The Renaissance was a transition period in the history of Europe that marked the end of the Middle Ages and continued until about 1600 and the start of modern history. The period witnessed a blossoming of intellectual inquiry and a renewed interest in Greek and Roman history and the creation of the Renaissance sculpture.
Literally meaning rebirth the Renaissance saw a new approach to art, literature, architecture, music, philosophical thought, and technological advances. These new attitudes affected the political sphere and the religious assumptions of the Middle Ages.
The Renaissance is generally considered to have begun in Italy, especially in Florence which at that time was controlled by a republican government dominated by the Medici family. The Medici family were great patrons of the arts in all its forms, and they encouraged the painters and sculptors who we today most associate with the Renaissance.
Among the artistic expressions that flowered during the Renaissance was sculpture. Here are 4 + 1 masterpieces to know about.
1 - Ghiberti’s doors and the first Renaissance sculpture
Renaissance sculpture is thought to have been launched as early as 1403 when a competition was held to create doors for the northern entrance of the baptistry in Florence. The competition was won by sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti. Ghiberti’s doors featured scenes from the Bible as did a second, even grander, set of doors he designed for the eastern entrance. This second set of doors came to be known as the Gates of Paradise. Both were cast in bronze.
Ghiberti adopted a mostly lost method of making the doors. This method was called the lost wax method. A wax model of the sculpture was made and then a mold was created from it. Once the wax had melted, the mold was ready to cast the bronze final version.
The northern gates took 21 years to produce and the eastern gates took a further 27 years. The sculpted pictures on the gates are excellent examples of the use of perspective. This was only discovered during the early years of the Renaissance and was a particular feature of much of Renaissance art.
2 - Donatello was the first to create a Renaissance sculpture of the David
Cosimo de’ Medici commissioned the sculptor Donatello to create a bronze statue of David. It is probable that this was the first time a free-standing statue had been made since the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Donatello had briefly trained under Ghiberti but had also traveled to Rome and been influenced by the finds discovered during excavations in the city. The art of the Roman Empire heavily influenced Donatello throughout his career.
3 - Michelangelo was the second to create a Renaissance sculpture of David
Michelangelo Buonarotti is perhaps the most famous Renaissance sculptor. He was a prolific artist and sculptor who enjoyed a long a fruitful life. He lived through the years of what has come to be known as the High Renaissance. Both he and Leonardo da Vinci dominated these years, although Michaelangelo produced many more sculptures than da Vinci.
Early in his career, Michelangelo produced the two sculptures that are his most famous. The Pieta, which features Jesus and his mother Mary, and David which came later in his career. His first sculpture is most probably the bas relief The Madonna of the Stairs. Michelangelo was first and foremost a sculptor and produced a huge number of statues including well-known ones like Bacchus, Moses, Brutus, and the Risen Christ.
He returned to some themes repeatedly, producing several Pietas and often carving subjects like Roman slaves and figures from antiquity like Apollo. The importance of the de’ Medici family as patrons of the arts during these years is shown by Michelangelo’s creation of the tomb of Lorenzo de Medici.
The Pieta can now be viewed at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Although it was not originally intended for display at this site, its current position allows better access for those thousands of people who wish to see and admire it.
4 -An amazing masterpiece: the Rape of the Sabine Women, by Gianbologna
One of the greatest Late Renaissance sculptors was the Flemish master Giambologna. He worked in Italy for most of his career. He worked in the Mannerist style that was hugely influenced by Michelangelo. His first commission was given him by Pope Pius V for whom he created a giant bronze figure of Neptune plus some other figures for the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna. He also enjoyed the patronage of the Medici family.
Probably his best-known work is the Rape of the Sabine Women. He has, however, other well-known works to his credit. These include Samson Slaying a Philistine and the bronze doors of the Cathedral in Pisa. Some of his work is spirited and shows action and movement. The Abduction of a Sabine Woman is one excellent example.
5 - My favorite Renaissance superstar: Leonardo da Vinci
Ok ok ok… this is not a sculpture, but a Genius who inspired generations of sculptors. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the superstars of the Renaissance. He was able to paint, draw, study anatomy, and study natural history. He was also an able sculptor but many of his planned works were never completed in his lifetime.
Leonardo spent many hours preparing sketches for bronze equestrian statues. One was planned for Francesco Sforza with another intended to be a monument to Marshal Trivulzio. These were never completed despite having been meticulously planned.
Another planned equestrian statute was that ordered by the Duke of Milan; if completed the final statue would have been of enormous size. Due to French aggression in the area and their eventual domination of Milan, Leonardo fled the city for his native Florence and never returned to complete the assignment. His work was eventually completed in the twentieth century and was unveiled in 1999.
Leonardo’s command of anatomical drawing meant that the sketches he made for planned but uncompleted statues were of an extremely high standard of accuracy. As a result, modern sculptors have been able to create modern versions of them. These include the Vitruvian Man Wall Sculpture, the Annunciation, Il Cavallo (also known as the American Horse), and the Gran Cavallo that has already been mentioned.
Other sculptures have also been created based on the paintings Leonardo da Vinci completed during his lifetime. There is a Mona Lisa sculpture and a Last Supper sculpture. These sculptures just show how Leonardo’s influence has come down through the centuries.
Conclusion
It has to be remembered that the Renaissance artists listed here could only have survived and carried out their work through patronage. The wealthy and powerful families in Italy at the time were willing to display their wealth and influence by commissioning grand sculptures. Popes and Cardinals sought to demonstrate the power of the Church by adorning its buildings with statuary and sculpted doors.
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Paolo Modena
My name is Paolo. I am a photographer. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in Italy, surrounded by the art that is the envy of the world. I enjoy photography because it has caused me to fall in love with light, shade, and color. I see the world around me with fresh eyes every single day. And sometimes, when the mood is right, I just sit back and enjoy the moment without taking a photo.