FREE ESSAY ON THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

The ancestors of man were experimenting with art over 12 thousand years ago, paintings as
far back as 15,000 to 10,000 BC have been found in caves. Our history of painting was
slow to mature into the art we know and 
appreciate today. The most prolific period was the Renaissance period, with 
some of the best known masters being represented by this period. 
The Italian Renaissance was as the name implies the rebirth of painting. This does not
imply that all the advances of painting came from this period but that the masters
learned to combine new and old. The Italian artist Masaccio, was referred to by some as
the father of Renaissance painting. Masaccio made notable advances in the styles of
paintings such as perspective, space, and surrounding his subjects in light and air.
Masaccio was the next great Italian painter after Giotto who died in 1337. Giotto who
painted during the gothic period was able to display naturalistic human dramas and used
characteristics with renaissance qualities. Some of these were showing figures as solid
and weighty characters. Masaccio recognized what Giotto had initiated and brought it
forward with other characteristics as previously mentioned. The other two artist who
deserve recognition in the early part of the Italian renaissance are Brunilleschi and
Donatello for their innovations in linear perspective in sculpture and architecture. 
An important scientific innovation by Masaccio was in the Holy Trinity with the Virgin
and ST. John. The setting reveals a complete command of Brunelleschi's new architecture
and of scientific perspective. This barrel vaulted chamber is a place that the figures
could move freely if they wished. For the first time in history, we are given all the
needed data to measure the depth of this painted interior. We note that all the lines
perpendicular to the picture plane converge upon a point below the foot of the cross, on
the platform that supports the kneeling donors. To see the fresco properly, we must face
this point, which is at normal eye level, somewhat more than five feet above the floor of
the church. 
Masaccio had a very short career that ended at age 27 when he died while in Rome. His
death left a gap that was not filled for some time. Fra Filippo Lippi seems to have had
close contact with Masaccio and used many of his techniques. It did however lack
Masaccio's monumentality and severity and could be considered even cluttered. 
Masaccio was said to be absent minded, whimsical, and one who paid little attention to
himself and others but the contribution he made to the advancement in paintings changed
it forever. The renaissance period continued to flourish and produce many more masters in
the field of painting.