The most famous Renaissance painters

Renaissance painters

In our article today we will be getting to know some of the most outstanding and influential Renaissance painters of that time, in addition to learning about the history and characteristics of this period of cultural renewal that marked its mark and left important contributions to the world of the arts.

The Renaissance is considered a period of cultural, artistic, literary and scientific renewal, which took place between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries on the European continent. The emergence of this movement was not due to a specific event, although the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries witnessed great events, such as the fall of Constantinople, the conquest of southeastern Europe by the Turks and the discovery of new worlds. .

It could be said that the Renaissance is based on the development of naturalistic and scientific concepts, whose origins can be seen as early as the XNUMXth century and continue under Gothic naturalism.

There is certainly no clearly defined beginning of the Renaissance, however, most scholars agree that this period began to take effect from the very moment people began to realize that they were no longer living in the Middle Ages.

Their own interests are distinct, and they have a greater awareness of themselves and their sociocultural functioning. This is quite the opposite of what happened to people living in the Middle Ages, who were unclear about their existence in a time distinct from classical antiquity.

The past consisted for them in BC and AD: the era of the "law" that corresponds to the old testament and the era of "Grace" that is the one that corresponds to the time after the coming of Jesus Christ.

The importance of the Renaissance in many aspects of society cannot be doubted. It was a period characterized mainly by discovery and change. During this period great transformations took place: the Copernican system was replaced by the Ptolemaic in Astronomy, feudalism fell, trade increased and paper, printing, the marine compass and gunpowder were invented.

It should be noted that it was thanks to the printing press that some expressions such as art could be successfully disseminated during the Renaissance era, thus helping the emergence of this new cultural movement.

“Without a doubt, the great interest in human nature and the renewal of the dignity of man, allows the reconciliation of the human with the divine without hostile reactions, attacks or rivalry. It is a period characterized by its syncretism, reinforced by a primordial interest: the human being”.

Features

In order to synthesize the elements of art and painting in the Renaissance, it is important to begin to highlight some of the main characteristics that were part of this period:

The observation of the world and the representation of its details, three mathematical principles: balance, harmony and perspective. The immense variety of pictorial possibilities offered by the new oil painting technique, the integration of the arts, the representation of the nude, the portrait and the signature of the works.

It was during the Renaissance when each of the minimal details involved in the composition of a painting began to be taken into account with greater importance. In those years, all those details began to gain importance and to be highlighted in order to make them known either by themselves or as part of an integral symbolism.

Painting underwent significant changes before and after the Renaissance. In the years before the Renaissance, one of the most widely used painting techniques was tempera, which basically involved using colored pigments mixed with egg yolk to create a fine, resistant, non-uniform, and quick-drying mixture.

It is believed that one of the first figures to promote the oil painting technique was Jan van Eyck, however, it is important to note that oil painting had been popular since the Middle Ages, especially on stone or metal surfaces. The painting on canvas was brilliant, even being perfectly executed by the Flemish.

"The mixture obtained from the color pigments in a viscous medium allows a homogeneous mixture with greater possibilities of shades, translucent films and velvety shades unknown until then, thus achieving greater three-dimensional effects."

During this period, important masterful works were carried out on the handling of fabrics and clothing that had not been possible in previous stages. The artist was also given the opportunity to develop creativity without barriers to correction and refinement. Likewise, the depth in the atmosphere of the landscapes is achieved with greater precision.

The Renaissance marked an unprecedented milestone in the history of universal art. It was precisely during this period that the various art forms, such as painting, architecture, and sculpture, were first integrated. A large number of artists were able to flawlessly develop their skills in each of these artistic branches.

Until then, the representation of the human body was constituted as a sinful connotation, however since the arrival of the Renaissance, it acquired a new understanding, until it became the most notable manifestation of the artist. Contours, movement, strength, shapes, volume and all those qualities that allow a dynamic and natural representation are studied.

In this way, the aim is to restore the human being's legitimate importance, lost during the Middle Ages and Christianity, returning to the interest shown by the Greeks in highlighting and appreciating every detail of the human figure. Thus, the human being practically became the axis of artistic expression.

With the human body being a clear target for artistic dissemination, the portrait also began to gain greater importance in the artist's career. Previously, only a face was painted without clarity, without expression, without interest, but now the reality was completely different and with greater freedom.

During the Renaissance, the resurgence of a new technique related to portraiture can be clearly seen. Now the paintings framed in this area were characterized, among other things, by highlighting major features in the model, their temperament, their environment and the transcendence of the social position of those high-ranking characters.

