6) Renaissance
Why is perspective important for the Renaissance artist? With reference to two (or three) examples of artworks in which linear perspective plays an important part in the overall composition of the painting, discuss how the system was employed to create a desired illusion of depth, and what the artist wants to communicate through this.
By: Bernice Seow
The Renaissance was the period between the 14th to 17th century that originated in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe. Under its emphasis on humanism – a positive stance on human freedom and thought- the artistic technique of linear perspective was rediscovered by architect Filippo Brunelleschi and given a scientific shine by the Renaissance man, Leon Battista …show more content…
It was important to the Renaissance artists due to its ability to create an illusion of depth to represent their three-dimensional world realistically. This was done for the effect of bringing the viewer into the scene and placing focus on a point of interest to convey a certain message. (‘The School of Athens’ by Raphael, 1509-1511)
Through the usage of one-point linear perspective, artists have managed to draw attention to symbols to convey a certain message. An example of one such artwork is High Renaissance painter, Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’. It was painted between the years 1509 and 1511. Raphael had been commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the rooms of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. In it, Raphael symbolized key figures of the Renaissance …show more content…
For example, to create a linear perspective, artists have to create “a ‘floor’ (a ground or stage on which figures and objects would be placed) in a painting and (draw) a receding grid to act as a guide to the relative scale of all other elements within the picture. Alberti suggests relating the size of the floor squares to a viewer's height.” This is a reflection of Alberti’s humanism roots. Linear perspective would not be used to glorify God like painting in the medieval period but to involve the people looking at an artwork. Early Renaissance painter, Masaccio’s ‘The Holy Trinity, with the Virgin and Saint John and Donors’ is an example of this. This fresco is located in the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella in Italy. In the painting, Christ is on the cross, God is on a ledge behind him and Mary and St. John are at the foot of the cross. The donors are a step down and appear to be in the space of the viewer. Through one-point linear perspective, Masaccio “convey(s) the sense that the image recedes back into space. The coffers on the ceiling create the orthogonal lines, and the vanishing point is at base of cross, which happens to be at the eye level of the viewer.” An illusion of space is thereby created and the viewer is led to presume that he is part of the fresco. The distance between
Why is perspective important for the Renaissance artist? With reference to two (or three) examples of artworks in which linear perspective plays an important part in the overall composition of the painting, discuss how the system was employed to create a desired illusion of depth, and what the artist wants to communicate through this.
By: Bernice Seow
The Renaissance was the period between the 14th to 17th century that originated in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe. Under its emphasis on humanism – a positive stance on human freedom and thought- the artistic technique of linear perspective was rediscovered by architect Filippo Brunelleschi and given a scientific shine by the Renaissance man, Leon Battista …show more content…
It was important to the Renaissance artists due to its ability to create an illusion of depth to represent their three-dimensional world realistically. This was done for the effect of bringing the viewer into the scene and placing focus on a point of interest to convey a certain message. (‘The School of Athens’ by Raphael, 1509-1511)
Through the usage of one-point linear perspective, artists have managed to draw attention to symbols to convey a certain message. An example of one such artwork is High Renaissance painter, Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’. It was painted between the years 1509 and 1511. Raphael had been commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the rooms of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. In it, Raphael symbolized key figures of the Renaissance …show more content…
For example, to create a linear perspective, artists have to create “a ‘floor’ (a ground or stage on which figures and objects would be placed) in a painting and (draw) a receding grid to act as a guide to the relative scale of all other elements within the picture. Alberti suggests relating the size of the floor squares to a viewer's height.” This is a reflection of Alberti’s humanism roots. Linear perspective would not be used to glorify God like painting in the medieval period but to involve the people looking at an artwork. Early Renaissance painter, Masaccio’s ‘The Holy Trinity, with the Virgin and Saint John and Donors’ is an example of this. This fresco is located in the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella in Italy. In the painting, Christ is on the cross, God is on a ledge behind him and Mary and St. John are at the foot of the cross. The donors are a step down and appear to be in the space of the viewer. Through one-point linear perspective, Masaccio “convey(s) the sense that the image recedes back into space. The coffers on the ceiling create the orthogonal lines, and the vanishing point is at base of cross, which happens to be at the eye level of the viewer.” An illusion of space is thereby created and the viewer is led to presume that he is part of the fresco. The distance between