Realism in Renaissance art
Also called: Realism · Topic: Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Changing Cultural Traditions"
Meaning
Realism was the Renaissance artists' aim to show people and nature exactly as they look. Artists admired the well-proportioned statues of ancient Rome and wanted the same accuracy. To get it, they used science. Anatomy (learnt through dissection) helped them draw bodies correctly. Geometry gave them perspective, changing light gave depth, and oil colours gave richer shades. The style lasted until the nineteenth century.
Example
In 1416 Donatello broke new ground with lifelike statues. Albrecht Durer said, "Art is embedded in nature; he who can extract it, has it", and his Praying Hands (1508) shows that close study of nature.
Don't confuse with
- Linear perspective: perspective is one tool for showing depth. Realism is the wider goal, which also uses anatomy, light and oil paint.