Question

Lasting Ideas From the Renaissance

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In addition to the information presented this week regarding the reasons for the creation of artifacts in each era (the ancient world, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance), recall information about motives for creating artifacts presented earlier in the course as you answer these questions:

Identify an artifact that represents the characteristics of each era. You should identify a total of three artifacts. Insert an image or include a link to your artifact.

What do you believe was the purpose for the creation of each of the artifacts you selected? Justify your response using what you now know about the culture and values of each era.

Why do you believe the creators felt the need to express themselves using these artifacts?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) The Ancient World – The man-bison cave-paintings of El Castillo in the Cantabria region of Spain are the oldest known cave paintings in Europe. Some researchers believe that it might be the oldest in the world since it possibly came from the Homo neanderthalensis.

This painting becomes something marvellous when one considers the context of the painting. This was painted nearly 40,000 years ago or more. It was painted by a very primitive man who perhaps wanted to be as expressive as Leonardo Da Vinci or Picasso. Just like artists today tend to paint about the current events and express it through exaggeration, satire or vivid colours, this cave-man also expressed an element of the environment around him for no particular reason other than to express oneself.

Since this piece is an expression of the daily life of that time, like most ancient world art, the purpose seems to be that of record keeping. Instances of the lives of these cavemen are on the walls, perhaps because this was the only way in which they could keep records for the next “herd” of their species. Since man started living in groups at this time, it can be assumed that the records were for their posterity or other herds.

The Middle Ages – The medieval ages took place from the 5^th to the 15^th century in Rome. The art of this period is mainly that of political and religious rebellion. Revolutionary art was generally with the depiction of the life of Jesus Christ. This is because religious freedom and Christianity were forbidden in these dark ages.

“The Annunciation” in 1344, painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti was one such example of a religious painting. These art styles were greatly influenced by Greek and Roman art forms. Paintings that glorified God and criticised the government was common during the medieval ages.

The Renaissance – The Renaissance is and probably always will be one of the most defining periods of art. It began around the 1300’s and lasted until the 1600’s. The word “Renaissance” simply means “rebirth” or “reawakening.” It has been rightly called so because; it was the awakening of humanity in terms of media. Prior to this period, an artist would surely express themselves through their work. However, it was in the Renaissance that this expression began to have meaning and motive. Most of the time, the motive in these works has been to simply enlighten mankind.

Artists like DaVinci and Michelangelo particularly thrived at this time since there wasn’t much of political hindrance that would leave the population in too much distress to focus on creating art. The dominant Medici family in Florence, where the Renaissance is said to have originated, brought about economic prosperity through the Medici Bank as well. Also, the invention of the metal movable type which is a certain type of printer and concrete had lead to artists having their own tools with which to create.

El Greco’s “Adoration of the Magi” had very bold shadow work through streaks of orangy-yellow light. Conversely, most of the artists at that time used the sfumato technique that is evident on the Mona Lisa. This smokey technique was responsible for the divine or other-worldly look that El Greco’s paintings did not really have. Even his painting “assumption of the virgin” had a substantial depiction of the earth and a small half of the painting showed Mary ascending into heaven.