The Lasting Presence of Renaissance Art

1094 Words5 Pages
When the new movement of the Renaissance made its way into Italy in the 14th century, it became a time of rebirth where humanism and individualism gradually influenced literature, sciences, and the arts. A revival of the classical forms of the ancient Greeks and Romans along with an intensified interest in secular life led to an explosion to seek knowledge about the human form along with new innovations in math and science. Details in paintings were emphasized to expose true emotions and the use of bright vivid colors expressed the Renaissance artists' new interest in naturalism. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael were prominent artists who incorporated individualism and scientific advancements to create natural and realistic paintings depicting everyday life. The Italian High Renaissance was a revolutionary movement in art history where scientific inquiry and a newfound interest in observing the natural world shaped the course of the development of modern art. A new feeling for classical antiquity embraced artistic sides. An artistic revival powered the transition from medieval art where lifeless, still, and traditional characteristics dominated artwork, to the deep and emotional paintings of the Renaissance. Before the Renaissance, paintings were simple and primitive; they lacked shape and luster and were flat with little to none detail. People believed that only religious figures were worthy of reproduction and therefore artists drew subjects mainly from Christian sources and their work revolved around painting walls of churches, palaces, and civic buildings of Italy. When the Renaissance movement began; however, new interests in knowledge became the desire to find beauty in human figures and began to perfect artwork depicting the glory of the creations of God. Christianity called for emotions and feelings and paintings of the Renaissance expressed
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