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Arts & CultureChannelTHE RENAISSANCE |
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Arts & CultureChannelTHE RENAISSANCE |
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INTRODUCTIONWhilst exploring artistic and cultural topics that I might cover for this page, I discovered many references to "a spirit of intellectual adventure and artistic experimentation that transformed Western Art between the 14th and 16th centuries". New artistic techniques were developed, a three dimensional perspective was introduced into drawings and paintings, and architecture was revolutionised. This era, that bought with it a sense of rebirth across the boundaries of art, literature and science, is now known as the RENAISSANCE. Using links to appropriate websites, I have tried to gain an understanding of the historical and social settings, in which Renaissance artists, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked, investigated the artists themselves, and asked why this period might have produced so many of the generally acknowledged Great Artists. All the sites I have chosen comply with the principles of good web design. They have a clear simple structure, make effective use of colour and are quick to download. They also use a consistent style of page throughout their site, standard colours for links and are easily navigated. None of the sites are cluttered by gratuitous advertising or make any of the mistakes outlined in Jacob Nielsen's Top Ten Mistakes. I hope you enjoy reading this page and exploring the links as much as I have enjoyed compiling it and learning about the RENAISSANCE. |
This page was written and designed by Angie Gibson |
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| My next link looks at the life and achievements of the artist,
scientist and philosopher, Leonardo da Vinci, widely regarded as
one of the key figures of the Renaissance. The article tells of
his early days as the illegitimate son of a peasant girl, his adoption
by his father, a notary, and his apprenticeship to an artistic workshop
at the age of 15. It continues to tell of his rise to fame and the
various patronages bestowed on him by nobility and royalty, including,
finally, that of King Francis I. It was these patronages, the author
suggests, that allowed da Vinci the freedom to pursue his ambitions.
Da Vinci's work, as both artist and inventor, are put into historical
context within this short biography and links to other parts of
the site explore these areas in greater depth.
This site is maintained by the Museum of Science in Boston,USA. This is a real museum whose web exhibitions are an extension of their facilities. The Museum states it's 'mission' is to encourage curiosity and inform and educate, whilst respecting individual backgrounds and abilities. This might explain the perspective from which the article is written, tending to mix a chatty style and speculation with factual details. The overall effect is a dumbing down of the subject in order to provide, what the author sees, as an entertaining piece which will encourage further exploration. There is, I feel, a danger that areas of legend quoted, such as "he became so engrossed in his work that he failed to notice several of his animal specimens had started to rot", might be perceived as fact, as a Museum would generally be seen as a reliable source of substantiated information. |
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Michelangelo BuonarrotiThe fourth link gives a factually based overview of the life and work of Michelangelo, who the author regards as "the most famous artist produced by Western Civilisation and arguably the greatest". The article suggests that Michelangelo's early exposure to art, traditional techniques and practices of painting and sculpture, together with tutelage from renowned artists, in his early teens, shaped his future artistic style. It further proposes that the patronage, later bestowed on Michelangelo, allowed him to pursue and explore his talents. The author expands, in detail, on the paintings and sculptures produced by Michelangelo and places them within a historical and cultural context.
This paper is part of an extensive site called Island of Freedom, which contains essays and articles on innumerable artists from the Renaissance period. It is, however, unclear who or what Island of Freedom is. No details are given at the homepage, which consists only of a title and index. The author's perspective is, therefore unknown. The facts within the documents are referenced to the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopaedia and, therefore, are substantiated to a certain extent.
The Renaissance - New
MarketsThe previous two links have looked at the Renaissance artists themselves and how their work may have been influenced by their personal circumstances and opportunities. The article, to which this link leads, examines societal changes, during the Renaissance, which the author believes affected the artists and their work. He proposes that the major influences leading to the transformation in artistic style were largely due to changes in the way business was conducted, the development of new markets for the sale of work and the greater affluence of Renaissance society.
This article is one chapter of an extensive paper exploring the society and culture of the Renaissance and forms the basis of the Art Module of an online course in the History of Western Civilisation offered by, the Boise State University, Idaho. The technical level of the content is appropriate to undergraduate level and the language used assumes some familiarity with the subject. The content of the article is factually based and referenced, although it is interspersed with personal chat and opinions. The author, Dr. Ellis Knox, is a historian specialising in Mediaeval History and the paper, therefore, is written from the perspective of a historian rather than an artist and offers no artistic critique.
The Renaissance and the Rise of the
Artist| This final link offers what might be seen as the last piece of
the jigsaw puzzle, providing as answer to the question of why the
Renaissance period produced so many of the Great Artists. Previous
links have shown that patronage of the wealthy allowed greater freedom
for the artists and provided a market for their work, but do not
explain why art had become so popular. The author of this linked
article offers his view that this came about because of a change
in the social status of artists, whereby their work was viewed as
divine and revered in the highest echelons of society. He suggests
that wealthy nobles, the aristocracy and church leaders clamoured
to offer patronage to the best of the artists. This patronage allowed
artists a greater freedom of movement, expression and direction
providing the impetus for the rebirth of the Arts that epitomises
the Renaissance.
This article is part of an online gallery featuring the history and work of various artists, written and produced by Professor Christopher Witcombe, a professional art historian and lecturer. His work is intended as a a resource for students and enthusiasts alike and reflects his love of art as well as being factually accurate and well referenced.
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| Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following sources for use of their material:-
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