The High Renaissance

In the middle of the Renaissance, artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti establish characteristics of the High Renaissance. The formation of the High Renaissance the height or the level of success the era is in an art historical point of view. At the same time mark the return of the Medici to power in Florence. This new era marked anew for artists as they abandoned simplification and began using more styles leading towards mannerism. Additionally, artists, who created these masterworks, contain different styles forming the differences from earlier Renaissance artworks. This reduces to the artist’s interpretation of iconographic material, technique and the patrons. However, the High Renaissance artists do display likenesses
Da Vinci can be separated for his painter quality within his work. For example, in the Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci is unafraid to use mathematical perspective and atmospheric perspective to created a believable space for Lodovico Sforza and the Dominicans to eat and reflect with Jesus and the twelve apostles (Adams: Fig 14.18:305). His painterly style is lost as the piece has been restored but by judging what lies on the plaster, da Vinci’s loose movements of his brushstrokes and soft palette display admiration for Christianity and his own achievements within his piece. For instance, he further applies his skill in the background behind the apostles as sfumato is used within the background to press his ideas on atmospheric perspective. Michelangelo Buonarroti’s Creation of Adam displays his style for a whole human form. Adam’s body within this piece has his own presence along with the other religious figures within this piece (Adams Fig. 16.17:342). Within this piece is the use of cangiantismo, which illuminates Adam and the other figures creates a new style for viewer to enjoy and artists to study to exaggerate contrasting colors. Buonarroti achieves this presence by the lighting of each form and the gesture of each person. As God reaches to touch Adam’s hand viewers can see Adam’s with a gentle attitude and an innocence in his
This subject was science and it interested Leonardo da Vinci much so he studied dead bodies to gain a better perspective on anatomy. In contrast, Michelangelo too respected Christianity but was not afraid to create pagan works within his work. The conclusion of their respect for Christianity is within their two works, the Last Supper and the Creation of Adam for they are both religious scenes that do not question the boundaries of if there is a higher power or not, nor do the paintings insult the religious figures. These paintings simply are created in a manner for viewers to reflect upon and relate to as they were made to