Quattrocento Florence Painting: Masters, Techniques, and Legacy
Painting of the Quattrocento Florence
Building upon the foundations laid by Giotto, the artists of the Quattrocento sought to master volume, perspective, proportions, and the interplay of light. While architecture and sculpture reached their zenith during this period, painting continued its evolution, culminating in the artistic achievements of the Cinquecento.
Key Painters of the Italian Quattrocento
Fra Angelico:
A devoutly religious painter, Fra Angelico prioritized the spiritual message of his art over mere aesthetics. His works, characterized by serene lines and a tranquil depiction of nature, often incorporated architectural elements. While sometimes employing neutral or gold backgrounds in the Byzantine tradition, his figures often appear somewhat flat, lacking full volume.
Notable works include: The Coronation of the Virgin and Annunciation of the Virgin.
Piero Della Francesca:
Inspired by earlier masters, Piero Della Francesca meticulously studied perspective and movement. He was particularly interested in light, employing a limited palette to create subtle nuances. His use of an almost artificial white light lends his figures a sense of monumentality.
Key works include: The Baptism of Christ and Madonna del Porto. His most renowned work is the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Arezzo, notable for its movement, perspective, and dramatic use of shadow, particularly in The Dream of Constantine, a precursor to chiaroscuro techniques.
Botticelli:
A great artist known for his dynamic and expressive lines, in contrast to the calmer style of Fra Angelico. His technique is distinctive and recognizable.
A prominent humanist, Botticelli’s religious paintings include The Virgin of the Magnificat and The Virgin of Granada. His mythological works, such as Spring and The Birth of Venus, are celebrated for their depiction of the nude form. Venus, a figure of exquisite beauty, modestly covers her nakedness with her hair.
Masaccio:
Though his life was cut short, Masaccio revolutionized painting by focusing on the human figure. In The Expulsion of Adam and Eve, set against a simple background, he powerfully conveys the figures’ humanity and anguish.
The Tribute Money showcases his unified vision, seamlessly integrating three scenes. In The Crucifixion, the poignant expression of Mary Magdalene creates a sense of depth. The Holy Trinity is a scientifically precise work, featuring architecture by Brunelleschi and kneeling worshipers.
Cinquecento Italian Architecture
The cultural center shifted to Rome during the Cinquecento, with popes, especially Julius II, becoming major patrons of the arts.
Bramante:
Following in the footsteps of Brunelleschi, Bramante employed the interplay of full and empty spaces, using gray walls and trim in the Church of San Satiro. Upon moving to Rome, he refined his style, eliminating excessive ornamentation and focusing on purely architectural elements.
His vision is best represented by San Pietro in Montorio, a small temple in the Tholos form.
Julius II commissioned Bramante to design St. Peter’s Basilica, envisioning a temple with a square plan based on a Greek cross, topped by a dome in the transept. After Bramante’s death, architects like Michelangelo continued his work.
Michelangelo:
A Florentine who admired the dome of Florence Cathedral, Michelangelo sought to emphasize the closure of St. Peter’s. He removed the planned towers, raising the dome above the jambs with windows flanked by columns and walls. The windows feature alternating triangular and semicircular pediments.
The dome is adorned with a lantern and extensive sculpture. Michelangelo’s planning skills are evident in the organization of the Piazza del Campidoglio, a perfect blend of mass and space. In the Laurentian Library stairs, he combined straight lines with curves, creating a sense of spaciousness. This expression is characteristic of Mannerism.
Palladio:
Palladio is known for creating the giant order, using large columns to cover thick walls and smaller columns for galleries. He designed the Basilica of Vicenza and the Teatro Olimpico in the same city. He also created country estates that combined landscapes and architecture. The most famous is the Villa Capra, also known as La Rotonda, which has a Greek cross plan, four porches, and a cupola.