Humanism and the Allure of Antiquity PART 2

1. Humanism and the Allure of Antiquity
PART2

2. “Masaccio”
Tommaso de ser Giovanni de Mone Cassai
Artistic heir of Giotto, but takes space and
light one step further into unexplored
territory
Dies at age 27 (causes unknown)
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3. Santa Maria del Carmine
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5. Brancacci Chapel
Images of St. Peter’s life by various
artists
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MASACCIO, Tribute Money, Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence, Italy, ca. 1427. Fresco,
8’ 4 1/8” x 19’ 7 1/8”.

9. Tribute Money
Mathew 17:24-27
Tax collector meets Jesus and
disciples at the entrance of the
Roman town of Capernum, Jesus
directs St. Peter to shore of lake
Galilee to gather a coin from the
mouth of a fish.
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18. Linear Perspective
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19. Atmospheric Perspective
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20. Halos “foreshortened”
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Figural forms (especially the tax collector) suggest bones, muscles, and the pressures on tendons and
joints to convey contained energy.

23. Chiaroscuro (cast light and shadow)
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25. Santa Maria Novella
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MASACCIO, Holy Trinity, Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy, ca.
1424–1427. Fresco, 21’ 10’ 5/8” x 10’ 4 3/4”.

27. Holy Trinity
First application of linear
perspective and mathematics to a
depiction of space.
Ascending pyramid of figures leads
viewers from the despair of death to
the hope of resurrection and eternal
life.
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34. Mary
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35. St. John
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36. Lorenzo Lenzi and Wife
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37. Drapery modeled with
chiaroscuro
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38. Vanishing point is 5 feet above the
ground, roughly eye level.
Rational measured coherence:
If calculated as a real space:
Painted vault is 7 feet and the
depth of the chapel is 9 feet.
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42. I once was what you are and what I am you also will be.
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43. Memento Mori
A visual reminder of human
mortality.
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44. Memento Mori
Today we might interpret this as a
reminder to “seize the day” or live
life to it’s fullest, but at the time it is
more an exhortation to repent so
that one might join the kingdom of
heaven.
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DONATELLO, David, late 1440–1460. Bronze, 5’ 2 1/4” high. Museo
Nazionale del Bargello, Florence.

46. Medici Palace and Garden entry way
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51. Contrapposto
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52. overt eroticism

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55. First freestanding nude since
Classical antiquity. Nudity usually
associated with shame and sin.
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56. David vs. Goliath
Sword vs Stone
Milan and Naples vs. Florence
Military might vs. Cultural richness
David represents Florence, the
always underdog against the
greater powers of Milan(Visconti)
and Naples (Ladislaus)
The private sensuality and
eroticism are strangely at odds with
this public, civic message
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ANDREA DEL VERROCCHIO, David, ca. 1465–1470. Bronze,
4’ 1 1/2” high. Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence.

58. DONATELLO, Penitent Mary Magdalene, ca. 1455. Painted
and gilded wood, 6’ 2” high. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo,
Florence.
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60. Rejection of the material world
for a secluded spiritual life
Sculpture acts as a “moral
conscience” for the city of
Florence
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DONATELLO, Gattamelata (equestrian statue of
Erasmo da Narni), Piazza del Santo, Padua, Italy,
ca. 1445–1450. Bronze, 12’ 2” high.

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67. Gattamelata= Honey Cat
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