This lesson plan aims to teach 17-18 year old students about compositional structure in Renaissance and Baroque art through examples of representative artworks. In the 60 minute lesson, students will first learn how Renaissance artists like Giotto, Leon Battista Alberti, and Botticelli used mathematical ratios and geometry in their compositions to achieve harmony. They will then compare the symmetrical, pyramidal compositions of Piero della Francesca to the dynamic, diagonal compositions and use of chiaroscuro in Rubens' works. To practice these concepts, students will then simplify and interpret compositional structures from examples of Renaissance and Baroque art in their own sketches. Finally, the class will discuss what they learned about compositional structures and new art terms.

1. Lesson Plan
„Numbers in the compositional structure”
“Carmen Sylva” High school Ploiești, România
Professors: Rita Bădulescu, Iulia Ignat
Unit: Numbers
Subunit:Numbersinthe compositional structure
Age group: 17 – 18 years old
Time: 60 minutes
Resources – Materials:
Copies of representative works of art of the
Renaissance and Baroque period (Giotto, Leon
Battista Alberti,Botticelli,Piero’sDellaFrancesca,
Rubens)
Acrylic paint, brushes, paper
Recycled language:
Canvas, Renaissance, Baroque, work of art,
composition, palette, equilibrium, rhythm
New language:
Sfumato,value, hue, chiaroscuro, color harmony
Objectifs:
Pupils should be able to:
1. Understand the term „rhythm” and the
meaning of „compositional structure”.
2. Understand and recognize the difference
between the Renaissance and Baroque
curents.
3. Understand the role of numbers in the
creation of the artists in Renaissance.
4. Comprehend and learn new art terms.
5. Practice by painting in order to
understand and learn new compositional
structures.
Time Procedure
15’ - Introduction –
Our lesson is about artistic composition and we chose to exemplify through a
comparison between Renaissance and Baroque.
Let’s remember about Giotto. What does he bring new to the pictorial
representation?He overstepsthe classicaltechniqueof representingicons,suchas
flat,decorative shapesandvolumesinterpretation,withnoperspective.Hisworks
begin to have compositional structure.
What does it mean compositional structure?
Whole
class

2. C.s. representsthesecretmathematicsof apainting.Itisbasedmore ongeometry
andthe artistsof the Renaissance periodusednumbersinordertofindharmonious
solutions to compose.
Leon Battista Alberti studied architecture, mathematics, music and the art of
painting.He creates a connectionbetweenmusical rhythmandvisual rhythm.He
suggests some compositional structures based on musical consonance: 2/3, ¾, ½
or other derivatives 9/12/16 or 4/6/9.
Botticelli uses these numbers in order to bring harmony in his works. The golden
ratio is frequently used as a measurement in the Renaissance.
In today’s lesson for a better understanding of the importance of compositional
structure,we create a comparisonbetweenthe Renaissance and Baroque styles.
In Piero’s Della Francesca work of art, we can observe a clear, symmetrical
composition,structuredinasolidpyramidshape. It’s all harmony and simplicity.
The triptych“The descentof the cross”of Rubensformdynamiccompositions,the
character’s movements are drawn on diagonal axis, also there are character
congestions, painted in chiaroscuro technique to underline the specific drama
caught in the scenes.
30’ - Activity – Practice –
The sketches that we are making will simplify and interpret two kind of
compositions,one fromthe Renaissance period,thatcapturesa simple geometry
basedonthe musical rhythms,withbrightcolors,pyramidalstructure,harmonious
shapes and one from Baroque period, that brings strong movement,
agglomeration,dynamismandchiaroscurocontrast.We will keepthe linesdrawn
on the copies of the works of art to understand and to be able to highlight the
specifics of every artistic period.
Individual
work
15’ - Evaluation –
We discussabout the exercise/practice and we underline the new learnt terms.
Whole
class