Artists of the Renaissance

Art is defined as the high quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. The way people interpret art, and how art is created changes with the time periods. Three famous artists: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael all had one thing in common, the time period in which they created their artworks. This period of time is called "The Renaissance." All three were Renaissance men, who were looked up to. Since they are all artists of the Renaissance, are we supposed to compare their artwork? All three had different strengths, from painting to sculpting to architecture.

The Renaissance was an influential movement for culture that brought a period of transformation in thought of artistic values, and also brought forth a scientific revolution. This term, Renaissance, marks the time between the Middle Ages and the Modern Ages. Rebirth is another common word used when learning of the Renaissance. This term is used to describe the flourishing times of science and art. "Rebirth is used in two ways. First, it means rediscovery of ancient classical texts and learning and their applications in the arts and sciences. Second, it means that the results of these intellectual activities created a revitalization of European culture in general (Encyclopedia). Renaissance attributers include such famous names as: William Shakespeare, John Milton, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Europeans became more interested, during this time, in studying nature, the outside world. Renaissance art was used to show joy in pleasure of life, and the beauty of the world around (Dowling).

Raphael was born in the Umbrian city of Urbino. His given name was Raffaello Santi. Some people say that Raphael's development of his art skills came from his father. His father, Giovanni di Santi di Piero was a respectable but unknown painter and poet. His father died when Raphael was eleven, but Raphael received training from the workshop that continued on after Giovanni's death. Little of his father's influence is seen in his works; Raphael took earlier Renaissance painters as his teachers: Piero della Francesca and Leone Battista Alberti. In 1504, Raphael went to Florence to develop more skills of his trade. During his four year in there, he matured as an artist and looked up to Leonardo and Michelangelo for inspiration. With his departure of Florence, Raphael took back a comparison of equality between himself and his inspiration. In 1509, Raphael was commissioned to work for Julius II, decorating rooms in the Vatican. After Julius saw Raphael's great works, he dropped all other painters and focused on Raphael. The frescoes in the room had four personifications to them: Justice, Poesia, Philosophy, and Theology. Raphael was also to design ten tapestries that would hang down from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Not only was Raphael a great painter, but he also did architectural work. His first projects were the church of Sant'Eligio degli Orefici and the Chigi stables. Raphael based his styles on Bramante's, and he did so well that Bramante made him his successor. Raphael also did many portraits of sitters, similar to da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", but with more of the person's emotions coming forth. Raphael died on April 6, 1520 (Raphael).

One famous work of Raphael's is "Marriage of the Virgin", which shows the popular legend of the virgin marrying at the age of 14, against her wishes. It shows unsuccessful suitors, turned away from the men in her family, behind Joseph. Another great work of Raphael's is "School of Athens." This painting illustrates the seven liberal arts: Rhetoric, embodied with Socrates when he counts on his fingers, Dialectic, when Aristotle and Plato are talking, Grammar, with the writing of the students, and the Mathematical quadriviumÐ'--arithmetic, music, geometry and astrology (Cocke).

Michelangelo had two major predominant traits: wildness and solitaire. Michelangelo was born in Caprese, located in Valiberina on March 6, 1475. His father was Lodovico Buonarroti, and his mother was Francesca di Miniato del Sera. Francesca died in 1481 after having a fifth kid. Michelangelo came from a middle class family, though later after he became famous, his roots were traced to the Count of Canossa. This thrilled Michelangelo because he cared about aristocratic relations. He said that he still believed that the milk maid he had when young gave him his gift of art. Michelangelo quickly became close the Lorenzo the Magnificent, who the works. Michelangelo would dine with family, and this was remembered down the road when power was passed down. Michelangelo was a very suspicious man; he believed his rivals were out to get him. That many would suggest different activities for him to exhaust him or make him look bad. He would work during the night creating a wrap around the head that would hold candles made of goat grease, so that he would have light and it wouldn't drip so much. Michelangelo was never much on the social side, except when he met Vittoria Colonna. They were complete opposites but cared so much about each other. He was devastated when she died. His death soon followed on February 18, 1564. Michelangelo believed that a man of Renaissance became aware of his own freedom in the choice of Good and Evil (Rizzatti).

Michelangelo's best known statue was that of David. This statue he made in Tuscany. Soon after this statue his best known work was created. He was commissioned by Julius II to create many frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It took him four years to finish this ceiling, and he also had to lie on his back to paint. The four central panels of the ceiling show part of the creation of earth by God. One shows the Lord separating Darkness and Light, another separating the land from the water, another creating the sun and moon, and the last creating man and woman. On October 31, 1512, Michelangelo created another