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By James Ensor
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On Tuesday night, September 27, over twenty people gathered to hear a presentation on the Renaissance by Beth Knauss of ArtMatters. She began with a discussion on how art got to where it was at the beginning of the Renaissance. Bibles were illustrated, battle armor was painted and decorated, tapestries were made and architectural masterpieces such as cathedrals were built over generations.
“Religious works brought a sense of faith and community to the people,” said Knauss, “which was very important during the Renaissance, directly after the Dark Ages.” She explained that many artists only had themselves, and trial and error, to learn from. As time passed, though, early Renaissance artists began to train the later generations.
While giving her lecture, Ms. Knauss supplemented the discussion with photos of several prominent pieces of Renaissance art. Domenico Ghirlandaio’s “An Old Man and his Grandson,” circa 1490, is a prime example of Renaissance artwork’s propensity to capture human emotion. It also features what Knauss called a “subplot” in the background of the painting: a window depicted a detailed landscape behind the grandfather and grandson.
The 1500s came along, and with them came new forms of art, as well as some of the most famous artists of the period. Michelangelo had a passion for sculpture, but his father told him to learn painting first, as it was still the most respected art form.
“Renaissance means rebirth, and it was a time of opportunity for many people, if you knew the right folks,” said Knauss. The right folks quickly recognized Michelangelo’s talents. At the young age of 26, he created his famous David sculpture, and was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the Sistine Chapel.
All attendees left the talk better educated on the artwork of the Renaissance, and perhaps with a newfound interest in the arts. ArtMatters will be back at the Walpole Library on October 17, with a program entitled “Leonardo Da Vinci.”
