Religious Art During the High Renaissance by Adela Henry

Religious Art during the High Renaissance (summary of info)

ahenry11 — 2015-03-25 18:45:12 UTC

The High Renaissance began after the Italian Renaissance; it was centered in Rome instead of Florence and paid for by the Popes. This Renaissance in Rome was led by Pope Alexander VI and lasted until the sack of Rome by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Spain in 1527. Popes were really big on commissioning artists for religious art. The Popes wanted to use the art to reinforce the glory of Rome. Because the Church was the major patron, Christian art was the major genre.

Since religious art was in demand, many painters pursued the religious side of art instead of everyday life. This new era of art sought to imitate the beauty and mystery of nature and to show the experience of the individual. The art during the High Renaissance was realistic and used many different types of styles including sfumato, a depth technique that uses blurred lines and edges, and fresco, a technique that used watercolor on fresh plaster. The three masters of the High Renaissance were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rafael. Many pieces of art were painted as altarpieces for incorporation into rituals associated with Catholic Mass.

(connection to today)

ahenry11 — 2015-03-26 04:49:05 UTC

Today, art from the High Renaissance is considered some of the greatest art of all time. Modern artists use art from this period as an example of how to create art and some use it for inspiration. Many of the techniques used in Renaissance art are still used today in modern art. The four major artists in the Renaissance are also the names of the four mutant ninja turtles: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Rafael. In the video game Assassin's Creed, some of the locations and characters are based on famous people and events from the Renaissance. The realism used in the art is still used today and some of their techniques are used to make art look more realistic. Renaissance art laid the foundation for the development of western art.