Emotions presented in the Italian Renaissance Art Cassidy Pilkington
Museum Description: The theme I chose is “Human emotion presented in paintings and sculptures during the Italian Renaissance.” The Italian Renaissance has always stood out to me, from the paintings, sculptures, and architecture. When I first went to Italy I immediately fell in the with the art in the museum. Types of artworks I will include are strictly based on the Italian Renaissance. I will expand and explore the true human emotions portrayed in each painting and sculpture.
Impact Statement: What I want for everyone viewing to experience is the intense beauty ever piece shows and how every art piece has a specific story behind it. Certain ideas I want you to leave with is next time you view a painting or sculpture, take a minute to look at the human emotion or body language being shown in the art because it can tell you a lot of details behind the art. The impact I want to have on others is allowing them to appreciate the beauty in human emotion behind every art piece.
Battle of strength and power
Subtopic: These works show moments of struggle and triumph where the figures’ movements and expressions highlight the emotions of power and conflict.
Sculptures included: Benvenuto Cellini - Perseus with the Head of Medusa (1545–1554), Michelangelo - David (1501–1504), Giambologna - Abduction of the Sabine Women (1579–1583), and Giambologna - Hercules and the Centaur Nessus (1595–1599).
Artist: Michelangelo
Title: David
Date: c. 1501 - June 8, 1504
This sculpture named “David” by Michelangelo belongs in my museum because it shows how Italian Renaissance artists focused on capturing human emotion depicted in facial expression or body language. In this sculpture the body language of David shows deep feelings and the colors and light coming in make the sculpture even more emotional, which is what makes it a great example from that time period.
(Form) Michelangelo uses form in the sculpture David through uses of diagonal lines to show movement and tension presented in the art. The sculptures weight is on one of his leg and has a twist from his torso and arms creating angles that makes the statue look like it’s about to move. Its large scale which is over 14 feet tall making it the focal point of the room and draws peoples attention immediately to the body. The muscles and veins are carved so realistically that makes David look lifelike and strong. The dynamism of his pose also makes it seem like David is ready for action.
Artist: Benvenuto Cellini
Title: Perseus with the Head of Medusa
Date: 1545–1554
I chose Perseus with the Head of Medusa because it shows a strong emotions between the calm hero and the fear in Medusa’s face. Benvenuto Cellini captured incredible details of how the figures are positioned to make the emotions stand out so clearly.
(Form) Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa is a bronze sculpture that shows Perseus holding Medusa’s head. The artist uses curving lines to show the strength and calmness of Perseus’ body which is positioned in a relaxed stance, one leg is bearing his weight while the other is slightly bent. The proportions displayed in this sculpture are different where Perseus is well proportioned and calm, while Medusa’s head is distorted to show her sense of fear. The sculpture is also real space with Perseus standing above and the head projecting out toward the viewer which makes it feel like the scene is happening right in front of us. The dynamism in his pose especially with the way he holds the head makes it feel like the action is still going on. Lastly, the asymmetry in his pose adds great tension showing how he is in control while Medusa was defeated.
Artist: Giambologna
Title: Abduction of a Sabine Woman
Date: 1579 - 1583
I chose “Abduction of the Sabine Women” by Giambologna because it shows emotion through the dramatic movement and tension between the figures.
(Form) The “Abduction of the Sabine Woman” shows twisting bodies with so much movement between them creating diagonal lines adding tension to the scene. The organic shapes of the two figures flow together which makes it feel emotional. The use of chiaroscuro gives depth and shows the muscles of the figures. The sculpture is also large scale which makes it feel dramatic and real. These points of the sculpture give the sculpture a feeling of action and make it feel alive.
Artist: Giambologna
Title: Hercules and the Centuar Nessus
Date: 1595 - 1599
chose Hercules and the Centaur Nessus because it powerfully shows emotion through the dramatic struggle and tension between Hercules and the centaur.
(Form) The sculpture “Hercules and the Centaur Nessus” shows emotion through form by using dramatic poses of the figures. The emphasis of movement of these two figures in action draws attention to their struggle showing how much intensity is in the scene. The dynamism in their bodies coming together makes the action of the piece look like it’s happening in real time. The asymmetry adds tension which makes the conflict even more chaotic. The real space around the sculpture allows you to see the action and body language from different angles.
Divine Encounters
Subtopic: These pieces show emotional moments where humans react to divine power, whether it’s Adam’s near touch with God or the shock of betrayal at the Last Supper.
Artworks included: Michelangelo - The Creation of Adam (1508–1512), Leonardo da Vinci - Annunciation (c. 1472), Leonardo da Vinci - The Last Supper (1495–1498), and Masaccio - The Tribute Money (1425)
Artist: Leondardo da Vinci
Title: The Last Supper
Date: 1495 - 1498
I chose the painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci because it shows strong emotions of the disciples when God tells them one will betray him.
(Content) In this painting it shows how shocked and confused the disciples were when Jesus said one of them will betray him. The implied content shows a lot of tension of betrayal with symbols like the triangle around Jesus which represents the Holy Trinity also, the bread and wine symbolizing the Eucharist. Judas is shown set apart from the rest of disciples which hints at his betrayal and the open window behind Jesus might also show the link between heaven and earth. The painting is also seen as an allegory for sacrifice and redemption while the subtext is that the disciples don’t fully understand whats happened just like when humanity struggles to understand God’s plan sometimes.
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Title: Annunciation
Date: c. 1472
chose the painting “Annunciation” by Leonardo da Vinci because it shows emotions such as surprise and awe when Mary receives the message from the angel that she will have a son.
