Masterpieces of the Renaissance

During this time, art was nearly always in the service of the Church but soon, artists will become interested in the natural world, and the potential of human beings.

Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna also shows Mary and Jesus. For Christians, Jesus Christ is God in human form. Here Giotto applied gold to the background, suggesting the light of heaven. But Giotto’s figures look solid and his space is more defined than Cimabue’s.

Florence, and its rival city-state, Siena produced some of the greatest artists of this period. Duccio worked in Siena, and in this 15-foot high painting he used light and shadow, delicate color, and decorative patterns to depict the divine.

Venice was then ruled by wealthy noble families and the head of the government was the Doge, whose Palace was decorated by many of the most important artists of the city. We are inside his palace in the enormous Great Council Hall where the nobles met to govern Venice.

Behind where the Doge sat, Tintoretto painted an enormous scene of Paradise. Christ greets his mother surrounded by arcs of holy figures. The archangel Gabriel brings lilies—a symbol of purity and Michael carries a sword and scale—symbols of judgement.

Look up! The ceiling is covered with paintings. The large oval painting by Veronese is the Triumph of Venice. The woman is a symbol of Venice. She is crowned by Fame while other figures represent honor, peace, security, happiness, abundance, and liberty.

We’re also seeing two paintings of the Madonna that speak to the new, High Renaissance style that emerged at the end of the 1400s.

Pope Leo X is pictured with a cousin and nephew, both cardinals. The date, 1518, is only one year after Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses condemning what he saw as Leo’s abuses, an act that would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

Julius II gained the the nickname “the warrior Pope” because he led troops into battle to regain territory. He was ambitious and commissioned the new St. Peter’s Basilica and paintings by Michelangelo and Raphael, including the Sistine Chapel ceiling and this portrait.

Mary holds Jesus in the center of this dynamic composition. See how Mary’s hand and knee move toward us, movements echoed by John (in red). The artist uses brilliant colors and a soft hazy light to unify the figures with the interior.

As time passed, the paintings were taken apart and ended up in various museums, including the Frick Collection in New York City.

This panel, by Piero della Francesca, was part of a many-paneled altarpiece. John holds a book—likely the gospel he authored. Piero uses bright light and and dark shadow to create a sense of monumentality. The gold halo indicates John’s divinity.

Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven by Christ while a choir of angels sing and play music. The two main figures are framed by intricate patterns and deep colors, an expression of the beauty of this Heavenly scene.