2.2 Medieval and Renaissance art criticism

Medieval and Renaissance art criticism marked a shift from religious iconography to individualism. The Catholic Church heavily influenced medieval art, using it to teach religious stories. Critics focused on how well art conveyed religious messages through established conventions.

The Renaissance brought a new focus on individual artists and their unique styles. Humanism encouraged celebrating artistic innovation and personal achievement. Critics began evaluating artists on their technical skill, creativity, and intellectual abilities, not just religious content.

Religious Iconography in Medieval Art

The Role of the Catholic Church in Medieval Art Criticism

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• Medieval art criticism was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church and religious doctrine
• Art served a primarily didactic purpose to teach religious stories and morals to a largely illiterate population
• Critics evaluated art based on how effectively it conveyed religious messages through established iconographic conventions
• Saint Bernard of Clairvaux argued that excessive ornamentation and naturalistic representation in religious art could distract from spiritual contemplation and lead to idolatry

Iconography and Aniconism in Medieval Art

• Iconography, the use of symbols and images to represent religious figures, stories, and ideas, was a central focus of medieval art criticism
• The concept of aniconism, the prohibition of figurative representations in religious art, was a topic of debate among medieval art critics, particularly in the Byzantine Empire during the Iconoclastic Controversy
• The Libri Carolini, a treatise commissioned by Charlemagne, established guidelines for the appropriate use of images in religious contexts
• The Libri Carolini influenced art criticism throughout the medieval period by setting standards for the proper representation of religious subjects

Individualism in Renaissance Art

The Emergence of the Artist as an Individual

• Renaissance art criticism marked a shift from the collective, anonymous production of medieval art to a focus on individual artists and their unique styles and techniques
• The concept of the "artist as genius" emerged during the Renaissance, with critics increasingly attributing the quality and meaning of artworks to the singular vision and skill of the artist
• Giorgio Vasari's "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects" (1550) was a landmark text that provided biographies of individual artists and established a canon of great masters
• Vasari's work helped to solidify the idea of the artist as a unique creative individual worthy of study and admiration

The Impact of Humanism on Individualism in Art

• The rise of humanism during the Renaissance encouraged a focus on the individual and their achievements, which extended to the evaluation of artists and their works by critics
• The development of linear perspective and other techniques for representing three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface allowed for greater artistic innovation and individual expression
• Renaissance art critics celebrated the technical mastery and creativity of individual artists who pushed the boundaries of artistic representation
• The humanist emphasis on individual achievement and excellence contributed to the growing status and prestige of artists during the Renaissance period

Humanism and Renaissance Art Theory

The Influence of Humanist Philosophy on Art Theory

• Humanism, a philosophical movement that emphasized the value and agency of human beings, had a profound impact on Renaissance art theory and criticism
• Humanist scholars, such as Leon Battista Alberti and Marsilio Ficino, drew upon classical texts to develop new theories of art
• These theories emphasized the importance of rational design, harmonic proportions, and the imitation of nature in artistic production
• The humanist concept of "ut pictura poesis" (as is painting, so is poetry) encouraged the idea that painting should be considered a liberal art, on par with poetry and rhetoric

The Ideal of the Renaissance Man

• Humanist art theorists promoted the idea of the "Renaissance man," an individual who excelled in multiple disciplines, including the visual arts
• The Renaissance man embodied the ideals of learning, creativity, and virtue celebrated by humanist thinkers
• Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were seen as exemplars of the Renaissance man, excelling in a wide range of artistic and intellectual pursuits
• The concept of the Renaissance man influenced art criticism, as critics evaluated artists not only on their technical skill but also on their intellectual and creative abilities

Classical Antiquity vs Renaissance Art Criticism

The Rediscovery of Classical Texts and Artifacts

• The rediscovery and study of classical texts and artifacts during the Renaissance had a significant impact on art criticism
• Critics sought to evaluate art according to the principles and standards of ancient Greece and Rome
• The writings of ancient Roman authors, such as Vitruvius and Pliny the Elder, provided Renaissance critics with models for describing and evaluating art based on principles of proportion, symmetry, and naturalism
• The excavation and study of ancient Roman ruins, such as the Domus Aurea and the Baths of Caracalla, provided Renaissance artists and critics with examples of classical art and architecture to emulate and critique

The Application of Classical Principles to Art Criticism

• Renaissance art critics, such as Pomponius Gauricus and Gian Paolo Lomazzo, adapted classical rhetorical principles to the evaluation of art
• They argued that the style and content of an artwork should be suited to its intended audience and purpose, drawing on the classical concept of decorum (appropriateness)
• The classical concept of mimesis, or the imitation of nature, was a central concern of Renaissance art criticism
• Critics evaluated art based on its ability to accurately and convincingly represent the visible world, in accordance with classical ideals of beauty and realism
• Renaissance art patrons and collectors, such as the Medici family in Florence, sought to emulate ancient Roman patrons by commissioning and displaying works of art that demonstrated their knowledge and appreciation of classical culture
• The tastes and preferences of these patrons influenced the criteria by which art was evaluated and criticized during the Renaissance period