The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement focused on the rebirth and renewal of the classic Greek and Roman styles. In fact Renaissance directly translates to "rebirth". The Renaissance started the rebirth of humanism and the revival of cultural success. The classic style featured idolized human figures and weight shift. Many paintings had mythology as a prominent subject, for instance, The Birth of Venus and Venus and Mars. However, Christianity was a main subject in Renaissance art, for example, The Last Supper and The Creation of Adam. The Renaissance reached across Europe and touched many countries like Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, England, Russia, and Hungary. Many famous artist lived during this time period; Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Boticelli, van Eyck, Raphael, Titian, Donatello, Caravaggio, and many more. Rubens said, "what we call painting was invented by the Venetians".
Arnolfini Wedding contains many symbols. For example, from Giovanni's dark robes, one can tell that he is influential in the court, for the dark colors were popular there. The red of the bed is used as protection from fevers and miscarriages, for it seems as though Giovanna, the woman, is pregnant. The red can also symbolize authority and a place in the court. Green symbolizes love and joy or it can represent chastity, morality, and restraint. Oranges represent the Christian soul, plain and simple on the outside, but beautiful on the inside.
Jan van Eyck, Arnolfini Wedding, 1434 A.D.
National Gallery, London
Jan van Eyck, Arnolfini Wedding, 1434 A.D.
National Gallery, London
The red of the robes symbolizes the blood and sacrifice of the Christian beliefs. The blue symbolizes royalty, faith, and compassion. The light and the dark symbolize good verses evil; knowledge verses ignorance. The lush green landscape in the background symbolizes new life and fertility.
Hugo van der Goes, Portinari Alterpiece, 1475
Uffizi, Florence
Hugo van der Goes, Portinari Alterpiece, 1475
Uffizi, Florence
This painting depicts the Virgin Mary and her Child sitting on a throne. Standing on either side of the throne is St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. This painting was commissioned by Giovanni de' Bardi. Bardi chose both saints as his patron saints. When Bardi returned to his home, Florence, he built a chapel to house his magnificent painting. This painting is so intricate in detail and renders many symbolic meanings. The red is often used to symbolize blood and the commemoration of martyrs and saints. Blue, symbolizes the sky and heaven; it can also symbolize truth.
Sandro Boticelli, The Virgin and Child Enthroned, 1484
Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany
Sandro Boticelli, The Virgin and Child Enthroned, 1484
Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany
This painting was painted during the Italian Renaissance. It was originally painted for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici. Slightly right of the center, Venus wears red and blue, the colors of the Virgin Mary. Boticelli uses many colors; red, blue, yellow, green, brown, white, and orange. To the far left, Mercury, the god of war dawns a red garmet, for red symbolizes anger, bloodshed, and war.
Sandro Boticelli, La Primavera, 1482
Uffizi Museum, Florence
Sandro Boticelli, La Primavera, 1482
Uffizi Museum, Florence