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Recommended: The importance of art
A great artist, Eugene Delacroix, once said, “What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.” This famous saying, highlights one of the reasons art or even a single painting is so important. Art is more than shapes and colors; art brings about so much more meaning. It expresses life, history, beauty, and morals. It shows beliefs and contributes to the many reasons that make a human being, a human. Art represents past, present, and future. An ancient painting that was made over 500 years ago could have all the meaning in the world. It shows what life was back then, how humans have evolved since, and how humans should evolve in the future. Understanding a future is the understanding the past, which is why Sandro Botticelli’s famous painting the Birth of Venus, is so important to understand.
Knowing a masterpiece is first knowing a little bit about the artist behind the masterpiece. Sandro Botticelli was born in Florence, Italy and lived from 1445-1510. His real name was Alessandro Filipepi but he was brought up by his brother who nick-named him Botticelli meaning “little barrel”. The book Sandro Botticelli Life and Work by Ronald Lightbown talks about how Botticelli spent his entire life in Florence, experiencing some of the most common hardships that were expected during the fifteen century such as plague, flood, hard winters, and famine. Botticelli was a famous early Renaissance painter and is recognized for his well-known painting Primavera, which was known as the largest mythological painting of the Early Renaissance. This work has a humanistic nature and is said to reflect contemporary ...
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...that really brings an ancient religion back to life and makes me realize just why humans centered their lives on these angelic super humans. Botticelli did such an amazing job of making a Greek fantasy come to life. It’s almost like its own beautiful world that makes one want to enter.
Conclusively, Botticelli’s painting the Birth of Venus, was one of the most insightful paintings of the Renaissance. It gave amazing painting techniques and depictions of the ideal women. It portrayed parts of Greek mythology beliefs and showed just why Venus was the main focus of the painting due to her beauty and grace. This masterpiece represents the birth of love and that spiritual beauty is a main force of life. After 500 years, colors may fade and paint may chip but the breathtaking message Botticelli was trying to perceive about Greek mythology and beauty will always stay.
Firstly, Birth of Venus is example of the classical Early Renaissance’s composition while Galatea displaying the High Renaissance’s characteristic pyramidal composition. In Birth of Venus, the composition is simple and narrow; all four figures are in the front-ground with a sea-view background. Differently, in Galatea, for example the left bottom of the scene, a cupid in the front-ground and a mermen holding a woman are placed in the middle ground while Galatea and another man who riding a horse are in the background. Secondly, the postures of Galatea are much dramatic and dynamic than the Birth of Venus. Raphael employed figura serpentinata that the postures of figures in Galatea are serpentine and relaxed and more energy.
Lorenzo De Medici can be considered as one of the most influential men of the 13th century. His work in political affairs and administration were renowned in all Italy and his family could count on him in every aspect. Lorenzo was also a promoter of a new period called Renaissance. He was one of the first “mecenate” to explore this new way of art. In this project, I will concentrate how he developed art in Florence, giving a clear example through an Artist of that period that was working for him: Sandro Botticelli. His work “The Spring” is a well-defined example of what we can call “art in the Renaissance”, in particular for the Italian Renaissance.
It seems fitting that for more than a century, the popular image of an angel has been that of an angel by Angelico. As historian Pope-Hennessy tells us - "the idiom he evolved has come to be regarded as the natural language of religious painting". (1) The impetus to research Fra Angelico's life comes from a deep respect for religious art . However, having grown up in the Catholic Church, stained glass windows and sculptures of religious figures were more familiar to me than religious paintings. An in-depth look at the life of one of the most familiar Italian artists was very appealing . Angelico's work was very well known in his own day, and throughout the entire Renaissance period it lost none of its luster and none of its influence over artists and art lovers. (2)
Botticelli uses a vast number of techniques in this painting he uses the contrast of the figures with the dark outline of their bodies to have the pop off of the canvas, he used the robes and flowers to show the force and direction of Zephyors breath, elongated limbs to interest the viewer. Botticelli believed to have used the Golden ratio in this painting .The Golden Ratio or Phi (1.618) is basically creating and appreciating a sense of beauty through harmony and proportion. The Birth of Venus can be broken up into three vertical and horizontal, Zephyors and Chloris would be in the left, Venus in the center, and Horae to the right. The way Botticelli uses contrast to draw the viewer to the newly born deity with a dark outline around the body to show emphasis on her pale skin with soft pink or coral tones for shadow on the skin. The way he painted the hair as it gracefully drapes down to be gathered at her pelvis, by using mixture of a yellow ochre color to bring highlights and depth the goddess golden locks. Zephyors tanned skin glows against the soft blue from his silk like robe, Chloris clinging from him her pale skin emphasize his warmth .The use of drapery, waves, and even hair to show movement and direction, the darkness of the background and the bright
The shift between the Middle Ages and Renaissance was documented in art for future generations. It is because of the changes in art during this time that art historians today understand the historical placement and the socio-economic, political, and religious changes of the time. Art is a visual interpretation of one’s beliefs and way of life; it is through the art from these periods that we today understand exactly what was taking place and why it was happening. These shifts did not happen overnight, but instead changed gradually though years and years of art, and it is through them that we have record of some of the most important changes of historic times.
