Introduction to Visual Analysis and Renaissance Art

Image of Mona Lisa: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Mona_Lisa.jpg

Image of Sistine Chapel: http://www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/creation.gif

The Renaissance was a rebirth of Greek and Roman culture, both of which placed the human at the center of the universe. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s Ceiling from the Sistine Chapel are two famous artworks from the Renaissance that both reflect and respond to the resurgence of humanism in European history. Both depict the human body, but in very different ways. For this Case Assignment, give a formal analysis of these two artworks, focusing on how the human body is being represented. Use the required course materials to help you discuss, briefly, (1) the history of Renaissance art and these two artists in particular, (2) what humanism is, and (3) how Da Vinci and Michelangelo approach the representation of the human body differently. (*You can focus on any or all of the fresco paintings on Michelangelo’s ceiling; The Creation of Adam being the most famous.)

It is important to note that this assignment is meant to introduce you to Art History and Art Criticism, so it is imperative that you begin exercising your ability to visually analyze. The required course materials, under “How To Write About Art: Art Criticism and Formal Analysis,” will get you started.

Assignment Expectations

Here are five keys to writing a great Case Assignment! For each Case in this course, please:

Make sure you fully address the case assignment prompt- don’t just describe the painting and don’t forget to ‘really look’ at the painting. Be sure to respond to the expectations stated under “Learning Outcomes” in the Syllabus.

Apply ideas from the background readings to your analysis and discussion of the case assignment prompt.

Write, at minimum, three to four pages, not including images or references.

Include a separate cover page that includes your name, the course name, the module, and assignment name.

Set your format to 1″ margins on all four sides, 12-point font, double-spaced.

Include a separate cover AND reference page at the end that includes every website and article on which you base your information and analysis. In the reference list, please note that a URL with no additional information is not a complete reference. Over time, link root will make any URL useless. Each reference should contain all the information a reader would need to find the source.

In this Case Assignment, you will:

Give an explanation of the values—influences, themes, techniques, subjects—characteristic of the period or style under study.

Give some information about how the social, political, or religious history of the period influenced its art and artists.

Provide biographical information about the artist whose work is assigned or (in SLP assignments) chosen for reflection.