But not only did the portrait gain greater importance after the Renaissance, but the self-portrait also became a transcendental element in the artist's life, given that the artist himself recognized its value, which he projected to the society he represented. The importance of the artist was such that works began to be signed. Remember that in the Middle Ages, the creators of the works were unknown.

Early Renaissance painters

As in other eras, the Renaissance also witnessed a period of "incubation," during which the first painters with Renaissance tendencies began to gain prominence. In this specific case, the Renaissance precursor recognized by historians from a pictorial perspective is Giotto.

Then came the appearance of a new period known under two different names: the late Gothic and the early Renaissance. During that time the most famous artists of Flemish art emerged. The most influential of them was undoubtedly Jan Van Eyck, who managed to develop the best skill in handling oil. A clear example is his work “The Arnolfini Marriage”:

Roger Van Der Weyden

Another of the most renowned Renaissance painters of the time was Roger Van Der Weyden, who devoted himself more to the details of the emotional interpretation of Gothic drama in this new style and stands out for his skill in the details of the faces and greater character. in the expressions.

Hugo Van der Goes

He was also one of those characters of greatest importance at the time of the Renaissance. He was characterized by his turbulent and depressive personality, who ends up taking his own life and who can be compared in a certain way with Van Gogh. He made many works, one of the most important was the Portinari triptych.

Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516)

He is undoubtedly another of the greatest figures of the Northern European Renaissance. He stood out primarily for one of his most iconic works, entitled "The Garden of Earthly Delights." It is a triptych depicting three distinct religious scenes. On the right wing, the Lord presents his newly created Eve to Adam; in the center, paradise; and on the left, hell.

Conrad Witz

This German painter also had his moment of fame during the Renaissance, especially thanks to his impressive skill in handling fabrics, creating very clearly high-quality satin pieces.

Italian Renaissance

In the Italian Renaissance there were also many painters and artists who managed to stand out for their works:

Massaccio (1401-1428)

His career was not very long, but it was successful. Barely 21 years old he achieved fame, but six years later he passed away. One of the things that most characterized him was his great magnificence in the representation of frescoes, the most influential being that of the Holy Trinity that is in the Santa Maria Novella Church in Florence.

The priest Angelico (1400-1455)

It could be considered as one of the most important successors of Masaccio. During his career he was able to stand out for various aspects, especially humanizing the figures, attributing great importance to light, color and the smallest details.

Piero da Francesca (1420-1491)

Widely known for its frescoes. He stood out for his admirable perception of mathematical proportions.

Sandro Botticelli (144/5-1510)

It became one of the favorite artists of doctors and one of its members commissioned the work The Birth of Knm, where a low-relief effect can be seen due to the emphasis on the layout.

late renaissance

The late Renaissance was also represented by great renowned artists, among whom we can highlight the following:

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

One of the greatest artists of the time. His success was due, in part, to the great skill that he demonstrated in the different artistic branches where he worked. Among his most important works is the Adoration of the Magi, which was not finished, despite being one of his most ambitious works from an artistic point of view.

The Last Supper

Without a doubt, it is the most famous and important work of all those that were made during the late Renaissance. Currently the mural is located in Santa Maria da Gracia in Milan and is considered one of the greatest works of the time, although unfortunately the work showed deterioration shortly after being finished, due to the fact that this oil does not adhere well to the surface. Wall.

The Mona Lisa

Da Vinci also painted The Mona Lisa, one of his most famous and iconic paintings. The fame of this painting is not directly due to the work itself, but rather to the mystery that surrounded this figure for many years. Here, great skill is evident in the handling of psychology and personality.

Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Another of the greatest Renaissance painters. One of his most emblematic works is in the Sistine Chapel in Rome; work that took approximately four years to complete.

Giorgione (1478-1510)

One of the things that most characterized this artist was his interest in highlighting landscapes as the central theme of his paintings. Among his most iconic works is "The Baranal," which depicts a distinctly pagan theme, using warm, soft tones that contrast with the vivid hues and defined shapes of the human figures.

Northern Renaissance artists

The Northern Renaissance also had its outstanding artists, among them we can name the following:

Albrecht Durer (1471-1518)

He is known as the most Renaissance artist of all Renaissance artists, since he was the first to show his fascination with his own image, representing it since he was just 13 years old.

Lucas Cranach (1472-1553)

This artist stands out for showing great fantasy in his work, while his human figures lack anatomical sensitivity. In this period other great artists also stood out, such as: