1 Chapter 1 – Early Renaissance
About the Early Italian Renaissance generally
The conversation between the two art-historians in this 10 minute Kahn Academy video offers a good overview of how visual art changed as it transitioned from late medieval into early renaissance. The video also previews the artistic developments that came in the high and late renaissance. Something to watch for in the video is an explanation of ‘humanism’. What was humanism in the early renaissance? And how did this concept change the way art looked, particularly when it came to depictions of the human form?
Read this short Kahn Academy article at this link to learn more about the beginnings of the renaissance in Italy.
Artists of the Early Italian Renaissance
Filippo Brunelleschi was a multi-talented artist and individual. Check out the resources below to get a sense of some of his contributions.
- 4 minute video on Brunelleschi’s Dome of the Cathedral of Florence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IOPlGPQPuM
- Brunelleschi is credited with the invention of linear perspective, read this article “Early Applications of Linear Perspective” to understand better what that means: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/beginners-renaissance-florence/a/early-applications-of-linear-perspective
Masaccio was a master of the recent development of linear perspective. The short video below offer a good sense of what that looks like.
- 3 minute video on Masaccio’s Holy Trinity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ-QYRejmkY
Donatello, David, 1428-1432Donatello was the greatest sculptor of 15th century Italian art. His most famous work is his David, watch the video below to learn more.
- 7 minute video on Donatello’s David: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/sculpture-architecture-florence/v/donatello-david-bronze-c-1440s
Fra Filippo Lippi
- Article “Lippi, Madonna and Child with Two Angels”: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/painting-in-florence/a/lippi-madonna-and-child-with-two-angels
- Short description and a very zoomable image of Madonna and Child with Two Angels: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/madonna-and-child-with-two-angels/9AE9qn4SE5pOPg
- 3 minute video (a bit cheesy but good content), “The Adoration of the Magi,” c. 1440/1460, Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi: https://www.nga.gov/audio-video/video/adoration-magi.html
Sandro Botticelli
- Article with examples of work: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/sandro-botticelli
Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venius, 1482 - 16 minute video on Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ZIJOX0Jjo
- Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus on Google Art Project: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/the-birth-of-venus/MQEeq50LABEBVg
- Botticelli’s La Primavera on Google Art Project: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/la-primavera-spring/yQER9P-WIU2k9A
