The Renaissance and Reformation periods had both similarities and differences in their artistic styles. During the Renaissance, art was grandiose in scale and focused on religious subjects, as most Europeans were Catholic and art was commissioned by the church. In contrast, Reformation art emphasized simplicity and modesty, as Protestants rejected ornate religious art. Landscapes and scenes of everyday life became popular instead of religious imagery, as iconoclasm increased. Ultimately, the two periods influenced each other as new attitudes and questioning of the Catholic Church emerged during the Reformation.

1. Renaissance vs.
Reformation
Relating To Art
C O U R T N E Y T A Y L O R
D E L T A C O L L E G E
R E N A I S S A N C E S A N D R E F O RMA T I O N S ( H I S 2 4 0 )
S EME S T E R P R O J E C T
This is a symbolic picture that depicts all
the different types of religions; ones,
Nathan. The One World Religion. N.d.
Lamb & Lion Ministries. Lamb & Lion
Ministries. Web.

2. The Renaissance
The renaissance was a cultural movement which
started in Italy and moved across Europe…
- Influential people of the renaissance include great
artists, thinkers and scientists such as: Leonardo
Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Thomas More,
Galileo and many more.

3. Brief Renaissance History
The renaissance period aka the age of recovery is
considered a happy time in history; people had
survived the plague- there was an abundance of
wealth being spread, and people were beginning to
study humanism, art and literature. Not only does the
renaissance period give us beautiful works of art to
admire- it helps us look at the world differently and
appreciate everything that came out of it.

4. Continued.…
•Most of Europe at this time was Roman Catholic; the artwork was used for altarpieces and
panels for the churches.
•Religion was still incredibly dominate but at the same time this was the period where humanism
and secularism (non religious ideas) was very new, people were studying human nature and
looking at the world with a different perspective- open to new ideas.
•The people of this time used the past to help guide and influence their future, looking back to
the ancient Greeks and Romans for inspiration for ways to help mold their world.
•Artists/architects like Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Brunelleschi donated most of their time
designing for the Catholic church- these men were also poets, writers, and scientists (they drew
sketches and proposed scientific ideas). Mixing art and science together- rediscovering ancient
ideas and techniques.
•Art, music, poetry and literature were leaning away from religion and were more focused on the
individual self and emotion- people were beginning to gain a new sense of self worth and ability.

5. The Reformation
•The reformation was a religious movement that was
against the Catholic Church and was in the process of
breaking free and creating other religions based on
Christianity such as: Protestantism, Lutheranism,
Anabaptist and Anglican.
- Notable/influential people of the reformation
movement include: Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas
Cranmer and Ulrich Zwingli

6. Brief Reformation History
The reformation was a religious movement that began in Germany but quickly spread
throughout Europe. The Catholic Church was criticized for abusing its powers and its followers,
people began to question the church and became dissatisfied by its leaders, teachings and
rituals. Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli are probably the most well known
reformers who began to question the Catholic Church and break away. The reformation marked
the end of the renaissance period and things quickly began to change.

7. So What Happened during the
Reformation?
• Things were not as peaceful as they once were during the renaissance.
•This was a dangerous time to live in- people who were once close were now against each other,
battling in religious wars.
•Iconoclasm was on the rise; iconoclasm is taking religious beliefs, images, property and destroying or
attacking them
•Stain glass windows, paintings, statues and much more were being destroyed-to make a statement
against the Catholic Church. Statues were defaced and destroyed. Catholic art was
removed/whitewashed.
•“The artists of this period-Michelangelo in Rome, Titian in Venice, Durer in Nuremberg, Cranach in
Saxony-were impacted by these changes since the church had been the single largest patron for
artist.” Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Beth Harris. 1500-1600 End of the Renaissance and Reformation
•Art became a source of news- artists used their paintings to inform people who couldn’t read-they
too were able to see how corrupt things have gotten.
•Art was full of politics and propaganda.

8. Characteristics of Renaissance Art vs.
Reformation Art
•Most Renaissance Art was for the Catholic Church/believer.
•Catholics believed in a strong interpretation of the bread and body of Christ,
which made the crucifixion scenes in catholic churches extremely popular.
•Renaissance art was very grand and extravagant, their paintings of clergymen,
the Madonna and Child, and saints were very grandiose, bright colored and
engraved in gold.

9. Above is a picture of a triptych with
the Crucifixion, the Lamentation
and the Ascension
Florentine artist Pacino Di
Bonaguida; The Lamentation and the
Ascension. N.d. Art Gallery of Ontario, Ontario.
Lamentation, Crucifixion and Ascension: A Work of
Art. By Sasha Suda. Web.
Above is Michelangelo first
depiction of the Madonna and
child; Michelangeo First
Madonna and Child. N.d.
Gallery- Madonna and Child.

