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Artists Profile Of The Renaissance

Gucwa Vivienne

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July 26th, 2014 - 05:30 AM

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Artists Profile Of The Renaissance

The renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected the European intellectual life during the early modern period (specifically between the 14th and 17th century). Beginning in Italy and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence was felt in literature, art, philosophy, music, politics, science, religion, and other aspects of intellectual inquiry.

Some Artists and their Work

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)
Most renaissance artists originated from Florence, Italy but there were other artists from other parts of the world as well, Albrecht Durer was one of those. He was one of the most significant artists of the Northern renaissance. Not only was this artist a painter but he was a theorist, mathematician, engraver, and a printmaker. Durer became one of the most important artists of the northern renaissance by introducing classical motifs into northern art, through his vast knowledge and understanding of Italian artists and German humanists.

Knight, Death and the Devil (1513)
This piece is considered to be one of the three “master prints” (Meisterstiche). It depicts a valiant Knight riding on a powerful and proud horse. He is accompanied by Death who is astride his pale and feeble horse, and by a goat headed, pig snouted form of the Devil. We see that the knight is pointedly ignoring the other; this is believed to show courage. The personification of death is depicted as holding up an hour glass that could possibly mean that the knight’s death is approaching. Some historic art experts believe that this scene is to linked with publications of the Dutch humanist and theologian Erasmus’s Enchiridion militis Christiani (handbook of a Christian soldier). The engraving draws from Psalm 23; "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil". In the 1970’s, a writer presented his understanding of the painting stating that the work did not seek to glorify the knight but present a “robber baron”, he explained this theory by using the lack of Christian symbolism in the work and the presence of a fox tail tied to the lance. According to Greek literature, a fox tail represents Greed, treachery, cunning and can be considered to represent lust and whoring as well.

This interpretation was disputed, as knights were commonly depicted with a fox tail on the lance in contemporary art, as it was then represented as a protective amulet. There is also the presence of a dog running along the knight. Dogs were commonly used during the renaissance period as a form of iconography to represent the loyal and watchful. Therefore the presence of the dog could suggest the knight’s loyalty to his morals and beliefs.
There are two theories on the meaning of the lizard; some experts believe that it represents religious zeal while others believe that it represents impending danger.

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