The Renaissance is, without an ounce of doubt, one of the most influential movements known to man. Society underwent a grand transformation, entering a period of light and flourishing after countless years of despair. Out of the many achievements of this time, the emergence of Renaissance art is one that overshadows the rest. It signified a departure from the style of the Dark Ages, which, most notably, encompassed iconography and stained glass depicting religious figures. This is reflective of the emphasis that was placed upon the Church during medieval times, considering how almost all were living lowly lives and viewed salvation as their main priority.
However, the Renaissance proceeded to be the rediscovery of classic art, literature, and philosophy that was disregarded throughout the Middle Ages. After all, the word Renaissance quite literally means “rebirth”, with it being considered a revival of ancient Greco-Roman culture. When specifically observing Renaissance art, it consisted of a wide array of colors that were used to show realistic and contemporary representations of life and human beings at the time. The idea of humanism also greatly influenced the art of the Renaissance, as it focused on man’s achievements and the potential for individual greatness.
Out of the plethora of recognizable Renaissance art pieces, there is certainly one that I would consider to stand out as an absolute masterpiece, it being the grandiose painting of the Birth of Venus, which was created by Sandro Botticelli in 1485. Venus, the ancient Roman goddess of love and fertility, is shown to be standing on a giant shell with her long blonde hair blowing in the wind and being used to cover her nude body. She was clearly painted in a manner that symbolized her elegance and perfection, with her appearing as angelic as ever. Looking beyond Venus and the gist of the painting, it gives a great idea of the new art themes and ideas that had risen during the Renaissance. Great detail was put into the people within the image, with each stroke of the brush having a purpose and contributing to the realistic portraits of humans, in comparison to art from medieval times.
As previously stated, the humanistic perspective played a tremendous role in this shift and it’s influence can be shown in other types of art from the time period, such as sculptures created by Michelangelo. Another eye catching aspect of the painting is the usage of color. From the striking ginger locks belonging to all three women in the painting and the mixture of pale green and blue rippling waves in the background, all the way to the simplicity of blush-colored flowers to Venus’ left, the Birth of Venus encompasses the use of a color palate that does nothing but contribute to the piece of artwork. This is, yet again, another feature of Renaissance art that is shown in other examples such as the work done by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This goes to show how many seemingly miniscule details went into the creation of the Birth of Venus and other pieces of art from the Renaissance. To conclude, the impact of the Renaissance and all the accomplishments that took place at the time will live on forever, with the art from the time being incomparable and will continue to be admired for many years to come.
Amina Radoncic (she/her) is a sixteen-year-old writer from Long Island, New York. She is a lover of classic literature, her favorite reads include To Kill A Mockingbird and Little Women. While she chooses to spend most of her time reading or writing, you can also find her watching history documentaries, listening to music ranging from Taylor Swift to Vivaldi, and spending time with her dog.
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