The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist by Leonardo Da Vinci

December 23, 2022December 23, 2022 ~ JezzieG

The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist
1499-1500
High Renaissance
Charcoal and chalk drawing on paper
The National Gallery, London, UK

A preliminary drawing, “The Virgin and Child with St, Anne and St, John the Baptist” depicts the Virgin seated next to her mother while holding her child, the child John is looking on. Mary’s eyes are watching her child who is pointing skyward as he delivers a benediction. A large piece, consisting of eight papers glued together is believed to be a sketch in planning for a painting. However, the painting was either never created or no longer exists.

Leonardo Da Vinci
High Renaissance
Born: 15 April 1452, Anchiano, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 May 1519, Clos Lucé, Amboise

The spirit of Humanism abounded during the Italian High Renaissance and artists were deeply entrenched in the study of humanities to better themselves as people of the world. Termed a Renaissance Man a person so immersed in the comprehension and accomplishment of such varied interests; Da Vinci was a prime exemplar. His exhaustive interests led to his mastery of multiple skills, and he is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time

San Sebastiano by Leon Battista Alberti

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022 ~ JezzieG

San Sebastiano
1460-79
Architecture
Mantua, Italy

Less ornate than his earlier work, Alberti’s design for the façade for the church San Sebastiano displays many of the characteristics of his style such as decorative columns, a structural symmetry, and rounded arches above the doorways that are repeated at the structure’s pediment. While the façade of the church is its most striking feature Alberti’s remaining plans were never implemented. Work on the project slowed over the course of several years and Alberti died before it was finished.

Leon Battista Alberti
Early Renaissance
Born: 14 February 1404, Genoa, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 25 April 1472, Rome, Italy

Alberti was a humanist author, architect, artist, poet, linguist, philosopher, priest, and cryptographer. He exemplified the nature of the polymath and is considered the founder of Western cryptography

Pieta by Titian

November 25, 2022November 25, 2022 ~ JezzieG

Pieta
1575-76
High Renaissance
Oil on canvas
Gallerie dell’ Accademia, Venice, Italy

One of the last paintings by Titian “Pieta” was created to hang over his grave and depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ. She is accompanied by Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene. It is believed that Nicodemus is a self-portrait and that Titian is viewing his own imminent death in Christ and touching his body in the hope of eternal salvation. Unfinished at Titian’s death the painting was completed by Palma il Giovane.

“Pieta” is darkly atmospheric, a possible indication of Titian’s fear of death. It is lit by shafts of moonlight and a putto carrying a torch. This allows the artist to use bold chiaroscuro, with the light illuminating the image of a pelican, symbolic of the Passion of Christ and redemption. In the right-hand corner, there is a small picture within the picture of Titian and his son Orazio in prayer, possibly asking to be spared from the plague ravaging Venice at the time and eventually killing both of them. Statues of Sybil and Moses flank the image and seemingly overwhelm the depiction of the mourners and indicate the frailty of life.

Titian
Renaissance, Mannerism
Born: 1490, Pieve di Cadore, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 27 August 1576, Venice, Italy

Titian was a painter and regarded as one of the greatest painters of the Renaissance, combining Mannerist and High Renaissance ideas to develop a style that is remarkable ahead of his time. His creativity dominated Venetian art and the city rivaled the artistic centres of Rome and Florence

Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo Da Vinci

July 29, 2022July 28, 2022 ~ JezzieG ~ 7 Comments

Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo Da Vinci

Lady with an Ermine
1489-90
High Renaissance
Oil on wood panel
Czartoryski Museum, Krakow, Poland

Commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, “Lady with an Ermine” depicts the duke’s mistress Cecilia Gallerani. Her gaze to the right seems to have been caught by something just outside the frame. Gallerani is poised in direct opposition to her young age with a coy smile suggesting her self-confidence in her position within the Court, and the undoubted knowledge that her power is her beauty. The paradox of the ermine, symbolic of purity, embraced by a young woman subject to the sensual needs of a much older man is clear, even more so given the very chauvinistic attitudes of the time. In more recent times the portrait has found a cult following in modern society as one of the visual inspirations for Philip Pullman’s concept of daemons in “His Dark Materials” books.

