The late 14th century in Europe saw immense hardship and instability due to factors like the Black Death plague, famine, and the Hundred Years War. This period known as the "Four Horsemen" devastated the population. However, the arts began to gradually flourish with the rise of the middle class who had more wealth and education. Artworks from this period like Giotto's paintings showed more realistic and natural figures, laying the foundations for developments in realism and humanism that would characterize the Renaissance. This late Gothic period is sometimes called the Proto-Renaissance, as it set the stage for the artistic transformations that would follow.

1. 14th Century Europe
The Apocalypse???
Or the start of a whole new world?
Proto Renaissance????

2. Bad times in Europe during late
Gothic period
Black Death… what was the impact of the black
plague?
Famine?
Black Plague intro

3. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
• 100 Years War France &
England; instability in
Germany
• Great Schism in Catholic
church w/rival popes
• Famine & plague wiped out
almost half the population
of Europe

4. With a few exceptions, although the
Rayonnant gothic style continued in
the early part of the century,
architecture on a large scale
eventually halted.
WHY????
Germany did a Church of the Holy
Cross with a beautiful Gothic style.
However, the impact of the “Four
Horsemen” was huge.

5. Yet the arts gradually began to
flourish….
• Middle class got stronger; more literate &
better educated, wanted art & books
• Growing HUMANISM and individualism
• Orientation toward humanity - Dante in
literature, Petrarch, studied classical
literature from Greece & Rome
• Artisan guilds arose

6. Rottgen Pieta, or Vesperbild
Wood, 14th century (late Gothic Germany)
Expressivism, suffering and emotion
Possibly influence by tragedies in Europe;
plague, famine, wars.
34” high
Pieces like this would influence German
expressivism for centuries

7. Woman mourning a dead child,
Kathe Kollwitz, German
Expressionist, WW II era

8. Madonna & Child (Painting), Bernardo Daddi
Tempera & gold on wood panel
1346 (late Gothic, 14th century Florence,Italy)
Tabernacle, Andrea Orcagna
Marble, mosaic, gold, lapis lazuli
Size: n/a
Probably begun 1355, completed 1359
Replacement painting for miracle image of Madonna
and Child. Florence - Orcagna member of
stone/woodworkers guild
Architectural sculpture to honor Daddi’s painting
Church as Orsanmichele, power & patronage in
Florentine Republic
Pilgrimages to this artwork, estates left to this
artwork
Place to distribute alms (food, money) to the poor
flashcard

9. Virgin & Child Enthroned, Cimabue
1280 (late Gothic Italy - Florence)
Tempera & gold on wood panel
*Painting shows transformation of
Byzantine style
Set precedent (at 12 ft tall) for
monumental altarpieces
Byzantine proportions; highlighted
drapery with gold.
Space: viewer suspended in front of
image
Space: forms delicatedly modeled in
light and shade
More naturalistic figures!!!!!!
flashcard
Laid groundwork for Renaissance and
Giotto…… know this….

10. Cimbaue,
1080
Giotto,
1308

11. Virgin & Child Enthroned, Giotto
•Tempera & gold on wood panel
•11 feet high, 1305, late Gothic Italy
•Most likely painted for church in Florence
•Groundbreaking spatial consistency…
more realistic modeling of figures and
perspective, more natural position of Mary
and baby Jesus
•“Giotto outshone the fame of Cimabue,
as a great light outshines a lesser” Vasari
•Vasari also said that Giotto put an end to
the “crude” maniera grecia (Byzantine
traditions of painting)
•Giotto excelled in narrative painting and
bringing in humanism into his artwork
•Major part of Florentine school of painting

12. Arena Chapel, frescos by Giotto di
Bondone
Fresco secco: dry pigments applied
after plaster is set (Dry)
Fresco buono: pigments applied
while pigment is wet.. Must work
quickly before it dries. Artists worked
in sections in order to do this; could
add details with fresco secco later.
Some pigments unstable in buono
form, so had to be done last in secco
form.

14. This period is sometimes called the Proto-Renaissance, or just the late Gothic.
Why?
Let’s take another look at Giotto in more detail….
http://smarthistory.org/proto-renaissance.html

15. Lamentation, Giotto from Arena Chapel, Padua… 61/2 ft by 6 ft section…
Off center composition to emphasize Mary mourning Jesus’ death; diagonal ride from
bare tree w/angels in background
Direct, emotional impact of art (Franciscan monks?) - Florentine school of painting

16. Maesta (Virgin & Child in Majesty), Duccio, Siena Cathedral, 1308-11.
Foremost Siennese painter in Late Gothic period.
Part of huge panel 14’ high; over predella with life of Jesus
Naturalistic, courtly style, brilliant palette of colors
flashcard

19. Florence Cathedral, 1296-1350, designed
By artists & artisans, not buliders
Brunelleschi’s dome, bell tower by Giotto
Pisano, and Talenti

20. Life of John the Baptist,
Andrea Pisano
Gilded bronze door, Baptistry of San
Giovanni, Florence, 1330-36.
Each panel tells story of Life of John
the Baptist.
Continues Gothic revival of large scale
bronze relief sculptures.
Florence cathedral (Duomo) designed
by sculptors and painters.

22. Allegory of Good Government in the City, Lorenzetti, 1338, Siennese school
Powerful vision of orderly society, realistic perspective, Security plus gallows,
Also did painting of life in the country

23. Book of Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, grisaille and color on vellum, small book 1325.
Monochromatic painting technique (B&W mostly), narrative cycles of Life of Christ,
Joys & Sorrows of Virgin, space is like Sienese; by Jean Pucelle

24. Virgin and Child, 1339
Silver gilt & enamel
Example of “Beautiful” late Gothic style
Artist is unknown
What influences do you see in Mary’s
position and the drapery??????
THIS IS SETTING THE STAGE FOR
THE RENAISSANCE.
Belonged to Jeanne d’Evreux, given to
Abbey Church of Saint-Denis, now in
Louvre, Paris

25. Saint Luke Master Theodoric
Artists began to be known, to
sign their work, and to have
histories.
Artists were part of guilds
which gave apprenticeship,
training, and the ability to do
large jobs such as Giotto’s
frescoes.
This artist developed more
of the Beautiful style
Artists now part of middle
class; more literatcy, more
interest in arts & sciences as
well as religion of course.

26. Beautiful Virgin and Child
Artist unknown
1390
Probably from Church of
Augustinian Canons, Stemberk