Outline

Early Europe and Colonial Americas

14th Century Art in Europe
(1300-1400 CE)
2018-2019 edited July 1, 2018

Enduring Understanding
3-1 Art of this period studied in chronological order and divided into
geographical regions, governing cultures, identifiable styles with
considerable overlap
Numerous religions (Jewish, Christian, Islamic) and languages
3-1 Art derived from worship

Essential Knowledge
• Influence of Roman art
• Architecture is primarily religious in nature
• Figure work was primarily religious, shifted towards naturalism and
incorporated text

Overview
Rise of the Renaissance 13th & 14th Centuries
• Rise of capitalism - commercial centers in both
N & S Europe
• Emergence of an upper (merchant) class
• Interest in Humanism
o Writers (Dante) and religious figures (St. Francis, St. Thomas
Aquainis) promoted reason, joy in the natural world, the world
of the contemporary vs. classical past)
• Renewed interest in classical past
• Increased interest in direct observation of nature
• Interest in math and science
• Common dialect in Italy
• Status of the artist increases; artist as an individual, craftsman
• Invention of movable type

Art of the Renaissance 13th & 14th Centuries

 • Humanist shift
• Classical scenes & styles
• Move away from otherworldliness of medieval
• Close observation of nature
• Illusion of physical reality
o Use of Chiaroscuro
• Return of the figure in a naturalistic form
• Showing of depth
• Use of perspective
• Rise of patronage (by upper classes)

• Use of oil paint

Geographic/ Cultural Context

Key! Transition from medieval to Renaissance occurred slowly; both

time periods overlapped-culturally, artistically, etc.

Overview
Collection of traumatic events:
• Hundred Years War 1337-1453. Between England and
France
• Dynastic feuds led to increased nationalism among these
countries
• Catholic church split under 2 popes, one in Avignon, France
and one in Rome, Italy; this was called the great schism and
it lasted 40 years (1378-1417).
o Papacy returned to Rome in 1377 after period 1309-
1377 when popes ruled from Avignon
• Black Death-plague (1337-1453)
o Killed between 25-30% of Europe’s population
o Interpreted as God’s wrath at peoples’ move away
from moral clarity
o People thought that they were being punished by God;
thus became disillusioned with the church

Additional influencing factors:

• Population growth throughout Europe-cities and towns
 o Gradually replaced fiefdoms and feudal hierarchy
• Emergence of economic systems and practices
o use of coinage, gold and silver, accounting practices,
insurance
o trade throughout Europe-textiles, wool, grain
• Lessoning of church as singular force controlling primary
aspects of society
• Italy in general was increasingly prosperous and
international:
o Development of vernacular-commonly spoken
language
▪ Italian based on Tuscan language though Latin
was used for church and state formal
documents and communication. Thus, a
language that was accessible across intellectual
classes
o Two kinds of cities
1. A collection of independent city states i.e.
Venice, Florence, Siena that were republics
(elected representation); constitutional
oligarchies (led by small governing group i.e.
executive bodies, advisory councils,
commissions
2. City states defined by their separate
economies which essentially determined their
independence. Examples Duchies (led by Duke
or Duchess) of Milan, Modina, Savoy
a. rivalries ensued = Medici’s vs.
Milanese
o Rising merchant, wealthy middle class = rise of the
patron
o In the arts rise of numerous guilds-associations of
master craftsmen, apprentices, tradesmen = rise of the
artist
▪ Rise of textile industry in both northern (Bruges
and Ghent) and southern (Florence) Europe

Art Context
The individual-artist, writer, craftsman arose in talent & identity
Guilds and artisans
➔ Looked to classical past-Greeks and Romans
Byzantine influences-decorative qualities
Sense of real life emotion and narrative becomes more evident
Figures rendered in 3-D…worldly subjects
➔ Church as patron
artists’ names were known

• Key!-Overall a model for living – human focused; guided by reason,

not religious dogma
• ➔ Italy, loaded with classical art and monuments, was a natural to
embrace humanist teaching and revive classic theory
• Interest in the Gothic style but on a more intimate/smaller (human)
scale
• ➔ A Byzantine exodus to Italy which brings the Byzantine style with it
o Pantacrator-Christ as the center of the universe
o Madonna enthroned
▪ yellow background
▪ down pointing feet
▪ long, thin nose
▪ Christ child depicted as adult
• Key!-advancements in printing methods
• Woodcut
• Technique
o More spatial awareness and dynamism
o Figures more naturalized vs. flat and compartmentalized
• Artistic culture varied by city esp. Florence, Venice, Rome
• Paper introduced 14 Century via Africa, Moorish Spain
– the movement away from the medieval had begun!

Terms

– Classical – refers to Classical period of ancient Greece 480-323

BCE
– classical – Greco-Roman antiquity in general
– Humanism – 1) system of thought based on studying and
promoting those things (values, behaviors) that are best in human
beings as opposed to those qualities of any supernatural authority
– 2) exploration of human potential, civic responsibility and
moral duty
– Renaissance – rebirth
– Piety – strong respectful belief in a deity and strict observance of
religious principles in everyday life
– International Style – Painting technique of Northern Italy in late
14th and early 15th centuries; defined by brilliant color, lavish
costumes, intricate ornamentation
– Guilds - associations of master craftsmen, apprentices, tradesmen
– Chiaroscuro – use of dramatic light and dark to show
modeling/form and a sense of depth
– Tempera paint – pigment mixed with egg yolk and glue
– Polyptychs – an altarpiece made up of more than three sections
– Triptych – an altarpiece made up of three sections
– Vellum – calfskin used for painting or writing
– Grisaille – a monochromatic painting technique, usually in gray,
and used to mimic statuary or stone
– Fresco – painting done in wet plaster on a wall; pigment applied
directly to plaster
– Altarpiece-a panel, painted or sculpted, placed above or behind the
altar
– Predella-platform or step on which an altar stands or the painting or
sculpture along the frame at bottom of altarpiece
–

Portrayals of the life of Jesus

– Crucifixion-form of execution involving nailing/binding someone
to an upright cross until death
– Lamentation-expression of grief or sorrow
– Pieta-image of Virgin Mary mourning over Christ’s dead body
– Deposition-act of removing
– Annunciation-angel Gabriel telling virgin Mary of incarnation
(Jesus’ taking on role or being of God)