ARTS OF THE RENAISSANCE

AND BOROQUE PERIOD

ARTS 9 UNIT II
RENAISSANCE: THE BEGINNINGOF THE GREAT
REVIVALIN EUROPE

• Renaissance is a French word that literally means rebirth or revival. It

began in 14th century Italy, where culture was surrounded by traces
of the once glorious Roman Empire, and lasted until the 17th century.
The earlier term for Renaissance was the revival of earning. This
period of great revival of classical learning of the arts, culture, and
sciences demonstrates the development of intellectual power and the
rise of the elite in power.
THE BEGINNING
• The great period of revival in Europe which started in Italy after the vast
continent of Europe was struck by the Bubonic plague, also known as the
"Black Death", gave people a new light and a promise to live anew.
Peopleware given chances to prove and show their knowledge,
capabilities, and now to value the existence of being human.
• 
• Renaissance started in Northern Italy and reached other countries in the
entire European continent. New ideals and discoveries from all fields like
religion, science, politics, society and the arts were introduced, studied,
enhanced and made people proud of the changes and development.
These gave new hopes and aspirations for all people of the period.
• Music, paintings, architecture and sculptures are some of the ways of how the people showed that the dark ages were over
and that they had the right to begin what was right for them. Science and technology also evolved as part of transformation
and development. Philosophy and literature writings were developed by the Italians while fine arts and architecture were
forms adopted from Ancient Greeks and Romans.
• 
• Renaissance movement flourished throughout the European continent. It reached other countries like France, Germany,
Spain, Poland, Russia, Netherlands and England, the following are the developments and changes brought about by
Renaissance:
• 
• Rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman arts and culture
• Return to the ancient Greek style of scientific inquiry
• Religious wars and reformations (Papacy vs. reformists in the church)
• Great geographical discovery and colonization
• Major reforms in political and state affairs
• High interests in English literature (the age of Shakespeare, Milton, Donne and Philips)
• The arrival of mass printing due to high demand for literary works
• The art of the Renaissance era celebrates the masterpieces of some
famous artists well known today. These artists are: Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raphael Santi, Donato Bramante, and
Filippo Brunelleschi. Artists of the Renaissance were allowed to use
greater flexibility for the discovery and exploration of new art themes
and techniques. The following are some of the Renaissance art terms
and techniques still employed nowadays.
 
1. Perspective-
• Perspective in art was developed during the 15th century. Two
famous architects shared their expertise in using perspective, namely
Leo Baptista Alberto (140+72) and Filippo Brunelleschi (13771446).
Perspective is an art technique for creating illusions of three
dimensions (depth or distance, and space) on a two-dimensional
surface (flat surface). Perspective remains as one of the basic
principles of the Western Art taught in contemporary art schools.
There are two main elements in perspective
drawing
• a. Linear Perspective - Linear perspective deals with the shape in
space. It is a type of perspective in which the imagined lines meetings
ta point also called the vanishing point at the horizon determines the
size, shape and position of objects drawn. Linear perspective is
categorized according to the number of vanishings points made on
the horizon: one-point perspective, two-point perspective, three-
point perspective, etc. There is also a zero-point perspective which is
used for drawing irregular objects and sceneries.
• b. Aerial Perspective- Aerial perspective deals with the atmospheric
effects on tones and colors. In this perspective, the distance affects
the color and clearness of the object, thus object that needs to
appear far must appear slightly blurred. Many landscape paintings
apply aerial perspective to make things appear far and hazy from a
distance.
• The circles above are almost identical in shape. Circle 2 was placed
above Circle 1 and was blurred. This depth illusion makes Circle 2
farther than Circle 1 when in fact the 17e and distance was never
really changed.

• 2. Shadow and light - Shadow and light give emphasis on the effects
of light that create shadow to their subject. Shadow and light create
an illusion which makes a two-dimensional drawing and painting look
more three dimensional,
• 3. Emotion - Emotion shows the inner feelings of the artist. This is
where the artist and the viewers communicate thru the displayed
artworks. The artist connects inner thoughts, concerns, ideals and
spirits and the impact of the artworks to the viewers.

• 4. Realism and Naturalism -An artist wants to be as real and true as

possible to what is to be portrayed on the artwork. The artist makes
use of accurate measurement and realistic experience since the Main
subject is the human form.