Renaissance ideals brought humanism, naturalism, idealism, and visual harmony to art. I believe this innovated time period brought inspired many periods that followed. One period being the Baroque period of the 17th century. The Baroque period took a new spin to the ideals of Renaissance by bringing exaggerated motions and details to produce drama and tension in their pieces. One of the biggest influences on these pieces, I think, was the mannerism period of the renaissance. With their exaggerated figures and extended almost uncomfortable limbs on the figures of their piece.
To support my ideas I’m comparing Bernini’s David (1623) to Michelangelo’s David (1501). Michelangelo’s David has become the most recognized sculpture of David, because of his attention to detail in the anatomy of the body, and the realism brought through the sculpture. David stands with his entire weight on one leg causing his hips and shoulder to create an angle that is aesthetically pleasing for the high renaissance period. The influence of Greek sculpture is easily seen in this relaxed confident pose. Michelangelo’s piece has been created based off of symmetry of the human form.
The Baroque period was a time of great energy when artists were so fascinated by the action and movement of the human body. This is where I saw the most obvious differences in the two David figures. Bernini’s David is actually taking action. He either has already thrown the stone or is preparing himself to throw the stone at Goliath and we are able to see his muscles tense and as if they are in motion. His face is concentrated on his actions and the effort it takes him. This David, unlike Michelangelo’s David, is not nude. He wares loose fitting garments to emphasis more movement in the sculpture. The Baroque period looked to be more anatomically correct with their figures and this shows in Bernini’s David. David’s arms are more proportionate to the rest of his body than Michelangelo’s David is.
I am able to see the Mannerism ideals brought to this particular figure. More in the way David stands, contorted almost uncomfortably but still with grace. Sculpted dramatically to best depict David’s heroic actions. A main idea the Baroque period brought to art that the Renaissance didn’t emphasis is the amount of viewing angles. From looking straight on to David we see his concentration, but looking to the sides we see the most action. The sculpture holds many angles to look at with a different energy every time.
I do concur that the ideas of the earl, late and high renaissance lead up to the great Baroque period. But i feel that mannerist art differs from Baroque art simple because the images in Baroque art are dramatic, egaging and realistic, not exaggerated and as unbalanced like mannerist art.
ReplyDeleteThe relaxed pose of Michelangelo's sculpture is definitely reminiscent of Greek statues. Remember the straight leg vs. bent arm composition that was used in Polykleitos' "Doryphoros" sculpture? We see the same composition in Michelangelo's work, which is employed to create visual balance and harmony.
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I agree that Mannerism art and Baroque art are similar. Both art periods focus on exaggeration and balance vs unbalanced. Though I do think that Baroque art is more naturalist, most figures are proportionate. I also think that Baroque art was successful at creating unbalanced harmony.
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