Color Of A High Renaissance Painting example essay topic

The purpose of this paper is to describe how Leonardo Da Vinci's painting, "The Last Supper", pertains to a High Renaissance style painting. There are many different ways to look at a painting with High Renaissance characteristics. The first thing one must do is to look at the narrative of the painting followed by the content and space. Second, figures, proportions, and colors are very important descriptive elements. Thirdly, the perspective, space, and even composition of a painting can be very helpful in showing its true power. The High Renaissance was a period in art containing an explosion of creativity and design.

It was a period of exploration in many new directions such as the advancement of humanistic and scientific knowledge; the discovery of new worlds by navigating the globe; the continued growth of cities, with wealth in the hands of the merchant class and expanding national states; and an unparalleled outbursts of productivity in the arts (pg. 253 book). Leonardo Da Vinci rejected the classical humanistic scholarship that prevailed in the Florence of his time in favor of firsthand investigation, observation of nature, and constant experimentation. In the process, his restless intelligence roamed the entire field of human knowledge. Many of his theories and speculations pushed the frontiers of knowledge far beyond his time (pg 277-278 bk).

Leonardo's style is very evident as High Renaissance in "The Last Supper". The "Last Supper", a fresco on the wall of the monks' refectory in Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, is a masterpiece of dramatic power and pictorial logic (pg. 280 bk). The narrative of the painting, or its story, is told from a very powerful Christian view. Its content or subject follows along in a very similar path.

It portrays one of the most sacred events in the Christian view of salvation in the Bible and through one moment frozen in a painting, one can see the meaning of the entire view. Leonardo has chosen to depict the moment when Jesus said: "Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me". And the apostles "were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord is it I? (Matt. 26: 21-22). The reactions run the gamut of human feeling from fear, outrage, and doubt to loyalty and love (pg. 280 bk).

The substance of the painting is seen as real and truthful. The people and the situation both appear very real. The figures in the painting portray its story. Consisting of the twelve disciples and Jesus, the figures lead to the conception of the theme completely dominated by the idea of bringing out the announcement of the betrayal as the dramatic central motif.

Additionally in its form, the painting portrays expression through the agitated movements of the Apostles. Leonardo believed that painted figures ought to be represented in a way that those who see them will be able to easily recognize from their attitudes the thoughts of their minds. This painting exemplifies the belief that figures should express emotional and psychological realism, a Renaissance attitude. The Apostles are arranged in four groups of three with Christ in the center. Jesus, in the center, provides calmness and stability, whereas the facial expression of the Apostles conveys their sense of astonishment (internet). Judas is easily seen with a different expression than the others for he is pulled back away in bad conscience and amazement.

The proportions of the figures and the setting are very realistic. Everything seems to be balanced and mostly in order. The color of a High Renaissance painting is a well-known characteristic. In this painting, the background contains a dark and gloomy color. The foreground, however, is vivid and multi colorful. The color of Christ stands out differently with a dark red.

This accents his body and the deep red symbolizes his blood to which he offers to the disciples. The "Last Supper" is filled with characteristics of perspective. High Renaissance paintings usually followed a geometric pattern of a triangle. The triangle represents the trinity of Christianity and a sense of balance and order (white). All the lines of the walls and ceiling beams converge in the exact middle, directly behind the head of Christ in perfectly realized linear perspective.

The light from the center window with the curved pediment above, functions as a halo around his head. At the table, the revealing gestures of the hands also focus attention toward the center (bk pg. 231). The space of the painting is used very well. It is measurable space used positively to accent Jesus. The dominant position of Christ and the composition is emphasized by the empty space around him. The background doorway frames his figure against the view of the countryside as his hands point silently to the bread and wine.

His glance too follows these directions and places emphasis on the orderly arrangement of the objects on the table before him. To the left and right of him objects immediately fall into disarray. Thus Leonardo provides the space before the Lord as a symbol of the sacred action Jesus is ready to accomplish offering himself as a sacrifice in the form of bread and wine (orange). Da Vinci's "Last Supper" has become one of the most widely appreciated masterpieces in the world. Despite the many changes in tastes, artistic styles, and rapid physical deterioration of the painting itself, the painting's status as an extraordinary creation has never been questioned or doubted to be anything other than Renaissance (internet). Leonardo truly made his point in capturing this event on paper and this painting will remain famous and carry on a Renaissance theme for many years to come..