Art Museum 1500-1550

"The Holy Family" by Giorgione

Jan 1, 1500

Giorgione's "Holy Family" painting captures the humility of the Holy Family. Joseph sits in front of an unfished wall while sitting on a rock which symbolizes the unfinished work of Christ and what he was born for. The detail is also very precise.

High Renaissance

Period: Jan 1, 1500 to Jan 1, 1550

"Coronation of the Virgin" by Raphael

Jan 1, 1503

The "Coronation of the Virgin" is also known as the Oddi Altarpiece. Here, Mary is shown being crowned in Heaven while all creation looks upon her with awe. Raphael struggled to show as much perfection in his detail as possible.

"San Zaccaria Altarpiece" by Giovanni Bellini

Jan 1, 1505

Here, a meditation of Mary and Jesus surrounded by St. Peter, St. Catherine of Alexandria on the left and St. Lucy and St. Jerome on the right. The egg above Mary's head is a symbol of the creation while the colors brighten the work to look new.

"The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymous Bosch

Jan 1, 1505

The three panels of this work depict the "Creation" in the far left panel, Life after the Fall, in the middle, and the "Final Judgement" on the right. When the panels are closed there is the picture of a gray sphere with mountains that is consideered to be the Earth during creation.

"The Adoration of Kings" by Jan Gossaert

Jan 1, 1515

Once again, the Madonna and child sit in the midst of a humble setting where the building is falling apart. The three Magi are depicted richely in their regal robes offering their gifts to their King of Kings. The scene is adorned by the Shepherds, angels, and animals that also congregate around the Christ cild.

"Utopia" by Thomas More

Jan 1, 1516

Written to be satirical, More constructs an idea that discusses the various issues in a society and sets forward the idea of what a perfect society would appear to be, and the lengths they would have to go to so as to stay perfect.

"Cristo della Minerva" by Michelangelo

Jan 1, 1521

Originally the sculpture of the "Risen Christ" had no girdle. Michelangelo had displayed Christ's genitals to demonstrate that while he lived in this life he had complete control of his sexuality. The girdle was later added in the Baroque era. The detail was, and stil is, considered quite amazing. Sebastiano del Piombo declared that the knees alone were wrothy of more than the whole of Rome.

"Laurentian Library Reading Room" by Michelangelo

Jan 1, 1525

Comissioned in 1523, Michelangelo designed and began construction on the library by 1525. The Reading Room is one of the most impressive features of the library, although the entire library is very impressive. The room is 152 feet long by 35 feet wide by 28 feet high. Furniture for reading was added later, but the paneling and the open windows would have made reading ideal in an era where people tended to read by daylight.

"Salome with the Head of Sain John the Baptist" by Bernardino Luini

Jan 1, 1525

Luini was a close follower of Leonardo Da Vinci, and this painting is most indebted to Leonardo. Using the technique of giving the painting a soft mistiness, Luini is able to blur the contours with delicate shadows. While providing great detail, it also gives the appearance of a dream-like state.

"Saint George's Chapel, Windsor" Reconstruction by Henry Janyns

Jan 1, 1528

The chapel was redesigned begining in 1475 at the command of Edward the IV and continued through Henry the VIII. The chapel was expanded into a huge Chathedral-like chapel.

"The Book of the Courtiers" by Baldassare Casatiglone

Jan 1, 1528

This book was organized into a series of fictional conversations that occur between the courtiers of Duke Urbino. In the book, courtiers are described as having a cool mind, a well spoken and beautiful voice, and the ability to carry a proper bearing. They were to have an expert grasp of the umanities and a broad knowledge of the classics and the arts. The subject of the dialogue is to describe the perfect gentleman and what it means to be a perfect gentleman.

"The Life of Gargantua and Pantagruel" by Francois Rabelais

Jan 1, 1532

This story is a satrical French pentalogy of novels that track the adventures of the giant Gargantua and his son Pantagruel as they journey through the world and try to understand the world. It is considered a classic of Renaissance literature.

"Orlando Furioso" by Ludovico Ariosto

Jan 1, 1532

"Orlando Furioso" is an epic poem that details the adventures of a Christian knight known as Roland. The main events of the poem take place between Charlemagne's knights, known and paladins, and the Saracen army that is attempting to invade Europe. Mixing elements of fantasy, humor, and tragedy, the poem follows the many episodes of Roland seeking to find chivalry in a battle between Christians and infidels.

Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli

Jan 1, 1534

The sculpture is a depiction of the tenth labor of Hercules defeat of the fire-breathing monster Cacus, who was stealing cattle. Hercules is a representation of physical strength. The work was comissioned to be juxtaposed to the sculpture of "David" by Michelangelo. David represented spiritual strength. Taken together the physical strength of Hercules and the spiritual strength of David were both highly desired in the Renaissance world.

"The Tomb of Lorenzo De Medici, Duke of Urbino" by Michelangelo

Jan 1, 1534

Here, MIchelangelo, has sculpted some of the most tormented figures of his career out of marble. The central figure is Lorenzo contemplating between the figures of "Night" and "Dawn." Here is the accompanying words for "Night:" "It is my pleasure to sleep and even more to be stone:
As long as shames and dishonor may last,
My sole desire is to see and feel no more.
Speak softly, I beg you, to not awaken me."

King's College Chapel: Cambridge

Jan 1, 1536

Construction began on the design for the chapel in 1444. It's length is 289 feet, with a width of 40 feet, and in interior height of 80 feet. It features the world's largest fan vault, constructed in 1515 by John Wastell, and its great windows were added by the Flemish artist Barnard Flower between 1526 and 1531. The final addition of the wooden screens that seperate the nave from the altar were added between 1532-1536 finishing the chapel.

"The Venus of Urbino" by Titian

Jan 1, 1538

Titian, here, has depcited the godess Venus reclining nude in a Renaissance style palace. The subject is clearly unconcerned with her nudity. In one hand the girl holds a posy while covering her genitals with her other hand. There is also a dog in the near background. Taken together, the flower, the covering hand, and the dog all symbolize fidelity. Though unconcerned about her nudity, the young woman is still keeping her virtue intact.

"Villa Godi Malinverni" by Andrea Palladio

Jan 1, 1542

Commissioned by the brothers Girolamo in 1537, the building is striking for its lack of ornamentation. It was arranged with suits of apartments designed symmetrically on each side of the main salon. The interior was decorated with frescos that had ancient Greek mythology as the subject matter that is followed by works depciting peace and justice. All these subjects were very common themes durig the Renaissance.

"Saliera" by Benvenuto Cellini

Jan 1, 1543

"Saliera" is a part enamelled gold table sculpture that was completed for Francis the first of Fance in 1543. The figures are a man, who represents the sea, and woman, who represents the earth. Next to the man there is a small vessel that holds the salt while the temple next to the woman holds the pepper.

"Saint John the Evangelist on Patmos" by Titian

Jan 1, 1547

Secluded on the Greek island of Patmos, Saint John experienced his apocalyptic vision that lead him to write "The Book of Revelation." THis painting depicts the moment hwne he as inspired to write the book by God as it descends on his croucing figure from above. The lighter colors employed draw the viwers eyes towards the heavenly realm while the broad brush strokes add an emotional expression that intesifies the viewing experience.