1. How does Giotto change the visual language of late medieval Italian painting? Base your discussion on comparing and contrasting two works that we discussed in class. What might have instigated that change?
2. Compare and contrast the submissions by Ghiberti and Brunelleschi (fig. 1) for the portals of the Baptistery of Santa Maria del Fiore. How do these works reflect the ideas of Humanism? Which one won? Why do you think it won?
3. Explain on the basis of a selection of art least two of Brunelleschi's architectural works what he had learned from Roman architecture and how he used this knowledge in creating buildings full of new architectural forms that had not been seen before.
4. How does Masaccio’s treatment of the Expulsion from Eden differ from the same subject found a 13th century medieval manuscript? (fig. 2) How does his treatment reflect the shift in culture and thought in Florence at the beginning of the 15th century.
5. Discuss the development of linear perspective. How was it developed as a concept? How did early Renaissance artists respond to it?
6. How does Donatello's work embrace the example of Roman sculpture? Explain in detail by looking at one work in great detail. Also think about how this work reflects the ideas of Florentine Humanism.
Giotto di Bondone is widely considered to be the first great artist of the Italian Renaissance. He was born in Florence in 1267, and his career spanned from approximately 1290 to 1337. Giotto was a contemporary of Dante Alighieri, and the two men knew each other personally. Dante even mentions Giotto favorably in his Divine Comedy.
Giotto's work marks a significant departure from the late medieval painting that came before him. Whereas earlier artists had adhered to the stiff, formal conventions of Byzantine art, Giotto introduced a more naturalistic style that emphasized realistic human emotions and individualized figures. This can be seen clearly in works such as the Ognissanti Madonna (c. 1310) and the Scrovegni Chapel frescoes (c. 1305-1310).
One of the most striking things about Giotto's work is the way in which he depicts human emotions. In the Ognissanti Madonna, for example, the Virgin Mary is shown grieving over the death of her son, Jesus Christ. Her sorrow is palpable, and she seems almost like a real person rather than a two-dimensional figure. This was a radical departure from the unrealistic, idealized portrayals of figures that were common in Byzantine art.
Giotto's innovations had a profound impact on the development of Italian art in the centuries that followed. His work inspired other artists to experiment with more naturalistic styles, and his influence can be seen in the works of such Renaissance masters as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Giotto's work represents a significant break from the traditional, formal style of late medieval painting. His more naturalistic approach emphasized human emotions and individualized figures, which had a profound impact on the development of Italian art.
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