In this module, we looked at a variety of styles in the Renaissance in Italy.  Artists like Botticelli, Bellini, Michelangelo, and Bronzino all incorporated Renaissance characteristics into their works, and yet their works look different from each other.  

To address form and content in the artistic developments and trends that took place in the Renaissance, look closely at examples from each of these artists. 

Choose one painting by one of the artists listed above, and identify characteristics and techniques of the Renaissance style. 

Then, address how the work departed from typical Renaissance formulas to become signature to that artist’s particular style.

• Finally, why did you select this artist?  What draws you to their work?  
• 102 Lecture 4 Part 2 15th Century Italian Art (nvcc.edu)
• 102 Lecture 4 Part 1 15th Century Italian Art (nvcc.edu)
• Respond to another student:

I choose the “Venus and Mars” painting by Sandro Botticelli. This painting is a most outstanding work of a creative artist that depicts various features of the Renaissance style. Botticelli used an approach to show a painting that can be used to symbolize human activities. The painting demonstrates Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and Mars, the god of war. Venus and Mars are reclining in a forest setting with their baby satyrs surrounding them. This allegory represents an ideal presentation of sensuous marriage and love.

Sandro Botticelli uses numerous typical Renaissance formulas to add depth and dimensionality to the painting. Botticelli does his painting with soft and delicate colors, which help enhance accuracy and attractiveness. The painting has clear bright colors that enhance viewers’ eye coordination. It also contains many symbolic elements, such as a swarm of wasps that represent the strings of love. Also, the beautiful woman serves as the model for this painting as she inspires the baby satyrs. The wasps buzzing around Mars’s head symbolize his military skills, and he is a victorious warrior (Pozzilli et al., 2019).

I choose Sandro Botticelli because his work has always impressed me with its clear bright colors. I am drawn to the high degree of symbolism he used in his paintings. Also, the dreamlike quality often attracts my eyes. His clear bright colors create a sense of serenity and spirituality as more of his paintings are full of imagery. Botticelli has a unique style with more emphasis on decorative and symbolic forms. Therefore, Botticelli makes his work demonstrate unique characteristics.