Visual Culture - Renaissance -
Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, & Patronage


Patronage: The de Medici Family

The De Medici family came from Origins which would let them dominate the culture and rule Florence for nearly 300 years. The power to rule Florence would be the trade, they depended highly of the trade which consisted of wool and banking. The families which could assist when trading in these circumstances would be highly thought of and have a significance importance when ruling the city.

This is how the Medici became an importance in the city, it was due involvement with the civic affairs. The De Medici family was a banking family so they had a great amount of power.
The power became more powerful in 1397 when the Medici bank opened in Florence, thanks to Giovanni di Bicci de Medici. This was the main source for finical situations. The Medici family power had opened a new source within the Civic government.
The bank has been successful and had expanded to England.
In the 15th century the Medici family were classed as the highest rank in Florentine government.

The De Medici's are known as the Patrons of Art due to their rise in Florentine politics. They became Patronage of artists, in which other artist wouldn't find work without them. The Medici family had backed many of the Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello (his most famous the bronze statue of David).

Florence was home to many Renaissance artist such as Machiavelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Leonardo Da Vinci : How his work has influenced the world.

Mona Lisa :

 

Leonardo da Vinci started to create this picture in 1503 and finished it in 1507. there are some speculations that this image of Mona Lisa wasn't actually finished. 

the Mona Lisa was a painting of a women called Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Gioconda.

 

The landscape in the back ground of the image offers a variety of colours and textures. The mountains provide a horizon which automatically directs the viewers eye toward the lady in the painting. Their is a faint line cross the top of Mona Lisa's head which indicates when looking closely that she is wearing a veil. Leonardo Da Vinci has control when it comes to painting this young lady, control over the hair, clothing and lack of jewellery. She would have been honoured when having her portrait painted.

 

Leonardo Da Vinci work has been an influence in many other artists work such as Marcel Duchamp(painter, sculpture, etc..), Marco Pece (Lego photographer), Fernando Botero (painter), Chris Naylor ( 3D grass engraver), Jim Hance (artist).

They have took their influences from the Mona Lisa and portrayed it as you  wouldn't expect to see it, they make something unique and interesting so that you will remember what has been done.

Marco Pece

 

Chris Naylor

 

Jim Hance

 

These influence that have been made by looking the image of the Mona Lisa or by taking her style and composition and recreating it using a specific person or character. They are all creative work which has been truly influenced by the work of another artist work. They have used the modern day life and activities to make a specific piece of work to fit in with the industries in today society.

 

 

Michelangelo : The meaning behind his work.

 

The Sistine Chapel ceiling

 

The Sistine chapel was single handily painted by Michelangelo after he was commissioned by the Pope Julius II in 1505. Michelangelo started to create this masterpiece which would be a great feature in the chapel for many years after. He started to create the painting called 'the Sistine chapel' in 1508 and finished it four years later in 1512 after being told that he could do what ever he would like to do on it.
The painting was approximately 520 square metres long and sits in across the barn built chapel next to the Vatican. This painting would allows Michelangelo name to go down in history.

The centre of the painting consists of nine different panel showing the different and unique scenes of the old testament's in the Bible. Three of the scenes are about creation, 3 are about Adam and Eve, and the other three are about the story of Noah.

Each of the panel has a specific name :

• The Drunkenness of Noah
• The Flood
• The Sacrifice
• The Fall
• The Creation Of Eve
• The Creation Of Adam
• God Separating Earth from Water
• The Creation of the Sun, Moon and Stars
• God Separating Light from Darkness

The First three panels

The Drunkenness of Adam : The old testament shows how Noah owned a Vineyard, and how he got drunk of his wine. His son Ham covered Noah's body as he lays there naked. This is when Hams brothers Japhet and Shem look away.

The Flood : It shows how flood would drawn the people as Noah and his family climbed aboard the ark.

The Sacrifice : Noah has built an alter inside of the ark for thanksgiving, which he offered up a sacrifice from God. They gave the offering to God and in return God blessed Noah and is family.

The Middle three panels

The Fall : This shows us where Eve had took the apple from the serpent in the garden Eden. Then Adam and Eve are forced to leave.

The Creation of Eve: Eve arises from the slumbering side of Adam.

The creation of Adam: Adam is about to come to alive, when God offers him Life in the Garden of Eden.

The Final three panels

God Separating Earth from Water: The powerful figure of God creates firmament.

The creation of the Sun, Moon and Stars: God shown in the act of creation, by outing the Sun and Moon into their position in the universe.

God Separating Light from Darkness: God moving the clouds of darkness and putting in the Light.