Renaissance (A Period of Art)

The art of the High Renaissance, had a universal characteristic. This was unity and balance achieved by the artist's intuition. (Sayre, 5-12) This period of great art and artists only lasted a short period of time, and was created by a few artists of genius such as Leonardo DaVinci, Raphael Sanzio, Michaelangelo, Giotto di Bondone, Filippo Brunelleschi and Donato Bramante.

Some of the main members of the first generation of The Renaissance artists were: Giotto di Bondone, Filippo Brunelleschi in architecture, and Leonardo DaVinci in painting. Many artists shared many significant qualities. The way they thought was that faith in the theoretical foundations of art and the conviction that development and progress were not only possible but very important to the life and significance of the arts. Ancient art was held higher than everything else, not only as an inspiring model but also as a great influence that could reveal the many successes of previous artists. Early Renaissance artists tried to create art forms similar to the appearance of the natural world with their experiences of human personality and behavior. Early Renaissance had some of the most genius minds in art history, which can be notable for three of the greatest artists that ever lived. These three artists are, Leonardo da' Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Raphael Sanzio. These three men defined the word art as we know it today.

Filippo Brunelleschi started his career as a goldsmith, and in 1418 decided to become an architect. He invented methods for lifting construction materials into place for creating domes. He invented linear perspective, which is used to show depth on a flat surface (Symonds). He designed and supervised the raising of the dome over the Cathedral of Florence (Symonds). The influence of his study of classical Roman architecture appears in many buildings he designed in Florence. They include the Foundling Hospital, the churches of San Lorenzo and Santo Spirito, which were built in 1421, and the Pazzi Chapel (Symonds).

The next period of the Renaissance was the High Renaissance. (Sayre, 12-25) The artists of this time were the some of the most brilliant people of all time. Among them were Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarotti.

Leonardo was so talented that after he painted two angels in the corner of Verrocchios Baptism of Christ, Verrocchio never painted again. Soon after that Leonardo went on to paint the Annunciation, which was his first ...