The Renaissance : Mannerism

The Renaissance began in the 1300’s and brought with it many new ideas and ways of thinking. The main one of these ideas being humanism, or that the best that a man can be is greater than the idea of theology. The Italians began to spread this idea and it began to grow. The Italians decided that the best way to express and spread the idea of humanism during the Renaissance was through their sculptures and paintings. This can be seen in many works of art from this time period such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, The School of Athens by Raphael, and Michelangelo's David.

The Renaissance period is known for the revival of the classical art and intellect born in ancient Greece and Rome. The Renaissance is also a time that is marked by growth, exploration, and rebirth. The Italian Renaissance started in Florence and progressively made its way into Venice and then into the great city of Rome. During the Renaissance, Rome was home to some of the most renowned works of art and the finest architectural masterpieces in the world - too many that still holds true today. Along with the delicate architecture and grand artistry, Rome was also home to a mixture of people and cultures. It is in this cultural context and through the book A Street Life in Renaissance Rome: A Brief History with Documents, that understanding how men, woman, and specifically Jews and Christians lived in Rome becomes important to better understand this period of renewal.

As means to start such reform, Pope Paul III, initiated The Council of Trent. The gathering amongst high-ranking churchmen took place from 1545-1563 and was held for two primary purposes. The council was mustered to determine a plan to combat Protestantism and how Catholics would compromise with them and to reform the Catholic Church by clarification of the doctrine and define the central articles of faith. Through The Council of Trent, the strength of the Catholic doctrine increased, and there became a higher stress placed on the importance of the visual arts. The council was successful in developing a doctrine that outlined the difference between Protestantism and Catholicism and created

The Renaissance period was from roughly the 14th century to the 17th century of the common era (CE) beginning in Italy later spreading throughout Europe. The word Renaissance comes from the original Italian word "Rinascimento" or "rinascere" which means "to be reborn" according to Harper (2012).

The painting "The Assumption of the Virgin" has a mannerism influence. Mannerism was a XVI century art style influenced by, and at the same time a reaction to, the harmonious ideals of the Italian High Renaissance. Mannerism is notable for its artificial ( as opposed to naturalistic ) qualities which favor compositional tension and instability rather than the balance and clarity of earlier Renaissance painting.

Success of the Council of Trent in the years 1545-1563 in Tackling the Problems Confronting the Catholic Church

Facial Characteristics are one thing that was beginning to get popular. During the Renaissance new art and new art styles were being made. One of the styles was detail. Detail was something that was not used often before the Renaissance, but over time it became a necessary feature in any art piece.

The Renaissance period, also known as the time of “rebirth”, brought many new ideas from the early 14th to late 16th century. These ideas derived from old medieval beliefs coinciding with new modernist attitudes (“Basic Ideas of the Renaissance,” 2012). Of the many changes that occurred, politics and power, humanism, and the Protestant Reformation predominated. Many desired a strong central government and an end to feudalism, which gave way for the establishment of monarchies (“Introduction to Renaissance,” n.d.). The humanist movement gave individuals a different perspective in regards to life satisfaction and limits of reason (Nauret, 1995). With that being said, to recognize man fully, an emphasis was placed on art, activities, and education of the Classical World (“Basic Ideas of the Renaissance,” 2012). With the establishment of monarchies and humanism, the Renaissance period brought to light the issues of the Church and Catholicism. The movement that appeared from this conflict is known as the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, a major supporter of the Protestant Reformation, brought forth a different way of thinking and perspective that reflected traditional Christian ideas (Fiero, 2011). Much of the arts in the Renaissance period emulated the ideals and struggles of this time. One popular play known worldwide is Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, who is known as the greatest English playwright of all time (Fiero, 2011). The character Hamlet displayed many

Titian style can be recognizable through his works for his unique without focus of the outlines and depending more towards highlights of colors. This was the outcome from the influence from living between Mannerism and Baroque era. During the beginning of Titian career, he was an apprentice with a few famous painters before him. Some include Gentile and Giovanni Bellini in Venice, eventually partnered with Giorgione for the majority for the first few years. Until, their partnership cut short when Giorgione died in 1511.One of Titians surviving fresco, Fondaco dei Tedechi, only work that was recorded to be collaborated with Giorgione. After the death of his partner, Titian continues to paint masterworks until 1576 from a fever. Very few drawings were from Titian, however he dominated control of color in oil paintings. The biggest influences in Titian pieces are driven to neither religious nor mythological.

- (1527-1625), Italian painter, who specialized in portraits and was an important role model for other female Italian artists

If you study art history at any length, you will become aware of the many different periods and their individual characteristics. There are prime times throughout art history that the general populations can easily identify such as Renaissance or Impressionism. They might even be able to name a few of the artists or their artwork. As you delve further into the rich history of art, you start to notice many deviations in the style of artists who are transitioning into a new artistic period. At first look, you might not see the subtle difference in the art from the norm

When looking back at the array of time periods discussed in modern history, some stick out more than others. One historical period that stands out in regards to the richness of the culture, as well as the progressions in civilization, is the Renaissance era. Culture was a huge part of the Renaissance era. The vast artistic styles in all aspects of life during this time made for such a cultural focus. The Renaissance era was called a rebirth of cultural awareness; theatre was a large part of this, including Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

The Renaissance time was a hard transitioning time that no one today has lived long enough to tell. Today we base the past on the evidence that we find such as books, art, plays, scripts, and really anything that can be found in those times. Everything is so scarce but very important. Relationships between parents and children is also something to think about. Have you ever been just a bit curious about how in today’s time we may act different than from those times? In today’s modern world it depends on what age you are to determine the relationship with parents and children. What about the Renaissance times though?

When the artistic culture flourished in Rome and Florence during the 16th century, the Republic of Venice excelled in architecture and sculpture. The most known architecture of northern Italy was Andrea di Pietro della Gondola also known as Palladio. As a young boy, Palladio worked as a sculptor in Veneto, his home town, until he turned 16. He later moved to Vicenza and became an employee of a Mannerist Architect, Michele Sanmicheli, where he specialized in decorative sculpture and monuments. Palladio made many visits to Rome, he studied the ruins of the ancient city and High Renaissance buildings. His work reflected the classical symmetry that the Romans admired which they inherited from the Greeks. His style spread across Europe, after his Four Books of Architecture was published in 1570. The Palladian style became very popular not even in England but also among the North American architects.

The artistic style of Mannerism began in Florence and reigned from the early 1520’s until about 1590 where it had been widely spread in Northern Europe. Early Mannerist period art is known for its anti-Renaissance style which over time developed into a more intellectual style designed to appeal to a more sophisticated patron. Artists of this time, such as Correggio, Fiorentino and Parmigianino, were followers of the Renaissance masters. Mannerism was an artistic approach that focused on the human form, depicted in intricate poses with exaggerated and not always realistic settings. This style is the first observation of artists using an individual way of painting, the personal vision and pictorial understanding of their world.