Progetto Michelangelo

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Artists - ArtWorks

Document available

Name of the Artist / Artwork:

Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raffaello Sanzio, A Comparison

Country:

Italy

Century: 1500 - The 16th Century

Art Period:

Reinassance Art and Architecture in Italy

Synthetic Chronology:

Leonardo born at Vinci in 1452, Michelangelo born at Caprese in 1475, Raffaello born at Urbino in 1483.
At 15 Leonardo is sent to Florence to work as apprentice to Andrea Verrocchio. In 1482 Leonardo moves to Milan to work in the service of the city's duke, Ludovico Sforza. He gains the title of "Painter and Engineer of the duke. In 1499 with the duke Ludovico Sforza's fall from power, Da Vinci leaves Milan and spends a short time in Venice. 1502 Leonardo begins work as senior military architect and general engineer for Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI. 1516 The king of France invites Leonardo to come work for him. 1519 May 2, Leonardo dies in France.
In 1492 Michelangelo goes in Venice then Bologna after the expulsion of the Medici family from Florence. After a trip to Rome , he went back to Florence, and decided to spend some time studying with Perugino in Perugia. In 1505 Michelangelo is called by Julius II. In 1506 he goes back to Florence. In 1508 Michelangelo is called in Rome to depict the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. The new government in Florence called and asked him to prepare plans for defence against the assault. 1534 Leaves Florence forever. 1564 he dies on February in Rome.
Raffaello is apprenticed in Urbino at his fathers workshop, until 1504 he studies the work of Perugino, Piero della Francesca, Signorelli. Between 1504 and 1508 Raffaello lives in Florence. The influence of the two masters Leonardo and Raffaello determined his artistic evolution. In 1508 Raffaello is introduced by Donato Bramante at the Court of Pope Julius II. In these years Raffaello worked on the rooms of the Vatican. He dies in 1520.

The Context:

Italian Art from the 1490 to the Sack of Rome(1527)has been considered the Imperial Style. Major artists trained and practiced in Rome, Florence and Northern Italy, but also in Spain, Germany and France, spreading Renaissance Humanism and the Italian Renaissance style throughout Europe.
The Sixteenth Century was an age of social, intellectual and religious ferment that transformed European culture. The Humanism of the 1400's slowly opened to a spirit of discovery that led Europeans to explore new ideas, given also by the use of the printing press that permitted to broaden the horizon of education.

Background:

At 15 Leonardo is sent to Florence to work as apprentice to Andrea Verrocchio.

Michelangelo is apprentinced to Ghirlandaio in whose workshop he learned the fresco techniques.
Soon he joined the court of Lorenzo il Magnifico, where he came to contact with the Neoplatonic Philosopy.

Raffaello is apprenticed in Urbino at his fathers workshop, until 1504, then he starts to get interested in the work of Perugino, Piero della Francesca and Signorelli.

National Comparative:

School of Athens is one of the most representative works by Raffaello Sanzio, whom absorbs the lessons of Michelangelo and Leonardo and merges it on a wonderful fresco at Stanza della Signatura in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. It seems to be recognizable the identity of some of the contemporaries of Raffaello in the figures portrayed, such as Leonardo, Bramante, Michelangelo and Raffaello Himself as Plato, Heraclitus, Euclid and Apelles. Raffaello absorbed Michelangelo’s glorification of the nude figure, in the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. As Michelangelo placed great importance on the human figure which he managed to capture in of extraordinarily vital poses, Raffaello captured the essence in such a way that moral greatness was represented through physical power.
The formidable statuesque presence of the human figures painted by Michelangelo is attributable to his love for sculpture, but Raffaello added poetry and kindness to his characters, helped also by the Aerial perspective assimilated from Leonardo, that gave at the figures ethereal energy.

Artistic Analysis:

As said Raffaello’ work is influenced by two of the most important artist of the Centuries, but instead of coping them he elaborates their works and merged it into a delicate beauty, candid and poignant atmosphere, fusing the impetuous touch of Michelangelo and the scientific study of Leonardo in tha affecting world of Raffaello.

Transnational Comparative Analysis:

Italy in this period is very influent on the work of other artists, in Italy and outside Italy. Formal innovations and tonal improvements renewed the Century tradition influencing also other Countries.

Development of the artist's work through the years:

His career falls naturally into three phases and three styles, first described by Giorgio Vasari: his early years in Umbria, then a period of about four years (from 1504-1508) absorbing the artistic traditions of Firenze, followed by his last hectic and triumphant twelve years in Roma, working for two Popes and their close associates.

Justification:

It has been decided to compare the work of Raffaello Sanzio with two of the major artist of the Sixteenth century because it seemed relevant to underline Raffaello influences of Michelangelo e Leonardo, the most representative artists of the history.

Bibliography:

M. Stokstad- Art History, Pearson/Prentice Hall 2005
Ernest Gombrich- History of Art, Phaidon Bertelli- Storia dell’arte Italiana, Electa Mondadori

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