined by what it is not. It is not the classical age; it is not the rebirth; it is the bare space in between. It is a time without light, without fortune, without learning. It has no positive existence. Things without positive existence are darned hard to define. Or defend. It (Middle Ages) ends when the Renaissance begins.”(Bauer, 2013) At the beginning of the Renaissance, stories in history tell us that it was a time of awakening and growth for people who are known by their art. Not only is art a major part of the Renaissance, but there was also a change in the point of views on life, religion and science. What was the “norm” before the Renaissance was now a thing of the past. Churches were split, and ex-members were now forming new churches with new ideas...
Words: 1101 - Pages: 5
...Renaissance and Discovery (pg 317-349) 1) Jacob Burckhardt’s interpretation of the Renaissance in the 14th and 15th century, was that through the revival of ancient learning, new secular and scientific values began to supplant traditional religious beliefs. Some scholars believe that Burckhardt’s description was too modernizing and accused him of overlooking the continuity of the Renaissance and the Middle ages. His critics especially stress the still strongly Christian character of Renaissance humanism. 2) The term of Renaissance in fifteenth and sixteenth- century Italy meant “re-birth” or “revival”. In the 14th century many Italian scholars believed that the arts had been declining in quality for 1,000 years. They admired the art and writing of the Classical Age (400 B.C.-A.D. 400), the time of the Greek and Roman empires. To revive the glory and grandeur of the ancient past, these scholars eagerly studied classical literature, architecture, and sculpture. 3) Renaissance humanism is simply the focusing on the individual and learning. Before the Renaissance, people of Europe focused on the city-states and the knowledge they had attained before not worrying what new knowledge was out there. Then came the Renaissance and brought focus to those things. 4) The Renaissance was a break from the Middle Ages because it brought new ideas and new ways of thinking into society, but without the Middle Ages (medieval civilization), the Renaissance wouldn’t have...
Words: 737 - Pages: 3
...It was preceded by the Middle Ages, which occurred between approximately 400 and 1200 and followed by the Italian Renaissance from about 1400 to 1700 (Encyclopedia of Art History). Art from the Proto-Renaissance begins to shift towards a more realistic interpretation, with more depth in the figures as well as realistic proportions. This doesn’t mean that these periods had nothing in common. All three of these periods had a heavy focus on religious, namely Christian, subjects. When it comes to the Proto-Renaissance there are a few historical reasons for this. First, was the fact that Churches received much money through donations. This allowed them to commission artists, like Giotto, to create religious art. Second, the Black Death occurred during 1346-1356 and killed around 1/3rd of the population in Europe (“Black Death.”). Due to the lack of medical progress and security, many people turned to religion to help ease their fears. These two factors led towards the commonality of religion in artwork and helped allow artists to thrive. The shift towards humanism...
Words: 1396 - Pages: 6
...Northern and Italian Renaissances The Renaissance was one of the world’s most important movements, specifically for culture throughout all European countries. The term renaissance means “rebirth,” which is very significant since this movement was the revival and turning point of change for all art forms specifically art, literature, music, religion along with many other aspects as well. Starting in Italy, the Italian Renaissance was the earliest manifestation of the general European Renaissance. From the Italian Renaissance sprouted the Northern Renaissance, which was the movement that occurred in all European countries after the Italian Renaissance. While both movements hold many similarities, they also have a variety of differences as well. First, the obvious difference between these two movements is the geography of the Northern and Italian Renaissance. The Northern Renaissance relates to all of the happenings in the countries of Northern Europe surrounding Italy. Even though these were two separate movements with many differences, they both held significant similarities due to the close proximity of the countries where the Renaissances took place. Both the Italian and Northern Renaissance followed the era of the Middle Ages. The Italian Renaissance began in the cities of Florence and Siena, and later spread to Venice. The Northern Renaissance is also recognized as the “late gothic” which still held on to Middle Ages art, whereas the Italian Renaissance was fixated on studying...
Words: 495 - Pages: 2
