Renaissance: A Period of Artistic Expansion
Renaissance refers to the period within European history which covers a span ranging from 14th to 17th centuries. The art associated with the renaissance is the sculpture, decoration, and painting during this period of antiquity. The fields of philosophy, music, literature, and science among others expanded forcing people to be creative in what they could do best. Among the expanding fields was in the religion where different artists emerged with various works which reveal some meaning to the religious resurgence. Some of these artists include Masaccio, Fra Angelica, Andrea del Castagno, and Piero Della Francesca to mention a few who brought some spiritual symbolism and naturalistic beauty.
Masaccio
Brief History of the Artist
The artist originally born as Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone was a boundless Italian painter majorly at the time of Italian Renaissance during the Quattrocento era (Vasari et al., 2015). He had outstanding skills, creative nature, and convincing movements in his originality. Although he lived a short life of only twenty-six years, Masaccio had the greatest influence in the art field due to his great ability in painting.
Religious Artistry Work
The major religious work from Masaccio was the San Giovenale Triptych painting commonly known as the Cascia Altarpiece (Schulz, 2016). Many sources indicate that it was made in 1422 and currently kept in a museum behind Cascia di Reggello Church, Italy. The altarpiece was revealed around 1961 hidden near Masaccio hometown with sources claiming that the hiding was to prevent the Germans from taking it during the second world war. It was a beautiful painting which shows some recognition of the religion. The Cascia Altarpiece, therefore, refers to a photographic production in two-dimensions with more meanings in the religious field. When discovered, the art had lost much of its original dimensions with an abraded surface. Masaccio with his painting marked the beginning for other artists to come with more drawings in religion.
Religious Symbolism and Naturalistic Beauty Meaning
San Giovenale Triptych by Masaccio reveals its meaning in various ways. Within the art, there is a central panel which symbolizes Madonna crowned with two angels. Besides the angels, there exist child Jesus drinking some wine. Madonna, the angels, and Jesus are religious symbols within the Christianity communities (Schulz, 2016). They show unity among individuals and depict that God loves all people and expect everyone to love one another. Eating of wine from the painting is a symbol of Eucharist, one of the adored practices in churches globally. Also, there is a figurative meaning with an inscribed word within the drawing written, “ANNO DOMINI MCCCCXXII A DI VENTITRE D’AD[RILE]” representing some inscription not in Gothic characters.
Additionally, there is a corona of the Madonna bearing Shahada and written at the back of the painting. Shahada is an Islamic creed which declares total belief and coherence of God. The right panel of the art portrays Saint Anthony and Juvenal or Giovenale while the left represents Saint Blaise and Bartholomew. The panels are very symbolic in today’s religious activities as people identify with the saints in their prayers maybe during intercessions. The panels also marked the effect of 14th-century reproductions. The drawing is amazing and represents some naturalistic beauty within it. Green flashboards are converging towards the central point of the art. There is also a stone throne where the Madonna sits, with angels surrounding and the child Jesus held. Side compartments are attractive with a lovely appearance in the museum where it is stored. Therefore, the Masaccio art stands to be one of the best in revealing renaissance religious symbolism and providing realistic beauty.
Fra Angelica
Brief History of the Artist
Fra Angelica is another great Italian artist in painting. He was born Guido di Pietro in 1395 in Tuscan, Fiesole. He is a renown Italian Renaissance portraitist with various artistry works. He has been described by many as a dedicated artist with a perfect and rare talent. Just like Masaccio, he was Italian born but lived for fifty-nine years before his death. During his time, he produced several drawings which represented different fields and also attracted most people. When he joined Carmine church at a young age, he already had the painting talent with some records of lovely drawings in his possession.
Religious Artistry Work
The greatest work by Fra Angelica was the Crucifixion art. The work estimated to around 1445 when he was summoned to the Vatican by Pope Eugene IV. The drawing is very significant to most Christians in the world. It is a symbol of unity to them as it makes them identify with Jesus Christ. After making the drawing, it was first placed in the Vatican. During the time of the artistry, Fra Angelica was offered a chance to become an Archbishop of Florence, but he refused. He indeed wanted to concentrate on his talent and produce many portraits as possible. The artist associated with the production of several other religious pictures during his time hence, one of the greatest artists in the field of drawing. His paintings to date mark some of the important religious symbols which most Christians follow as they remember the past experiences and suffering of Jesus (Hayum, 2011). Therefore, Fra Angelica was a true leader since he served in the church and a great painter with numerous religious portraits which forms the basis in most churches in the world.