Giorgio Vasari’s book The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects was written as a second edition in 1568. It is a collection of written accounts that Vasari thought were the best and most esteemed artists in the Renaissance, which specifically focuses on North Italian cities such as Florence and Milan. This primary source is a tool that gives the reader an understanding of the ways in which Italian Renaissance artists lived their lives. The Lives is also important because it is considered the first book to focus on art history. Barolsky states that Vasari’s Lives is “a foundational text in the history of art history” (Barolsky 33). Vasari, in many ways paved the way as an art historian for others in the future by writing
There were many famous artist back then. One of the most well-known artist was Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 near a village called Vinci. Vinci was located in Italy and was about twenty-five miles away from Florence (“Leonardo da Vinci Biography.”). His parents are Ser Piero da Vinci and Caterina. Ser Piero da Vinci was Leonardo’s father, his occupation was a notary. Caterina was Leonardo’s mother, she was just a local woman that no one really knew about. Caterina and Ser Piero were not married and Leonardo was the only child they had together. Leonardo was not only an artist but he had focused on other studies such as science and technology.
This painting was unlike any other renaissance paintings that I have seen. The typical renaissance artwork seems to show more solid figures that represent people. The Birth of Venus appears to be almost angelic features in their characters. It is believed she emerged from the sea as a grown woman. Looking at the painting I can almost visual being in the fantasy of the painting. It seems like Zephyr the god of winds and breeze- Azura were embraced as one blowing soft wind pushing Venus to shore where she would be met and draped wi...
1. In the Botticelli work at the Uffizi, what concept of the Renaissance did most of the work of Botticelli relate to? During Botticelli era of renaissance, the culture shifted from religion to science along with mystical theories. When viewing Botticelli’s work at Uffizi website, noticeably his work related to mythological subjects during Renaissance. Paintings such as “Birth of Venus” by Botticelli on the Uffizi website display mythological art. This piece of art describes the birth of Goddess Venus on a sea shell yet fully grown. In addition, this painting exemplifies Botticelli’s mythological impact on Renaissance.
The Birth of Venus is a beautiful Renaissance canvas masterpiece created by Sandro Botticello. The picture illustrates the birth of Venus in a very mystical way. Venus has emerged from sea on a shell which is being driven to shore by flying wind-gods. She is surrounded by beautiful roses which are painted in a truly remarkable color. As she is about to step to land, one of the Hours hands her a purple cloak. The back drop includes the sea and a forest. The overall effect of this painting are almost overwhelming, color and beauty meet the eye in every angle.
According to Artable, Botticelli was influenced by the antique Venus Pudica and that is why Venus in the painting has that certain pose. For the painting Primavera, it was thought to be commissioned by the Medici and was one of the largest mythological paintings in the early Renaissance. It has a humanistic nature and reflects contemporary cultural influences of the Renaissance. Some of the mythological creatures in the painting are Venus, the cupid, Mercury, and the Three Graces. It is like a sequel to The Birth of Venus because she is no longer a young girl and reigns over her land and is more mature.
There are a lot of paintings that are really famous but there artist is dead and the paintings by far out lived the painters by a lot of years like 100s of years. Some of those paintings can show us what it was like to live back when they were alive and gives us history on what things might have looked like. One types of painting that I think is the most fascinated is what the Indians drew in caves. There have been many debates on what the pictures on the cave walls means. The paintings tell about their lives and the way that they did things the thigs they hunted and different ways that they may have believed. The pictures thought us about their culture and what different animals were sacred and animals that they hunted. Also Rome made sculptures of the gods that they believe in and that thought us about what they did for their beliefs and there old building also gave us a lot of what they did and there culture. Old art works show us what the culture was like in the times that those group of people lived
As time passed throughout the Renaissance, and artits and artisans moved up through the ranks of the social hierarchy, they slowly started becoming known as geniuses. They all competed against each other and constantly set the bar higher for not only other artists but also themselves and powerful figures at the time. In the Adoration of the Magi, Botticelli not only includes himself in the painting, he also replaces the Three Kings with Medici Family. The Medici’s were critical in the progress of Botticelli’s career especially Cosimo de’ Medici who appears, kneeling in front of Mary and Jesus. The other two kings are Cosimo’s two sons, Piero and Giovanni de’ Medici. This painting helped to solidify the friendship that the Medicis and Botticelli
Art can be regarded as one of the greatest pastimes. From the several finger paintings of the family created in Kindergarten to the priceless paintings and artifacts found in the Louvre, art is appreciated by all. In Lamen’s terms, art can be defined as a way of expressing oneself. Although many people consider art to consist of paintings and drawings the variety of subjects under this heading are numerous. Some include sculptures, music, and even photography. However, of all these, paintings are regarded as some of the most common inner expressions. Inner expressions range from love to grief, but a specific example is respect for nature. These images enable one to exercise the imagination in ways daily life is not capable. A good painting will allow one to dream into a world unlike their own, feel the terror, or serenity. Also by simply looking at a painting, one can tell about the feelings of the artist at that time. It is rare to not see a depiction of some natural landscape. With their talent, artists express their love and respect for nature through the simple brush strokes. Two paintings represent this fact. One entitled Port of Ostia During a Tempest, by Leonardo Carlo Coccorante, is a depiction of a violent storm. The second painting by Sanford Glifford, entitled Kaaterskill Falls, is a more subtle painting of a valley. This expression has been seen from the beginning of man, when he first drew on the walls of caves hoping to extract the souls from the animals, throughout the course of history.
Throughout the ages art has played a crucial role in life. Art is universal and because art is everywhere, we experience it on a daily basis. From the houses we live in (architecture) to the movies we see (theatre) to the books that we read (literature). Even in ancient culture art has played a crucial role. In prehistoric times cave dwellers drew on the wall of caves to record history. In biblical times paintings recorded the life and death of Christ. Throughout time art has recorded history. Most art is created for a specific reason or purpose, it has a way of expressing ideas and beliefs, and it can record the experiences of all people.