The Northern Renaissance and Renaissance paintings
The renaissance period marked an epoch filled with diverse culture, artistry, and political milestones in the European nations. It was a time of great prowess in terms of art; most developments in the region had a tune of art in them. This kind of art was first common in Italy before 1450 and spread through to England, France, Poland, and the German lands. From religion to politics, all were engulfed by art. Nonetheless, the renaissance in the northern parts of Europe was referred to as the Northern Renaissance. Further, the Giotto arena chapel displayed Giotto’s art, which was commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni. Giotto was a renowned painter during the gothic and proto-renaissance period. Nonetheless, the renaissance painting was initiated in Florence and marred with great painting techniques pioneered by Masaccio. This paper considers the developments made in art during the renaissance period, precisely concentrating on the northern renaissance, renaissance painting, and the Giotto’s Arena Chapel.
The Northern Renaissance and Renaissance paintings
The Northern renaissance painters were strongly indented to genre and landscape painting and were associated with the Protestant reformation of the 16th century. Again, during this period, the art embraced religious figures that preached the reformation that the Protestants were significantly inclined to. The reformation came about the theological differences between Protestants and the Roman Catholics, thus resulting in a healthy iconoclasm. Further, the 16th and 17th centuries saw Antwerp’s development, where great styles in animal paintings, portraiture, and still lives were developed. On the other hand, the renaissance paintings were established first in the 15th century after artists downturned the Gothic paintings and vouched for greater neutralism. The early pioneers of this age included the Masaccio, who imposed linear perspectives into his artworks. His use of perspectives was an influence from early renowned painters like Brunelleschi. After his death, renaissance painting was built on shadow painting, light, and perspectives.
Giotto’s Arena Chapel
The Giotto’s arena chapel was one of its kind during the late medieval period, fully furnished with Giotto’s artwork. The chapel mainly portrayed paintings that constituted religious symbolism. Giotto used a unique type of skill to describe a religious story of the life of Christ, right from his annunciation to the last judgment. At the time, reading was a significant problem for most European natives, and Giotto proclaimed it using the most straightforward and loudest mechanism, art.
Reaction
The renaissance period is filled with a rich kind of painting designs, all driving or driven by a precise motive, from the northern renaissance where protestant reformation was the critical issue that propelled massive artistry developments. Notably, art proved to be an excellent induction of iconoclasm, which was the main issue behind the disagreements with the Roman Catholics, thus the reformation. Considerably, great painters such as the Masaccio undoubtedly helped to drive art themes through the renaissance period. He fathered the substantial insights linked to the use of perspectives, light, and shadow paintings that were utilized even past his existence. I think it was definitive proof of his intimate knowledge and skill in the use of light and shadow in artistry. Besides, Giotto’s depiction of a story in art proves the power of art, especially in a nation where most of its citizens are illiterate and unfamiliar with reading. All in all, the art showcased in this period was a thoughtful mechanism to fulfill each of their agendas.
Patronage of the arts
In the renaissance period, social classes were maintained by artistic patronage where the wealthy such as the Medici, spent colossal lump sums of commissioning some of the outstanding paintings. The patronage provided the artists with a perfect market for their work since some sought to gain the ranks of the kings and popes. Consequently, artists gained higher social levels as opposed to their counterparts in carpentry and masonry. Moreover, during the renaissance period, the patronage took in artists into their household, and in return, the artists satisfied their artistic desires. A patron could also commission a particular work from an artist and hire him until the work was concluded. The patronage, therefore, played a vital role in propelling the change during the renaissance period.