Brushstrokes of change: Exploring the societal and cultural impacts on Renaissance Art

 What marks the renaissance?

The term rinascita ("rebirth") and corresponding French word renaissance was adopted as the term for the period after the end of the Middle Ages; and rightfully so as this era symbolized the re-birth of all aspects of society and some might even say of man himself.

Man is the measure of all things

After the long agonizing wars of the Middle Ages, peace and stability was finally something people could yearn towards. With that people began to rediscover the legacy that the ancient Romans and the Ancient Greeks had left behind in the many fields such as philosophy, art, architecture and many more.

With that the concept of Humanism came to fruition, derived from the concept of Roman humanitas and the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy, such as that of Protagoras, who said that "man is the measure of all things".

 

       The dominant  religious worldview at the time often depicted humans as inherently sinful and dependent on divine grace;

but humanism empowered a shift in the intellectual and cultural thinking and viewed man as having authority to dictate and improve themselves and society through education and reason.

Humanism depicted within the brushstrokes;

During this time, we witnessed several paintings and sculptures that depict the human body with astonishing accuracy, this sudden interest in human anatomy did not rise merely because of the artists’ preference but arose from the humanistic ideals at the time.

One such example is;

"Sculpture of David" by Michelangelo (1501-1504)

This massive 14- foot sculpture was done by a young 26-year-old Michelangelo. This sculpture curved out of Carrara marble showcases the Renaissance’s fascination with classical beauty and the perfection of the human body. It depicts David the shepherd just before his biblical battle with the giant Goliath.

 While most of the other sculptures of David represented the scene after the battle with David having his feet on top of Goliath’s severed head yet Michelangelo decided to depict David just before the battle, in a moment of intense focus and determination. 

With that he represented the humanistic ideals of individualism, as he captured how the humans have the ability to show great courage and inner strength in the face of adversity.

Experts continue to be amazed at the sculpture’s anatomic accuracy, down to the veins in the hands and neck which showed the artist possessing extensive knowledge about the inner workings of the human body.

 Its truly as some viewers said, "It's as if he had freed David from the stone".

Several other examples include;

"The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci (1495-1498):

This mural depicts the moment Jesus announces that one of his disciples will betray him. 

The artist captures the intense emotions and the tension of the room accurately, we can certainly feel them as we look at this painting and closely and the disciples’ faces.

 Thus, this composition emphasizes human emotion, psychology, and the individual emotions of each figure.

"The Arnolfini Portrait" by Jan van Eyck (1434):

This is a portrait of the artist and his wife. This painting highlights the couple’s relationship along with wealth and societal status. Thus, centering individuals in society and their relationships. 

Its intricate details also provide religious and cultural symbolism. Certainly, with this painting the more you stare the more you will discover.

 

                   The walls of the Sistine Chapel. Around 343 figures painted over 500 square meters.

The Renaissance humanists revived the interest in philosophy and scientific research with which they sought to understand themselves and the world around them. Naturally this collided with the religious viewpoints which emphasized faith and revelation over human reason.

But soon these two worldviews learned to coexist with each other. This is beautifully represented in the paintings of that time. The last supper is a great example, though it narrates a biblical story, it also empowers humanism but emphasizing each of the individuals and their emotions and feelings.  

Despite it being over 420 years since the Renaissance ended, many of us continue to grapple with similar conflicts experienced as individuals affiliated with organized religion. Let us aspire to emulate the balance and harmony depicted in these paintings and strive towards coexistence rather than collision.