The Italian Renaissance (1420-1600)
In
the arts and sciences as well as society and government, Italy was the major
catalyst for progress during the Renaissance: the rich period of development
that occurred in Europe at the end of the Middle Ages. Because of the number of
different fields in which it applied, ``Renaissance'' is a word with many
layers of meaning. Accordingly, Renaissance painting cannot signify any one
common or clearly definable style. As Gothic painting had been shaped by the
feudal societies of the Middle Ages, with its roots in the Romanesque and
Byzantine traditions, Renaissance art was born out of a new, rapidly evolving
civilization. It marked the point of departure from the medieval to the modern
world and, as such, laid the foundations for modern Western values and society.
The
Renaissance in Italy started gradually, its beginnings being apparent even in
Giotto's work, a century before Masaccio was active. The quest for scientific
precision and greater realism culminated in the superb balance of harmony of
Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo. The influence of Humanism is reflected in the
increase of secular subjects. In the final phase of the Renaissance, Mannerism
became the dominant style.
Список
литературы
Для подготовки данной работы
были использованы материалы с сайта http://www.ibiblio.org/louvre/paint/