Middle Ages vs Renaissance Art Periods Essay

When seeking two dodge closures to compare and contrast, fewer wileistic examples provide a starker depiction of radically ever-changing ideas and mentality than the subterfuge of the Middle Ages against that of wile from the Renaissance. First, art originating from the Middle Age will be thoroughly analyzed for context. Afterward, art from the Renaissance period art will be analyzed next to it for its departures on from Middle Age techniques and thinking, before the two are finally systematically compared and contrasted.First, art from the Middle Ages, to a fault called art from the medieval period, characterized a European period of little social change, general poverty, and few scientific advances. The Catholic Church remained an imposing force upon Midieval society, and dominated much of daily life. Art clearly served the role of worship above all else, and the Catholic Church actually commissioned much of the artwork of the period. much(prenominal) of this art filled chur ches and monasteries, and took the form of sculptures, paintings and drawings, stained-glass windows, metalwork and mosaics, among other forms. The iconographical nature of the art is substantial, as it above all served the purpose of perpetuating the Catholicism of the early church. It was largely wrapped to Europe and areas that the Byzantine and Roman empires had once occupied, such as parts of northern Africa. It lasted almost a thousand years, from approximately around 500 C.E. to peradventure as late as 1400 C.E.The depictions within the art reflected its purpose worship. Religious icons such as saints, the Virgin Mary, Jesus and his disciples, and other depictions provided clarity and images for believers. The images portrayed onto the media arguably reflect the times, lacking in brightness, movement, or attitude. The characters shown rarely appear upbeat. An excellent example that validates some of these generalities is Pietro Cavallinis The Last Judgment. This painting i n the Santa Cecilia in capital of Italy uses drab colours to show what appears to be an angry Jesus overlooked by six angels, three on each side. While a elegant work of art no doubt, the painting has little passion or movement and does not inspire anything more than fear from a fiery God.This knightly Art from the Middle Ages contrasts sharply with the Renaissance-era works in many key ways. First, Renaissance Art, while not entirely secular to be sure, had certain overtones of the humanism sweeping Europe. Next, its style exuberates brightness, passion, and an appetite for life that cannot be found easily in Middle Age art. Renaissance Art effectively superseded and ended art period progressing during the Middle Ages, and this mirrored social trends of increasing wealth and prosperity, upward mobility, and technological advances of the time.While no doubt heavily influenced by the preceding art of the Middle Ages and a great deal building off of some of its topic such as Christ ianity, Renaissance Art has a strong hint of humanism which afflict its artists. This philosophy sought to change the nature of mans relationship with God to exist outside the churchs realm, and the Renaissance men often meaning that these artists were not only artists but commonly philosophers and scientists as well. Michelangelo, who was a painter, architect, poet, engineer, and sculptor, exemplified these characteristics. His masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, The Last Judgment, provides us a great comparison to Cavallinis work on the same topic and contrasts the vastly different techniques and focuses of the two art periods.While Cavallinis work lacks a variety of colours and could be described even as plain, Michelangelos work gives a clear view into his minds eye, filled with numerous angels and men moving finished the heavens. While Jesus is still at the top and the Madonna next to him seems to cower in fear at his wrath, many nonetheless are bring up upward. The bright co lours, quick movements, and in fact original nakedness of the characters (later covered up, at the churchs request) reflect the technique and thought process of Renaissance-era art. So taking the topic of the Last Judgment, the second coming of Christ as a comparison subject matter for extrapolation between Medieval and Renaissance art periods, the Renaissances brightness, liveliness and energy shine clearly.First, we saw that Middle Age art was dreary, using drab colours and little dynamism that reflected the common realities of life in Europe at the time. Second, Renaissance Art ended this period with the new opportunities and advances made during the Renaissance, reflected in art from the period. Multitalented Renaissance men of the period such as Michelangelo contributed simultaneously to multiple artistic fields at once.Their art reflected the optimism of the times, the great advances being made philosophically and technologically, and their work captured their excitement for gentlemans newfound humanist relationship with God. What was once seen as an angry God hell-bent on punishment was now an opportunity for a befall into the heavens, and often Renaissance Art was even entirely secular, such as masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. Therefore, the Renaissance period of art departed from the Middle Ages period of Medieval Art not simply in technique or media, but also in subject matter, philosophy, and use. The art periods correspondingly reflected their equivalent time prepare as either bleak and dowdy or upbeat and energetic.ReferencesFinnan, V. (2013). The last judgement. Retrieved from http//www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Last-Judgement.html Gortais, B. (2003). Abstraction and art. Philosophical Transactions Biological Sciences , 358(14-135), 1241-1249 . Retrieved from http//www.jstor.org/stable/3558216 The last judgement. (2001). Retrieved from http//www.lib-art.com/artgallery/8284-the-last-judgement-pietro-cavallini.html