Author: rvalencia

Renaissance Art finds itself emerging between the 14^th and 16^th centuries A.D. Within this period the Renaissance movement itself, along with all that lead up to the actuality of the movement influences all of its art. Painters and sculptors are influenced by humanism and secularism respectively. Unlike the Middle Ages (period before it) human thought was focused away from God, heavenly saints, and it began to examine the natural aspect of living on Earth. As Greek and Roman scientific methods began to be revived, artists began to be perceived as knowledgeable, respected figures in society and no longer artisans or craftsmen. A profession in the visual arts called for knowledge of mathematical perspective, optics, geometry, and anatomy. It was this exploration of fields in science, biology, architecture, mathematics, and engineering lead art of the Renaissance to be distinct from its predecessors. By solely using “secular humanism” as a means to identify art of this period we see changes in the depiction of saints and/or individuals of religious importance where halos become to disappear and the size of such figures actually are more scaled to look like ordinary people.

During the Renaissance we also see paintings transform in their presentation. Oil paints were used for the time, and the mixing of egg yolks for pigmentsis replaced. With oil, paint became translucent and more vivid colors were used, as well as more depth in paintings. The works of art that were a result of the Renaissance were made with attention to detail, and have a natural essence to them-which is exactly what artists intended. Evidence of this lays in well-known examples from this period of time such as the “Last Supper” and the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo Da Vinci, as well as Michelangelo’s sculptures and his artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Bibliography:

“Renaissance Art.” History Department, Hanover College. Hanover.edu. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. <http://history.hanover.edu/courses/art/111ren.html>.

“Renaissance Art Gallery.” Renaissance Art. Www.csun.edu. Web. Sept. 2009. <http://www.csun.edu/~aee52628/files/pdf/Renaissance/Ren.Art.Gallery.pdf>.

Sistine Chapel . Hanover.edu. Web. Sept. 2009. <http://history.hanover.edu/courses/art/micsis2.jpg>.

Witcombe, Prof. Christopher. “What is Art?…. What is an Artist.” Arthistory.sbc.edu. Department of Art History: SBC Virginia, Fall 1997. Web. Sept. 2009. <http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/renaissance.html>.

View of South Street, From Maiden Lane, New York City ca. 1824

William James Bannett painted ” View Of South Street, From Maiden Lane, New York City” around the year 1824. The modern view of South St. from Maiden Lane is devoid of the ambiance of an actual active and busy dock. Although the photograph taken showed little traffic, it was because I actually got lucky and settled on this one. The others showed a flow of traffic which relates to the business of the streets, especially this one in the commerical district of New York City. These streets today contain the same themes the painting by Bannett convey. They represent commerce, working individuals, trading, and busyness. Only a mere street block before Maiden Lane I was able to see actual huge ships docked at South Street, but these are only remnants of what actually were functional in the 19th century, as shown by Bannett. The aspect of travel, and business is captured in today’s world by the the highway, detour sign, and the edifice on the right. This was on the exact same street corner which Bannett was standing on for his painting. Today’s business district still can get as congested as seen in the painting, except with an image of business suits scurrying these streets, heading to their office building for work.

I attempted to recreate the “View” with a relatively centered vanishing point. The map of this street hasn’t changed, so it is safe to assume we were both in relatively similar locations. Where in Bannett’s painting we see the tops of the residences/places of business along South Street, in today’s version we see only the lower half of scaling buildings.

– Art in my opinion signifies the expressive ability to perform, write, paint, sketch, photograph, etc. Art is a relative term, but this is somehow the beauty of it. Although an article can be a form of art to one, it may be something entirely different to another. Although it is a three letter word it encompasses singing, dancing, music playing, painting, sketching, building, sculpting, writing, and even cooking. Art is a means of conveying one love for an ability or specialty from whatever you are imagining to an audience.

1. My favorite form of art is music. I love jazz, and am not afraid to say it. Although many of this generation have their own stereotypes of jazz, most of them are uneducated judgments. I have been playing an instrument for 5 years now and at first played the baritone horn for 2 years. Later on, I switched and stuck to the trombone-although i can still play the other. Music has been around for millenia, dating back to early attempts at speech. Music, to me, allows those who are playing to say what they cant say in words, in melodies and backgrounds. It can create and destroy, and although in modern times the business of music is a negative one, there are still musicians out there whose skill in unheard of and will eventually make a better face for this art of music.

2. In the history that I am knowledgeable of, I would have to say that my favorite period is the Swing Era. Jazz was extremely main stream, and was the “cool” thing in its day. Everyone enjoyed it. Musicians made huge names for themselves and were the “rockers” of today back then. It was a time when although jazz was going into its approximately third decade of existence, it began to really emerge as a national American enjoyment that appealed to many social classes.

3. Academically, I’d have to say my strengths exist within the fields of science. I love biology, chemistry, and physics. History plays into my strengths as well, as I extremely fond of American and World History. My non-academic strengths lay in my music, acting and singing that I have done throughout High School, and even dancing as well. I play soccer, wrestling, handball, and weight train throughout the year as well.

4. Personally, I feel very comfortable with new technology. I know that many people at first feel intimidated and lost with new forms of technology-and I do believe that is normal- but to me I love delving into it, even if it means getting a little lost. These new Macs and operating on the e-portfolio did prove a bit confusing for me for a week, but after convincing myself to stop using my PC laptop, I have actually found it intriguing and fun.

5. My writing skills have always been mediocre. It, of course, is dependent on what interests me and why I am writing. There are certain topics i know I am not going to be able to extensively write about, whereas other ones that appeal to me allow me to write for hours. I don’t and will never consider myself any kind of writer. However, i feel I am confident enough to write for someone than for myself. I am better organizing ideas for others than my own.