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High Renaissance Art In Italy

Posted in Uncategorized | December 3rd, 2010

high renaissance art in italy

Art Prints: Raphael

The Renaissance was a period in history marked by cultural rebirth, social change and economic prosperity. It developed after the dark, Middle Ages where culture and the economy were kept dormant under the structure of the Church and political feudal society. This economic class system and major religious cultural influence was also fatally affected by the bubonic plague, which caused a mass number of deaths in the population. After recovering from the deadly effects of the plague, a dominant middle class began to emerge, composed of a various tradesmen, bankers, accountants and guilders. Because of their newly acquired wealth and comfort, this new middle class also stimulated the economy by consuming leisure, art, education and cultural activities. This development of cultural life and demand for art formulated the rebirth or the “renaissance” of the classical ideals of Rome and Greece.

Florence in particular, became the center of the Renaissance period, as it was home to a proliferation of artists, philosophers and writers. One of the greatest and most famous artists of this period was Raphael Sanzio. Raphael was one of the three revered artists of the High Renaissance Period. He was the youngest between him, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Leonardo da Vinci. The artist was said to have been born in the war torn city of Urbino but it was also home to the art-loving mercenary soldier, Federico II da Montefeltro. The son of a lesser known artist, Giovanni Santi, his craft began when he was sent by his father to Perugia to apprentice with the artist, Perugino. Here he learned the majority of his skills as painter including characteristics such as well-organized compositions, delicate and soft depictions of women and simplicity of details. Upon noble recommendation, the artist left Perugia for Rome where he was highly impressed with the revolutionary path art and culture was taking. Greatly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo’s frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, the artist painted his most famous work, The Sistine Madonna for the high altar of Santo Sisto in Piacenza, a papal state in 1512.

If budget does not permit a trip to Italy to view or purchase an original Raphael, online postcard printers offer cheap postcards printing services. Otherwise, a trip to the local museum shop also presents a variety of art print options.

About the Author

Nikki Sabato is a writer with a background in landscape architecture and design. She currently works in the field of marketing and design communication.

“The High Renaissance” by Linda Murray – art of Italy in the early 16th century

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Frescoes in cloister by High Renaissance painter Il Sodoma Photo Mugs

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