On the occasion of the upcoming exhibition which will feature part of the many paintings by the Renaissance artist Raffaello Santi, we dedicate today’s announcement to the Renaissance.
The video presents the masterpieces of the top artists of that period.
The Renaissance as a cultural phenomenon, woven into the architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, philosophy and science, first appeared in Italy in the 14th century and lasted until the end of the first half of the 16th century.
Starting from that period it will spread rapidly to other countries in Europe, especially in France and the Netherlands. The term itself comes from the French word renaissance which means rebirth.
The beginnings of the Renaissance are marked by great interest in the ancient art and ideals (Ancient Greece and Rome), as well as the philosophical teachings of Plato and Aristotle.
Medieval art was gradually being abandoned and exploration of the linear perspective began, ideal harmony in works of art, three-dimensionality and weightiness of figures were sought, as well as research into the anatomy of the human body.
Secular and mythological motifs will be used thematically, but the theological ones will continue simultaneously, with a new expression. Italian humanists will greatly contribute to this, directing their culture towards man as opposed to scholastic science and theology. According to them, the center of the universe is no longer God, but man.
The large number of discovered ancient sculptures, remains of ancient architecture, preserved manuscripts and inscriptions will cause strong interest and influence. However, this will not be an attempt to broadcast ancient art and culture, on the contrary, it will create a special style and expression that will have a great impact on the development of the art in the coming centuries, as evidenced by the large number of artistic masterpieces from this period.
Centers of this activity are the city-states: Florence (where the Renaissance began) Venice, Padua, Genoa and Rome.
The Renaissance is divided into two periods: Early and High Renaissance.
The Early Renaissance (Quattrocento) lasted throughout the 15th century. Almost a hundred years prior, the forerunner in painting was Giotto, but it really commences with Masaccio and continued with Sandro Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, Paolo Uccello, Andrea Mantegna, etc.
High Renaissance (Cinquecento) lasts from 1500 until the middle of the 16th century. According to many experts, the High Renaissance is represented by the three greatest artists of all time, namely Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello Santi, for whose life and works of art we will publish educational content over the next two months.
