8 RENAISSANCE artists and their most representative WORKS

One of the most iconic images of the Renaissance is the vitruvian mandrew by Leonardo da Vinci. A representation of the human body following mathematical proportions that breaks with the obscurantism of the Middle Ages and represents the triumph of science over superstition. The Renaissance It arose in Europe during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and represented a rebirth of classical values ​​and ideals, with the human being becoming the measure of all things. A anthropocentrism leaves medieval theocentrism in second place, enhancing freedom of thought.

In this lesson from unPROFESOR.com we show you what are the Renaissance artists and their most representative works.

Index

1. What is the Renaissance and its stages
2. Fra Angelico, one of the figures of the first stage of the Renaissance
3. Filippo Brunelleschi, pioneer of Renaissance architecture
4. Masaccio, introducer of the scientific perspective in painting
5. Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest of the Renaissance artists
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6. Sandro Botticelli, the great Italian Quattrocento painter
7. Michelangelo, another of the great geniuses of the Cinquecento
8. Raphael Sanzio, one of the great figures of the Renaissance
9. Tiziano Vecellio, great painter of the Venetian School

The Renaissance artists They celebrated life and Nature, leaving behind the darkness and filling paintings and portraits with light. Some artists who felt an enormous curiosity for art and science, turning to get master different disciplines, from painting to astronomy, anatomy, architecture, sculpture or philosophy, among others.

a moment of great discoveries such as the printing press, great voyages and new trade routes, in addition to exposing the heliocentric theory that placed the Sun at the center of the universe.

In that time of great intellectual and artistic ebullience, the artists, scientists and intellectuals found the support of a new figure: the patrons. Thus, nobles, aristocrats and kings financed the work of artists, filling palaces and mansions with works of art.

The Renaissance have two stages.

The Quattrocento

A stage that extends throughout the fifteenth century and in which the values ​​and ideals of classical Greek and Roman antiquity are recovered. Artists are no longer anonymous and humanism reaches all areas of art. Florence is the cradle of the Quattrocento. Among the most representative artists of the Quattrocento are:

• Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)
• Donatello (1386-1466)
• Paolo Ucello (1397-1475)
• Masaccio (1401-1428)
• Fra Angelico (1410-1452)
• Piero della Francesca (1416-1492)
• Giovanni Bellini (1430-1516)
• Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506)
• Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)
• Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448-1494)
• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
• Piero di Cosimo (1462-1522)

The Cinquecento

During this time, the Italian 16th century, humanist anthropocentrism is fully developed, drawing inspiration from classical antiquity. The seat of the Cinquecento is Rome, being the Popes the great patrons of this time. His influence spread throughout Europe. Among the main artists of the Cinquecento stand out:

• Pietro Perugino (1446–1524)
• Pietro Torrigiano (1472–1528)
• Pontormus (1499–1556)
• Michelangelo Buonarrotti (1475–1564)
• Giorgione (1477–1510)
• Raphael Sanzio (1483–1520)

Fra Angelico is one of the most prominent painters of the Florence School of the fifteenth century. A painter who, although Renaissance, maintains a certain formalism gothicist. His work is spiritual, being his religious motifs, but with more realistic elements, using perspective and color to add expressiveness. Among his works stand out the annunciation, and the Virgin of Humility.

Bruneslleschi (1377-1446) is another of the most outstanding Renaissance artists. He was an Italian Renaissance architect, sculptor, and goldsmith known for his iconic dome of the Florence Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) (1420-1436), in addition to inventing the conical perspective. A perspective that was key in Renaissance painting to achieve a more real vision of objects.

Masaccio (1401-1428) was one of the most outstanding Quattrocento painters being the one who first used the laws of scientific perspective in painting.

A painter who introduced three-dimensionality in his work the Triptych of San Juvenal, his first work. Other notable works by Masaccio are The Trinity (Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence), The expulsion of Adam and Eve from the earthly paradise and The payment of the tribute (both in the Brancacci Chapel), or The Virgin with the Child and Saint Anne (Uffizi Gallery).

Leonardo da Vinci he is one of the most representative artists of what it meant to be a renaissance man. An artist who worked for great patrons and stood out as a painter, sculptor, architect, as well as being a great inventor and engineer. Thus, he left sketches of devices such as helicopters, parachutes or tanks.

In his time he achieved great fame as a painter, standing out among his works The Lady with an Ermine (1489), The Last Supper (1498), in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan; The Mona Lisa (1503), authentic pop icon, Lto Virgin of the Rocks or the Vitruvian man.

A true genius who awakens the admiration and interest of many scholars who still try to decipher the keys that the artist left hidden in many of his works.

Boticelli (1445-1510) is considered to be one of the great painters the Italian Quattrocento. He trained in the workshop of Filippo Lippi, having as patron the Medici family, for whom he worked for years.

One of his great contributions is deciding to carry out large works and bet on mythological themes far from the religious.

His style flees from naturalism and creates works in which he expresses his ideals of beauty. His madonnas and mythological goddesses respond to a canon of delicate, ethereal and refined feminine beauty. Among his great works stand out The Birth of Venus (1484) and Spring (1480).

Michelangelo Buonarrotti (1475–1564), better known as Michelangelo, is another major Renaissance artist. He also stood out in more than one artistic discipline, being a great sculptor, painter and architect, in addition to writing poetry. A complete artist who worked in Florence and Rome, cities where he put his talent at the service of patrons such as the Medici or the Popes.

His sculptures were highly praised for his inspiration in the classical greco roman sculpture, surpassing her for her technique and skill and her perfectionism. An artist who managed to impress on all his sculptures and paintings a strength and energy that transcended the work, transmitting a strong emotional charge. Among his works stand out The David (1502 and 1504), a hyperrealistic statue in white marble and more than 4 meters high; The tomb of Julius II, where his famous moses statue (1515) and LVatican Pietà (1498 and 1499).

In painting, his masterpiece is the Vault of the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512), while in architecture the facade of San Lorenzo, the restoration of the Laurentian Library and the design of the Basilica of San Pedro.

Raphael (1483-1520) was also one of the great names of the renaissance. He began in Perugino's workshop, the influence of his master being remarkable in works such as The betrothal of the Virgin.

Another of his great influences was that of Leonardo Da Vinci, following the scheme of pyramid structure used by him, in addition to using chiaroscuro. Among his most outstanding works are The School of Athens.

Titian (c.1488-1576) is a Venetian School painter who was trained in the workshop of Giovanni Bellini, who became one of the great figures of Renaissance painting.

Titian was a great master in different genres, standing out as a landscape artist, portraitist and painter of religious and mythological paintings. His technique of loose brushstrokes and his use of color are characteristic of him.

Among his most important works: Venus of Urbino (Uffizi Gallery), Emperor Charles V with a dog (Museo del Prado) and the Assumption of the Virgin (Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari).

If you want to read more articles similar to Renaissance artists and their works, we recommend that you enter our category of History.

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