10. Characteristics of Renaissance Art vs.
Reformation Art
•Most protestant Reformers and churches used a more symbolic picture to represent the
sacrifices Christ made by using the Last Supper as a representation.
•The Protestants focused on simplicity and modesty. Reformers didn’t want statues of
undressed people-saying it was creating sexual beauty and taking away from the
teachings.
• Protestants focused on a small-scaled, low key form of art which respected the
untouched beauty of Gods creation.
•Most of these paintings were small scenes representing a moral message or still
paintings which told a story.
•Most paintings during the reformation were landscapes or scenes representing the
everyday life of peasants.

11. These landscape pictures are by famous
reformation artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder- rather
than depicting a religious image or scene- he
captures everyday life. This top picture is called
“The Hunters in the Snow.” The Hunters in the
Snow. 1565. The Harvesters. 1565. Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York. WebMuseum. Web.
This picture called “The Harvesters” done by Bruegel
shows everyday workers relaxing by a tree and some
are off in a distance working in the fields; The
Harvesters. 1565. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York. WebMuseum. Web.

12. Here is a Lutheran depiction of the last
supper-by Lucas Cranach the Elder; The
Last Supper. 1547. Wittenberger
Stadtkirche, Germany. WikiArt. Web.
Here is one of the most famous depiction
of the last supper done by Leonardo Da
Vinci ; The Last Supper. 1495-1498. Santa
Maria Delle Grazie. Web.

13. Ultimately, these two time periods have some great similarities and some
great differences. The renaissance and reformation fed off of one another.
Both the renaissance and reformation deal with huge political changes
that were unheard of before its time. Both of these eras allowed people
more freedom and allowed people to question and search for answers
they had about what they were told to believe-before they could think for
themselves. During this time in history and much after, religion was the
core of what people based their lives on. Catholicism was all the
Europeans knew until people like Martin Luther stood up and spoke up
about his concerns and his beliefs- we will never know how long the
catholic leaders would have continued to abuse its powers. Without the
renaissance (the age of rebirth and recovery) and the advances in
technology and great artists and thinkers of the reformation may have
never happened.

14. Renaissance Art
The artwork during this time are beautiful pieces that help us describe the life and lifestyles
during this time period. The art work made during the renaissance was rich in color, bold,
framed, engraved in gold etc. At this time most people were recovering from surviving the
plague; there was abundance of wealth going around. People were happy, people had more free
time to spend doing what they had wanted to do. At this time most Europeans were catholic-most
paintings or sculptures were either done with religious undertones or done and paid for by
the catholic church.

15. Reformation Art
With people starting to question the church and its teachings peoples attitudes began to
change. The high times of the renaissance was drying down and people began second guessing
everything they once believed in. Reformers began opening the eyes of people which lead to
both peaceful and violet protests. People started to destroy catholic art pieces. The political,
propaganda art that came out during the reformation made a mockery of the Catholic Church by
using negative and derogatory images to represent the church. On the other hand the religious
art that came out of this period was plain and modest. The reformers believed less is more- they
didn’t believe in taking away from the teachings and messages.

16. Work Cited
Work Cited
The One World Religion. N.d. Lamb & Lion Ministries. By David R. Reagan. Web.
Buman, Sarah. Impacts of Protestant Reformation in Northern Europe. 2012. Buman's Art History. Web.
Why is the Renaissance important?," in ItalianRenaissance.org, June 29, 2012, http://www.italianrenaissance.org/why-is-the-renaissance-important
According to the book, Depositions; Scenes from the Late Medieval Church and the modern Museum pg. 30
Wisse, Jacob. "The Reformation". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/refo/hd_refo.htm (October 2002)
Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Beth Harris. "1500-1600 End of the Renaissance and the Reformation - Smarthistory." Smarthistory: a multimedia web-book
about art and art history. Khan-academy, 2010. Web.
RENAISSANCE VS REFORMATION." politicworm. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Zwingli. “Amy Knight Powell, Depositions; Scenes from the Late Medieval Churches and the Modern Museum
Protestant Reformation Art (c.1520-1700)." Protestant Reformation Art: Characteristics, History. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014.

17. Work Cited Images
Jones, Nathan. The One World Religion. N.d. Lamb & Lion Ministries. Lamb & Lion Ministries.
Web.
The Lamentation and the Ascension. N.d. Art Gallery of Ontario, Ontario. Lamentation,
Crucifixion and Ascension: A Work of Art. By Sasha Suda. Web.
Michelangelo First Madonna and Child. N.d. Gallery- Madonna and Child. Web.
The Harvesters. 1565. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. WebMuseum. Web.
The Hunters in the Snow. 1565. The Harvesters. 1565. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
WebMuseum. Web.
The Last Supper. 1547. Wittenberger Stadtkirche, Germany. WikiArt. Web.
The Last Supper. 1495-1498. Santa Maria Delle Grazie. Web.