Renaissance Art and Artists

World History

What is a “Renaissance”

• Renaissance literally means “Rebirth”• New ideas about life are being

brought forward• Less of an emphasis on religion

dictating one’s life and rule• Names like Medici and Machiavelli

associated with time• Artwork and style altered• Printing press introduced

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519)

• Ideal “Renaissance Man”

• Inventor, artist, musician, sculptor, architect and many more

• Designed many things used today including a tank, airplane, calculator and repeating gun

The Last Supper (1498)

• The scene where Jesus announces one of his twelve Apostles will betray him.

• Oil paint on a dry wall – Not a true fresco (paint on wet plaster)

• Shown much deterioration • Located at the Santa Maria delle

Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) Church in Milan, Italy

Mona Lisa (La Gioconda)

• Lisa – The wife of a wealthy silk merchant– Francesco del Giocondo– He had it commissioned

• Mona – Short for Madonna– Ma Donna – “My Lady”

• No facial hair – Some considered it “unsightly”

• Probably the most studied and recognizable painting in the world

David (1504) - Michelangelo

• David just before his fight against Goliath

• 17 feet tall• Statue was intended

to be seen from below at a distance– Hands are too big– Neck is too big– Head is too big

Creation - Michelangelo

• Located at the Sistine Chapel in Italy

• Finished in 1512• Various frescos tell the stories of

the Old Testament

La Pieta (1500) and The Last Judgment (1541)

Last Judgement – Controversial due to number of nude figures

Located at the Sistine Chapel

La Pieta – The Virgin Mary holding the body of Christ

The Birth of Venus - Botticelli

• Shows Venus (Aphrodite) being born from the sea as a fully grown woman

• Scene is a fantasy as Venus’ body and stance are not physically possible