Four Artists of the High Renaissance

Discussion Forum 5

Four Artists of the High Renaissance

Discuss the essential stylistic differences between Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. Whose work has had the most impact on you and why?

Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian were truly remarkable in their mastery of techniques in their chosen medium and in their styles of expression (Davies et al. 557). Leonardo (1452-1519) argued, “painting is superior to sculpture” due to the illusionary effects that could be created on a canvas (Davies et al. 563). His distinctive techniques in paintings involve three-quarter poses of his figures, believable landscapes due to both the chiaroscuro and sfumato techniques, atmospheric perspective, and of course brilliant colors.

Unlike Leonardo, Michelangelo was primarily a sculptor, especially with marble. He “conceived his statues as human bodies released from their marble prisons,” and revered in the human form. His sculptures are monumental filled with dynamic action and energy. Now, although Michelangelo thought sculpture as a noble expression of human emotion and form he did paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. The religious human forms of Michelangelo within the chapel differ from Leonardo’s figures in that they are muscular, especially the female figures. Whereas, Leonardo’s human figures has a matronly and womanly softness, Michelangelo’s female figures straddles a fine line between male and female. This is due to the male models Michelangelo utilized for both male and female biblical roles in the chapel.

Unlike Leonardo and Michelangelo, Raphael (1483-1520) painted with youthful lyrical sensuousness that was pictorially dramatically rich. He was able to synthesize both Christianity and pagan elements into a harmoniously composition that makes people question certain symbolism. It is clear in his work like Michelangelo, that he studied ancient Roman sculpture and theology to depict his images. Titian (1488/90-1576) was a Venetian...