M8 Post

Video Reviews

1. I chose the Renaissance and Baroque videos to help gain a better understanding within each movement. I studied the Renaissance in previous classes, but I wanted to refresh my knowledge. On the other hand, I've never went into depth, beyond a few artworks, about the Baroque movement. I wanted to learn about its architecture.

Florence: Heart of the Renaissance

The first great dome of the Renaissance was built in Europe by Filippo Brunelleschi. This dome combined with the art on the facade of the Florence Cathedral defined the first century of the Renaissance. Once completed in the fifteenth century, the duomo was the largest anywhere in the world.

Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise can be seen across form the Florence Cathedral. His use of perspective gave the bronze panels depth. The scenes depicted on the doors of the Baptistery had a clear foreground, middle ground, and background.

Understanding Art: Baroque Part I

The Baroque movement doesn't have as clear of an outline as the Renaissance did. It took place from the seventeenth century and beyond. I was impressed by the architecture, especially within the San Carlo all Quattro Fontane. The Saint Charles at the Four Fountains is an influential Baroque church in Rome designed by Francesco Borromini. I was instantly drawn to the unexpected combinations of curves and rectangular forms found inside the church. The oval dome was the brightest section. The coffering of geometric shapes are thrown into a sharp and deep relief as a result of the lighting.  

3. Both of the videos and reading content describe how the vast majority of art went from being commissioned by the Medici family, which were generally large scale pieces, during the Renaissance to smaller pieces for the middle class by mid seventeenth century. The middle class began supporting artists by commissioning them to create pieces for their private homes.

4. The first film gave a great history of the Renaissance. I also enjoyed how it showed where current artisans work and what they work on. The second video was a little too drawn out. Januszczak did highlight multiple Baroque works, but he was a little too theatrical by repeatedly giving personal feelings.