Lesson #26 - Renaissance Art Festival

After yesterday's look at the words of the Renaissance, we'll turn our attention to its art and architecture today...

Renaissance Art Festival

Remember that we're expecting somewhere in the neighborhood of three minutes or so per work. Presentations can take various forms, but these were some of the questions you were asked to consider as you prepared. (Of course, not all apply to all works.)

Your presentation should include items like these, as they apply:
Name of the work
Name of the artist
Date of the work (location of creation)

Description of the work and its creation
* Interesting information about the process of its creation
* Interesting information about materials, style, approach, etc.

What makes this a "Renaissance" work of art/architecture?
* What Renaissance values, ideas and/or themes does the work depict?

What is the significance of this work?
* What was its impact during the time when it was created?
* What has been the subsequent impact of the work?
* Where, if anywhere, can the work be seen today?

What is your reaction to the work? What do you think of it?

You will receive up to 10 points for your presentation. (You will also lose at least half of those if you are a bad audience member or one fooling around on your computer...)

Renaissance Art and Architecture

Masaccio - The Expulsion of Adam and Eve (Brancacci Chapel - 1425)
Brunelleschi - Duomo (Florence: 1420 - 1436)
Donatello - David (1430)
Jan van Eyck - Arnolfini Wedding (1434)
Paolo Uccello - The Battle of San Romano (1438-1440)
Leonardo da Vinci - The Annunciation - (1472 - 1475)
Perugino - Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter (1480 - 1482)
Botticelli - The Birth of Venus (after 1482)
Leonardo da Vinci - Vitruvian Man (c. 1485 - 1492)
Leonardo da Vinci - The Last Supper (1495 - 1497)
Michelangelo - Pieta (1500)
Leonardo da Vinci - Mona Lisa (1502)
Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights (1503 - 1504)
Michelangelo - David (1504)
Michelangelo - Holy Family (1506)
Michelangelo - Creation of Man (Sistine Chapel - 1510)
Raphael - School of Athens (1510)
Raphael - Sistine Madonna (1512 - 1514)
Michelangelo - Moses (1515)
Raphael - Transfiguration (1520)
Michelangelo - The Last Judgment(Sistine Chapel: 1534 - 1541)
Bramante, Michelangelo, others - St. Peter's Basilica (Rome: 1506 - 1626)

Connection to Today: We've talked a little about the role of patronage in the art of the Renaissance. We have also talked about its significance in the "civic life" of Florence and other cities. Today, while patronage takes many forms, one that has generated a spirited debate is that of governmental funding for the arts. Let's talk about that a bit as time permits...

Here's the homepage for the National Endowment for the Arts. The site features a list of "Exemplary projects funded since 1965" that you might find interesting.

It is currently estimated that each American taxpayer ends up "contributing" less than $1 of their taxes to the NEA.

In the late 1980s, an artist named Andres Serrano generated much controversy for art produced after he received a $15,000 NEA grant. I've linked you to a page of Senate testimony used in a college philosophy course lesson on this topic.

• Should the US government use public money to fund the arts? Why or why not?


• Should there be limits imposed on what types of art will be funded? If so, how?


• What should be government's role, if any, with respect to art?

HOMEWORK for tomorrow: Friday, February 22nd

You don't need to do any additional reading tonight in Chapter 17. Instead, go back to Chapter 16 and read the remaining section on the empire that is NOT yours for the group presentation. You should have all of Chapter 16 read before Monday.

We'll get back to reading 17.3 on the Reformation for Monday's class.