Leonardo Da Vinci
High Renaissance
Born: 15 April 1452, Anchiano, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 May 1519, Clos Lucé, Amboise

The spirit of Humanism abounded during the Italian High Renaissance and artists were deeply entrenched in the study of humanities to better themselves as people of the world. Termed as a Renaissance Man a person so immersed in the comprehension and accomplishment of such varied interests; Da Vinci was a prime exemplar. His exhaustive interests led to his mastery of multiple skills and he is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time

The Venus of Urbino by Titian

May 21, 2022May 20, 2022 ~ JezzieG

The Venus of Urbino
1538
High Renaissance
Oil on canvas
The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

‘The Venus of Urbino’ comes from a long tradition of Venus representations and was inspired by Giorgione’s Sleeping Venus, however, Titian’s Venus is somewhat more erotic. Her sensuality is enhanced by her gaze, her feint smile, and her seemingly awareness of the viewer. Titian’s Venus is realistic and tempting with the play of light and subtle use of chiaroscuro gives the figure a sculptural quality. ‘The Venus of Urbino’ is considered to be one of the most accomplished examples of the genre.

Titian
Renaissance, Mannerism
Born: 1490, Pieve di Cadore, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 27 August 1576, Venice, Italy

Disputation of the Holy Sacrament by Raphael

August 3, 2021August 2, 2021 ~ JezzieG

Disputation of the Holy Sacrament by Raphael

Disputation of the Holy Sacrament
1510
High Renaissance
Fresco
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

This fresco in the Apostolic Palace is one of four paintings in the room which separately portray philosophy, poetry, theology, and law. The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament represents theology and depicts the occupants of a Catholic Church with the expanse of heaven over the savred altar. The fresco is symbolic of the apparent victory of christianity victory over philosophy which is portrayed on the opposite wall in The School of Athens.

Raphael
High Renaissance
Born: 6 April 1483, Urbino, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 6 April 1520, Rome, Italy

In his 37 years, Raphael blazed a prolific and passionate trail of painting throughout the apex of the Italian High Renaissance. His lust for life translated into paint on canvas where his talent for depicting the Renaissance Humanist era ideals of beauty was breathtakingly new. Alongside Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, Raphael was considered an equal part of the holy trinity of master artists of his time

Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo Da Vinci

June 2, 2021June 1, 2021 ~ JezzieG

Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo Da Vinci

Virgin of the Rocks
1483-86
High Renaissance
Oil on wood transferred to canvas
Louvre, Paris, France

Da Vinci presents the Madonna with infant versions of Christ and John the Baptist, alongside the archangel Gabriel. They are sat amid a mystical imagined landscape that exemplifies the artists depth of perspective. In the foreground the desolate rocks and water bring a dreamy quality infusing the viewer with a sense of merging with the divine yet witnessing the resonation of human tenderness.

Leonardo Da Vinci
High Renaissance
Born: 15 April 1452, Anchiano, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 May 1519, Clos Lucé, Amboise

The spirit of Humanism abounded during the Italian High Renaissance and artists were deeply entrenched in the study of humanities to better themselves as people of the world. Termed as a Renaissance Man a person so immersed in the comprehension and accomplishment of such varied interests; Da Vinci was a prime exemplar. His exhaustive interests led to his mastery of multiple skills and he is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time

Salvatore Mundi by Leonardo Da Vinci

April 12, 2021April 11, 2021 ~ JezzieG

Salvatore Mundi
1500
High Renaissance
Oil on wood panel
Louvre, Abu Dhabi, UAE

It is probable that Salvatore Mundi was commissioned by King Louis XVII of France following his 1499 conquest of Milan. The painting portrays Christ in the role of saviour of the world and master of the cosmos. To reflect this da Vinci uses such as the right hand of Christ with two fingers extended to give divine benediction and his left hand holding a sphere to represent the heavens. Salvatore Mundi is unusual in the showing of Christ in an humanist manner, as a man in renaissance attire.

Leonardo Da Vinci
High Renaissance
Born: 15 April 1452, Anchiano, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 May 1519, Clos Lucé, Amboise, Italy

The spirit of Humanism abounded during the Italian High Renaissance and artists were deeply entrenched in the study of humanities to better themselves as people of the world. Termed as a Renaissance Man a person so immersed in the comprehension and accomplishment of such varied interests; Da Vinci was a prime exemplar. His exhaustive interests led to his mastery of multiple skills and he is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time