Religious Symbolism and Naturalistic Beauty Meaning
The Crucifixion Art by Fra Angelica reveals its meaning through a complex formula of renaissance religious symbolism and provides some real attraction. In the painting, there is Jesus nailed to the cross. Just as many scriptures depict that Jesus died on crucifixion, Fra Angelica did a great job in designing the symbol. In most churches in the world, mostly, the Catholic, there is always a symbol like that of the artist inscribed INRI on it. Most Christians identify with the crucifixion sign because it shows the sufferings encountered by Jesus in liberating people. Furthermore, within the work, Fra Angelica drew it with Jesus leaning on the right side of the cross. In today’s religious societies, the right side of the cross has a meaning as it depicts the correct path to follow (Steinberg, 2014). People believe that following the other side is disastrous and could lead to evil deeds. Therefore, Fra Angelica’s art of Jesus on the cross has a significant meaning in the religion as it reminds the believers to always trust in God despite the sufferings they undergo.
The art is a wood tempera with gold surrounding it on both sides and the center. The gold linings provide the naturalistic attractiveness and symbolize that despite the sufferings, there might reach a time of happiness due to faith. It is an encouragement to always have a strong belief in God despite the challenges. Its dimensions were large with attractive finishes found in almost all Catholic churches globally or even found in homes for true believers in Christ. Consequently, Fra Angelica’s painting on the crucifixion not only provides renaissance religious symbolism but also provides lifelike meaning to people all over the universe.
Andrea del Castagno
Brief History of the Artist
Andrea del Castagno was a major Italian painter originating from Florence. Born Andrea di Bartolo di Bargilla, he was influenced by early works from Masaccio (Hayum, 2011). Andrea fled his home during the battles between Milan and Florence only returning after the end of the wrangles. He, therefore, began his drawing career at a young age with the help of Bernadetto Medici where he could do several nice paintings. Before his death, Castagno had made many types of drawings which, to date, are significant in revealing their meaning to the society and portraying realistic exquisiteness.
Religious Artistry Work
The most outstanding work by Andrea del Castagno was the Last Supper Art in 1447. He made the painting while working at Sant'Apollonia, Florence (Hayum, 2011). In his development, he supplemented it with many other scenes describing the desire of Christ in making the world better. He influenced many upcoming religious artistes with his combined skills of nice paintings and an array of scenes supporting the purpose of Christ. As a result, many people in Florentine still depict Castagno as a hero and always remember him in their artwork. In the last supper sculpture, Castagno showed his utmost aptitude as it displayed the true scenario to the apostles. The Italian fresco regeneration shows Jesus with His disciples at a table eating supper but Judas sitting feeling great. The estimation of the painting is 453cm by 975cm which approximates to 178 by 384 inches, hence, huge drawing and with clearer meaning in religious beliefs.
Religious Symbolism and Naturalistic Beauty Meaning
The Last Supper Art by Andrea del Castagno discloses its meaning through a complex formula of revival religious symbolism and offers naturalistic beauty. In many Christian families, last suppers are taken seriously, for example, when a family member wants to leave for a place. People are always in a sad mood and look disturbed. Just like in the drawing, all the disciples except Judas are sad because they realize that Jesus would leave them anytime.
The fresco portrays the detail of naturalism as the artist used new artistic styles and departed from earlier flairs (Van Marle, 2013). There is an accomplished realism from the painter because the robes' colors corresponded with their postures making it look stunning when displayed in most churches. The pillars and the griffon sculptures used all recall the classical painting which gives Christians hope that hardships should never make them weak. Moreover, the shade highlights in the figures, flowing negligees, and the perception in the halos of the painting foreshadow the progressions to come. Last Supper art also showed uneven details and figures with different religious meanings. It resembles emotions in the current society as people tend to identify with the sufferings faced by Jesus. There is also the symbolism of Eucharist from the drawing as the disciples ate bread and drank wine.
In conclusion, the Renaissance art has been vital in religion. It has enabled the development of numerous paintings from various artists to reveal a varied understanding of religious symbolism. Moreover, the drawings have added naturalistic beauty meaning which helped shape the lives of many believers. Therefore, it is good to appreciate the works by Masaccio, Fra Angelica, and Andrea del Castagno among others in their painting artistry which has resulted in renaissance religious symbolism and provided lifelike understandings.
References
Hayum, A. (2011). “A Renaissance Audience Considered: The Nuns at S. Apollonia and Castagno’s Last Supper.” The Art Bulletin, 88(2), 243-266.
Schulz, V. S. (2016). “Intricate Letters and the Reificatici of Light Prolegomena on the Pseudo-Inscribed Haloes in Giotto’s.”
Steinberg, L. (2014). “The sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion.”
University of Chicago Press.
Van Marle, C. (2013). “The Development of the Italian Schools of Painting: Volume XIX General Index.”
Vasari, G., Fosters, J., " Lavin, M.A. (2015). “Vasari’s Lives of the Artistes: Giotto, Masaccio, Fra Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian.” Courier Corporation.
