Ambrogio Lorenzetti and his impact on Trecento and Quattrocento

The allegory of Good Goverment Ambrogio Lorenzetti 1338-40

During the Trecento and Quatrocento, the Renaissance was beginning to really pick up. Major advances in art were taking place and that had much to do with the Medici family and their influence in Florence and also economically Florence was becoming renown for their woolen cloth. Among all that was going on including that Bubonic Plague that devastated thousands of peoples lives around the 1340's, there were still many artists inspired to do what they loved and what could hep make money. One of the artists around this time was Ambrogio Lorenzetti, however he was not a Florentine but a Sienese. Florence and Siena were growing economically and yet they were rivals, always competing for land and power. Ambrogio Lorenzetti made a complete room of frescoes for Siena's Palazzo Pubblico. His room was called Sala della Pace or Room of Peace. He shows the panoramic views of both countryside and cityscape living in Siena. From bustling city traffic to festive events. He captured the essence of life in Siena where everyone, good or bad was apart of this city. The architecture of the city helped him develop his perspective and he could experiment with different views of the land. This is considered a major stepping stone for Renaissance art because of the tremendous detail and perspective Lorenzetti allowed us to see.

Donatello's Bronze David in the eyes of Vasari

Donatello Bronze David  1440

Giorgio Vasari wrote about the critical importance of Ghiberti and Donatello in Part two of his Lives. These two artists are crucial turning points in sculpture that show distinct changes in Renaissance sculpture. Ghiberti was known by his very famous Gates of Paradise that belong to the east side of Florence's San Giovanni's Baptistery. He shows great depth and perception in all his panels. Donatello sculpted beautiful figures that were not like any others. One of his works is the very famous bronze David (ca 1440). In this sculpture of David, he brings the Renaissance revival of the old Classical principles. Another important feature is that David is a freestanding nude and it is said that Donatello is the first sculptor to portray the nude male in statuary. It was considered indecent at that time: to sculpt a nude. However Donatello showed David as a young biblical slayer, but in a very sensual way and his body is in a very relaxed contropposto stance and that was very bold and elegant. Giorgio Vasari regarded Donatello's David by saying “this statue is so natural in its vitality and delicacy that other artisans find it impossible to believe that the work is not moulded around a living body.” He also described Donatello as “having no other equal,” truly a great artist.

The Growing Movement

Nicola Pisano's Pulpit in the Pisa Baptistery

As the Proto-Renaissance era continues, we are introduced to some key artist who play a huge role in jump starting the Renaissance movement. The characteristics of Renaissance art are the evocation of ideals of classical antiquity, direct observation of nature, application of scientific perspective and reconciliation of pagan and christian traditions. We start with Nicola Pisano, an artist who built a pulpit in the Pisa Baptistery. He was one who started to change some old styles and do things a little differently. Such as writing your name and declaring yourself the best sculptor of your time, which Nicola Pisano did and was uncommon at the time. He also sculpted a male nude who might be Hercules, Daniel or Fortinado, during this time male nudity was from classical antiquity and was pretty much forgotten. He also made Corinthian capitals and that was an old Greek feature as well .On this Curara Marble pulpit he made figures of Christian virtues and profits of the old testament and also has the events of the life of Christ. His pulpit was considered more realistic than other art that was made during that time. Other Artists such as Coppo Di Marcovaldo, Cimabue and Giotto started to slowly create art that was more realistic, relatively speaking for that time period. They also showed the growing importance of the Virgin Mary.

Cimabue

Madonna Enthroned, Cimabue

In Giorgio Vasari's Lives  he writes about a person who sheds some light of the nature of art, this person is none other than Cimabue.He was also considered the last great Italo-Byzantine master. He was one of the first to bring out the characteristics that started the Renaissance movement. One of his artworks was named Madonna Enthroned and it is of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus Christ in a hodgetria position. This means that Mary is pointing to Christ for he is the future and savior. Cimabue created an architectural throne, not yet geometrically correct yet it still implies that there is depth in this artwork, the intuitive depth and perception, which we might not instantly recognize but was more apparent during that time because it foreshadows the more elaborate depth of three dimensional on a two dimensional surface that was in the years to come. Another new characteristic was clothes Madonna wears are more brightly shown and much more elaborate. Cimabue shows more naturalistic styles in which he portrays the bodies of each character in this artwork. This artwork and artist paves the wave for Giotto and many other artists to continue to follow in his footsteps and make art more naturalistic.

