The High Renaissance in Italy occurred from 1480-1520, principally in Rome where Popes spent large amounts of money commissioning artworks. This era saw a focus on realistic human figures through the study of anatomy as well as the spread of classical ideas. The three masters of the High Renaissance were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, who created famous works like the Mona Lisa, David, and School of Athens through divine inspiration and classical ideals blended with observation.

1. The Italian High Renaissance
A Time of Renewal and Discovery

2. Origins
✤ The High Renaissance began during the 1480’s, specifically with
Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
✤ It occurred principally in Rome.
✤ The Popes in Rome spent copious amounts of money on
commissioned works of art during this time.

3. Historical and Cultural Context
✤ With the invention and use of the printing press, there was a greater
spread of ideas, and artists could sell prints of their work.
✤ Travel also increased during the High Renaissance; therefore, art
became more international.
✤ Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, which
challenged the classical world view and encouraged a new age of
science and math.
✤ Changes were also reflected in literature, poetry, philosophy, science,
architecture, and music.

4. The Figure
✤ The High Renaissance explored
classical forms of the figure.
✤ Several artists studied human
anatomy in an effort to make
more realistic paintings and
sculptures of the human form.

5. Masters of the High Renaissance
✤ Leonardo da Vinci
✤ Michelangelo
✤ Raphael

6. Leonardo da
Vinci
✤ 1452 – 1519
✤ Born in Vinci, Italy.
✤ Was a painter, sculptor, architect,
musician, scientist,
mathematician, engineer,
inventor, anatomist, geologist,
cartographer, botanist and writer.
✤ His work dissecting human
corpses and studying anatomy
helped artists develop proper
proportions and realism.

7. San Giovenale Triptych (1422) Masaccio The Virgin and Child with St. Anne (1508-1517) da Vinci
He also developed the technique of “sfumato”- the blurred outline
and mellowed colors that allow one form to merge with another
and always leave something to our imagination.

8. Leonardo da Vinci’s
Vitruvian Man
✤ Also known as the Proportions
of Man.
✤ Uses text and drawing to
describe and show the ideal
proportions for a human male.
✤ Excellent example of the blend
of science and art.
✤ Combined the classical ideals
of the human figure with da
Vinci’s own observations.

9. Leonardo da
Vinci’s Mona
✤ 31” x 21”
✤ da Vinci’s most famous work of
art.
✤ One of the first portraits to
depict the subject in front of an
imaginary background.
✤ For many years there was
controversy regarding the
subject of the painting, though
in 2008 it was confirmed that it is
Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo.

10. Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper (1495-1498)
✤ 15 feet x 29 feet
✤ Inspired the book The Da Vinci Code.
✤ Controversial because some art historians believe it is Mary
Magdalene, rather than the Apostle John, seated next to Jesus.

11. Michelangelo
✤ 1475-1564.
✤ Believed God put the sculpture
within the rock and that the
artist must uncover it.
✤ Also believed good art comes
from divine inspiration and
beauty is a path to salvation.
✤ Preferred sculpting above all
other forms of art. “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and
it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
- Michelangelo

12. Michelangelo’s
The Pieta (1498-1499)
✤ Made of marble and is 68.5 in
× 76.8 in.
✤ Finished when Michelangelo
was just 24 years old.
✤ Balances the Renaissance ideals
of classical beauty and
naturalism.
✤ When others attributed the
sculpture to another artist,
Michelangelo carved his name
across Mary’s chest.

13. Michelangelo’s
The David (1501-1504)
✤ Made of marble that was
abandoned by another sculptor, it
stands 17 feet tall.
✤ Finished when Michelangelo was
29 years old.
✤ The statue’s hands and head are
disproportionately large. Because
the statue was originally intended
to be installed on the roofline of a
cathedral, it is most likely that
Michelangelo did this
intentionally, so these important
details could be seen from below.

14. Michelangelo’s
Sistine Chapel (1508-1512)
✤ Commissioned by Pope Julius
II
✤ The center represents 9
moments from the Bible’s Book
of Genesis, surrounded by the
12 prophets who prophesied
the coming of Jesus.
✤ Painted it standing atop
scaffolding. It is a fresco.

15. Masculinity in
Renaissance Art
✤ Why are Michelangelo’s
women painted so masculine?
✤ The models he used were male.
✤ The male figure was
considered the ideal of beauty
during the Renaissance.

16. Raphael
✤ 1483-1520
✤ Primarily a painter, but also an
architect.
✤ Many of his commissions were
from the Vatican, specifically
Popes Julius II and Leo X.

17. The School of Athens (1510-1511) Raphael
✤ 17 x 25 foot fresco
✤ Depicts all of the great Greek philosophers - Plato and Aristotle are the
two central figures.
✤ Represented the revival of classical philosophy during the Renaissance.

18. Early vs. High Italian Renaissance
Rome
Florence
1480-1520
1400-1490
Focused on the Figure
Focused on Linear
Perspective
Michelangelo
da Vinci
Brunelleschi
Raphael
Masaccio
financially supported by the
financially supported by the
Popes and private
Medici Family
commissions