(Content) In The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci content is first shown through the soft flowing lines and balanced shapes that show Mary’s purity and the angels divine presence. The lily symbolizes her purity and the garden symbolizes innocence. Mary’s calm expression shows how she accepted God’s message while the classical architecture of the whole piece connects the earthly and divine. This painting also includes symbolism through allegory like the lily for purity and the garden for innocence. The symbolism through the subtext is seen when Mary’s expression shows strength. These elements and characteristics of the whole scene makes the art piece have so much more emotion and have more meaning.
Artist: Leondardo da Vinci
Title: The Last Supper
Date: 1495 - 1498
I chose the painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci because it shows strong emotions of the disciples when God tells them one will betray him.
(Content) In this painting it shows how shocked and confused the disciples were when Jesus said one of them will betray him. The implied content shows a lot of tension of betrayal with symbols like the triangle around Jesus which represents the Holy Trinity also, the bread and wine symbolizing the Eucharist. Judas is shown set apart from the rest of disciples which hints at his betrayal and the open window behind Jesus might also show the link between heaven and earth. The painting is also seen as an allegory for sacrifice and redemption while the subtext is that the disciples don’t fully understand whats happened just like when humanity struggles to understand God’s plan sometimes.
Artist: Michelangelo
Artwork: The Creation of Adam
Date of creation: c. 1508 - 1512
I chose this painting called “The Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo because it depicts so much emotion and body language.
(Content) In the painting “The Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo it shows show much emotion in the body movement when God gives life to Adam. When they reach out to touch hands the strong it shows such a strong connection between God and humanity. God’s hand reaches out with power to connect with him while Adam is relaxed which makes the moment feel full of meaning. The implied content shows that even though their hands don’t fully touch it still shows a strong connection between the two of them. The painting also acts as an allegory for how humanity has potential to grow in spiritual power with God. The subtext of the almost touching hands shows the great tension between humanity’s ability to connect with a higher power (God) and the struggle to fully reach him.
Beauty Grace and Divine Feminine Power
Subtopic: These works show emotions through the beauty, strength, and sorrow of divine or mythological female figures, from Venus’s calm grace to Mary’s compassion.
Artworks included: Sandro Botticelli - The Birth of Venus (1483–1485), Michelangelo - Madonna della Pietá (1498–1499), Titian - Venus of Urbino (1538), and Bartholomeo Ammannati - Fountain of Neptune (1565).
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Title: The Birth of Venus
Date: 1483 - 1485
I chose “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli because it shows the emotion of divine beauty and love through Venus’s graceful portrayal.
(Content) The painting “The Birth of Venus” created during the Italian Renaissance shows emotion like beauty in purity within the meaning. Venus is born from the sea which shows so much divine beauty and the form of the painting with its smooth curving lines and soft pastel colors makes Venus look calm and majestic. The way the painting is laid out with Venus in the center of it and the other figures around her makes a balance between calmness and movement. The allegory behind her birth could be seen as a rebirth of beauty and the subtext shows that beauty comes from both the gods and nature. This symbolism of the painting shows how the Italian Renaissance creates love, beauty, and harmony between the divine and natural world.
Artist: Titian
Title: Venus of Urbino
Date: 1538
I chose “Venus of Urbino” by Titian because it shows emotion through how Venus is painted and is looking calm and relaxed while also showing beauty.
(Form) In this painting the form is shown through the emotion of the soft lines and warm colors. Venus’s has smooth curves of the brush strokes to show her beauty and the implied lines lead your eye around her body. The organic shapes of body and the fabric make the whole piece feel natural and as her body language is seen as relaxed. The warm colors such as reds and golds make the scene feel cozy and calm. The use of chiaroscuro creates depth with the lights and shadows while the symmetry of the painting makes everything feel balanced. All of these things pointed out shows Venus as an ideal symbol of such beauty and femininity.
Artist: Bartholomeo Ammannati
Title: Fountain of Neptune
Date: 1565
I chose the “Fountain of Neptune” by Bartolomeo Ammannati because it shows emotion through the powerful stance of Neptune and the dramatic movement in the sculpture.
(Form) This painting by Bartholomeo presents Neptune with a lot of strength and power. The way his strong stance and detailed muscles give the sculpture so much feeling of power in the movement and energy. The flowing water around him also adds to the dramatic effect of the piece. The curves of the water and the strong lines of Neptune’s body work together to create this dynamic and powerful scene. The sculpture uses real space and allows viewers to take a view at the whole thing by walking around it and experience this wonderful piece from different angles, making it feel alive and full of energy.
Artist: Michelangelo
Title: Madonna della Pietá
Date: 1498 - 1499
I chose the sculpture “Madonna della Pietá” by Michelango because it powerfully expresses grief and compassion through Mary’s embrace of Jesus.
(Form) This painting is a good example of how form is used. The curving lines in Mary’s robe and Jesus’ body make the sculpture have a sense of softness to it and shows the sadness between them. The focal point is in Mary’s face when the amount of grief stands out and makes the viewer feel her emotions. The sculpture uses real space because it’s three dimensional. The symmetry of Mary and Jesus creates balance but the directional force in the way Mary is leading towards Jesus makes the focus on their emotional connection of the moment.
I want you to leave my virtual museum feeling inspired by how emotions are captured in art. I hope you see that feelings like power love and struggle are still important today and connect with your own life. By the end I want you to realize how art helps you understand your emotions and the world around you.