Early Renaissance

Question 1

What is the significance of Cimabue’s and Giotto’s versions of The Madonna Enthroned?

Answer 1

The transition from Cimabue’s to Giotto’s version is viewed as the founding moment of the Renaissance.

Cimabue’s work is Medieval in taste, while Giotto introduces Renaissance traits like deep space and realism.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of Cimabue’s Madonna Enthroned?

Answer 2

Cimabue’s version features multiple viewpoints, paper-thin bodies, flatness, and size denoting importance rather than realistic proportions.

Cimabue’s is Medeival taste

Question 3

What Renaissance traits are present in Giotto’s Madonna Enthroned?

Answer 3

Giotto’s version includes deep space (angles), realism of the human form (weight/volume), and a unified point of view.

Question 4

The Lamentation by Giotto

Answer 4

• Another step forward toward the Renaissance.
• Human realism is more pronounced (modeling is used for drapery and to suggest form),
• perspective is suggested (the angels are foreshortened, the ledge draws the eye toward the center of the composition, etc.).
• Psychological realism is also introduced: there is a novel sense of drama that wasn’t there before.

Question 5

Tribute Money by Masaccio (1420s)

Answer 5

• Giotto’s innovations are developed by Masaccio, the first great early Renaissance painter.
• . Full perspective is in place (the foreshortened halos: for the first time halos are caught in the laws of physics, before they disappear altogether), modeling is very sophisticated (look at the play of light and shadow over the feet), landscape (mountains, temple) is used to draw the eye toward the vanishing point (Christ).
• Time sequencing is also included, as three different scenes coexist in the same representation.