FROM THE MIDDLE AGES THROUGH THE RENAISSANCE

FROM THE MIDDLE AGES THROUGH THE RENAISSANCE

Introduction

Various artists are known for their meticulous pieces of work from time immemorial. The most renowned artists during renaissance include Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci. These two artists produced different kinds of arts including paintings, cartoons and sculptures. Michelangelo was one of the famous Italian renaissance artists and one of the greatest artists of all the time. He was a sculptor but was also known for his marvelous paintings that he learnt gradually to create (Ackerman, 1986). In all their artwork, they ensured that the pieces of their work were well made and carried a message or had a meaning that was to be conveyed to the third parties. This paper compares the art work of these two artists in terms of what their art meant to convey and various techniques that they employed in ensuring that they conveyed a meaning or a message to the society.

One of the works that was done by Michelangelo is the Statue of David. This sculpture was done in 1504 (Tolnay, 1947). The artwork was made with an intention to convey certain meaning to the people. The sculpture was intended to portray David as a symbol of Florentine freedom. The piece of work had begun 40 years by Agostino di Duccio. The leadership of anti-renaissance priest and other leaders of Florence had collapsed and the people were liberated from the bad leadership (Emanuel, 1982). Therefore, the sculptures meant to communicate to the world and show that they were now freed. The sculpture manages to communicate this message from how it is portrayed. The sculpture is bold and the face displays happiness and shows a conqueror’s position (Tolnay, 1964). The physical representations show a conqueror and a person that has won the fight. Furthermore, the nudity of the statue illustrated that there is no burden as people are free from any kind of oppression (Michael & Jill, 1994).

The artists used various techniques in conveying this messages and meaning. For instance, he uses size, balance, symbolism, color, and gesture. The color chosen is white, which shows peace. The size of the sculpture is also used to show the strength and the input people put in ensuring that they get the freedom (Wallace, 2011). The gesture of the sculpture is used to portray the courage and brevity that was put in to attain the freedom. Hence, the artist used a number of these techniques to ensure that the message is well communicated.

On the other hand, Leonardo had a number of paintings that he did during his lifetime. One of his paintings is the paintings of the 1490s known as the Last supper (Michael, 1974).  This painting was intended to communicate or represent the last meals that Jesus shared with his disciples before he was crucified. In this piece, what communicates this message to the audience is the number of the people sitted round the table with food on the tables (Brigstoke, 2001). It also shows how the disciples argue between themselves after Jesus hinted to them that one of them was to betray him.

Like Michelangelo, this piece of artwork incorporates various techniques in ensuring that the meaning is well conveyed (John, 1994). For instance, color and symbolism are used. The way the disciples are portrayed shows or symbolizes that they are consulting with one another on a certain issue (Roger, 1996). Colors used are a mix of brown, blue and white. White is used to show the reality and to make the sculptures appealing (Charles, 2005). These techniques are used in the pictures to show reality and to depict the biblical stories.

In conclusion, the two artists incorporated various techniques in their sculptures and painting, which helped them come out with outstanding pieces of work. They are credited to be amongst the greatest artists of the renaissance as their work were fantastic and conveyed meaning easily.

The last supper- Painting done by Leonardo da Vinci

The statue of David by Michelangelo in 1504

References

Ackerman, J. (1986). The Architecture of Michelangelo. University of Chicago Press.

Brigstoke, H. (2001). The Oxford Companion the Western Art. Oxford, ENG, UK.

Emanuel, W. (1982). Leonardo Da Vinci As a Musician. U.S.: Yale University Press

Charles, N. (2005). Leonardo da Vinci, The Flights of the Mind. Penguin.

John N. L. (1994). The Secret Revealed: How to Look at Italian Renaissance Painting. Medieval   and Renaissance Times, Vol. 1, no. 2: 6–17.

Michael, B. (1974). Painting and Experience in Fifteenth Century Italy. Oxford University            Press.

Michael, H. and Jill, D. (1994). The Young Michelangelo: The Artist in Rome 1496–1501. London: National Gallery Publication

Michael, H. and Jill, D. (1994). The Young Michelangelo: The         Artist in Rome 1496–1501.     London: National Gallery Publications.

Roger, M. (1996). Machiavelli, Leonardo and the Science of Power. University of Notre Dame     Press.

Tolnay, C. (1947). The Youth of Michelangelo. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Tolnay, C. (1964). The Art and Thought of Michelangelo. 5 vols. New York: Pantheon Books

Wallace, W. (2011). Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Times. Cambridge University        Press.

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