Vasari and the Three stages of Renaissance Art

During the Renaissance, Giorgio Vasari believed there to be three main stages in which Renaissance art clearly and fully develops. He describes these stages by the artists that portray different techniques and styles he considers to be categorically  significant. The first stage begins with the artists Cimabue and Giotto. Cimabue was Giotto's teacher and they have relatively similar styles. These two artists begin to portray their art in a more humanistic and natural way that was unlike any of the art previously portrayed. Vasari then leads  in to the second stage, with the next set of artists whom he describes by having sophisticated techniques of design and perspective and these artists are Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio. The final stage contains the artists most commonly heard of today: Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo. These artists then towards the end of the Renaissance perfect the art with the new techniques and styles. Vasari believes that the artist should know about the subject matter he is trying to convey. Masaccio, who belongs to the second realm of artists is a great example of  someone who uses perspective and design in a whole new way. For example in his painting, "Tribune Money",he develops linear and aerial perspective, He also uses chiaroscuro to show depth and perception of the landscape. Vasari reveals his theory and many people rely on it today to help understand the becoming of excellence of art during the Renaissance.

The Beginning

The Renaissance was an era when artists created an abundance of art that expressed new styles and new techniques. The word Renaissance actually means “Rebirth,” as in a rebirth of values from the Greco-Roman times of naturalistic beauty. Breaking away from the Middle Ages, the new styles of art that surfaced were more humanistic ways of portraying the natural world. Giorgio Vasari, a Renaissance biographer describes artists as taking “ nature as their guide.”

Art historians relate one name with the beginning of Renaissance art and this artist played a crucial part in exemplifying the new styles and techniques. His name is Giotto di Bondone. Many refer to his work as pivotal to the beginning of the Renaissance. He gives his subject matter more naturalistic aspects. This was definitely abandoned during the Middle Ages. He allows his characters to reveal their emotions and give each of his characters their own individual personalities which make them more humanistic and allows the audience to better relate to them. This alone was very significant at the time. His characters also possess weight and volume, which gives us a sense of their presence. His landscapes begin to show depth and perception. This change helped other artists to look to nature as a source of true being. With more humanistic scenes, the audience can react and relate. Giotto's artwork is just the beginning. This road to natural beauty is prolonged and definitely improved. However, Giotto remains a crucial part of this movement towards greater artistic excellence during the Renaisance.

Vasari

Giorgio Vasari is one of the most important figures of the Italian Renaissance.He lived during a time where art was at its best and he saw some of the most amazing artworks that we admire and he knew the artists and became familiar with them and their work. Undoubtedly he gave the proper attribution to all their expertise and skill as he wrote "The Lives of the Artists," which he categorically organized the artists and their  art as the world should see them: as master creators and their masterpieces. He knew many of these artists on a personal level and some he heard of. he was also a divine creator himself he helped remodel many of the churches of Florence like the Santa Maria Novela or the Santa Croce. However he decided to start writing about the growing prosperity of art that surrounded him. He believed that true artists were not learned in a classroom by technical books but by patient training and the teachings of masters, one could subtly become an artificer. He developed a three stage theory on the art of Renaissance time period. In his "Lives" he exemplifies how each artist is his own creative genius and he reveals each of their personalities. Giorgio Vasari describes an artist as having a sort of "grace" that is unlike any other that can be obtained by the "technical knowledge" of the artist. Giorgio Vasari should be considered a great artist himself for allowing his expertise of art to succeed so many centuries for all to understand and appreciate. To me, i now consider him one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance even though technically his life was shortly after. If not for Vasari we would be without a great chunk of Renaissance history and we would not be able to understand these artists to a great extent. So Salute a Giorgio!

To me art is reality, sure it is so easy to say this and yet it seems so difficult. The many variations and countless representations art reveals can force us to loos ourselves and find ourselves. It represents who we are. From the beginning of time humans have sought to express themselves in ways that show their deepest emotions and it is breathtaking to know that we have came a long way and art never fails to accomplish its goal: to express. As time continues to unfold, we look at past and future civilizations and their way of relating to art. In the grand scheme of things, there is one particular time period that is one of the world's most amazing for art. The Renaissance and Baroque era was undoubtedly one of the most important times in the world's history. Art and artists gave the world the most amazing contribution ever. Millions or people seek to lean more about this relatively short time period and I expect to gain the most of my time here in Florence. Buildings. Sculptures. Churches. Bridges. Paintings. Drawings, and much more. This city has a plethora of important creations and demonstrations of a time where Florence cradled the most talented artists the world has ever known. It is a place of unsurpassed beauty and an over-abundance of knowledge. I hope to retain as much as I possibly can and appreciate all there is to know about this historical place and the time where it was at its best.