Protestant Reformation & Counter-Reformation

Read this informative SmartHistory explanation of the Protestant Reformation and subsequent Counter-Reformation! Super Helpful in understanding the role of Catholic Church.

Martin Luther, initiator of the Protestant Reformation

Artist review

Review your Renaissance artists, key concepts and characteristics!
E. Northern Renaissance

• Jan Van Eyck
• microscopic detail (oil paint)
• symbolism and mystery (Arnolfini Wedding & Ghent Altarpiece)
• layers of meaning

High and Late Italian Renaissance

• Leonardo da Vinci
• True Renaissance man (not only an artist, but engineer, botanist, anatomist, naturalist, inventor, etc.
• psychological intensity (Mona Lisa)
• soft and hazy atmosphere (sfumato, atmospheric perspective)
• balanced and symmetrical compositions, pyramidal (Last Supper, Madonna of the Rocks)
• Mystery and intrigue 

  

• Raphael
• The true painter
• clarity and color (inspired by his teacher, Perugino)
• Popular for Holy Family compositions (Madonna of the Meadow)
• Master of perspective, chiaroscuro

• Michelangelo
• sculptor with divine power ("Il divino")
• monumental and colossal sculpture, HEROIC
• Marble master, works from single block (sculpture is "trapped" in block waiting to be released)
• Anticipatory tension, moment before the action (David, Moses)
• Worked extensively for Pope Julius II
•  Painting: Classically inspired
• complicated arrangement of figures 
• monumental, muscular, powerful

• Bramante
• Pope's architect
• Believed central plan was ideal building plan
•  Circle as perfect form (Tempietto)

The Renaissance

A few additional awesome resources about the High Renaissance:

• Great archive of the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
• Amazing 360 degree virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel (thanks Julia!)
• In depth look at Michelangelo's Last Judgment
• Explore the Renaissance through the Met's amazing Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
• Continue watching The Divine Michelangelo (part I, we watched part of this in class) and part II

Look the Ghent Altarpiece at the Getty in 100 billion pixels!!