ART

Read about three towering Italian masters of the High Renaissance and observe their works –

online and/or in your book.

Geniuses and rivals, they had very different artistic styles and strikingly different personalities.

LEONARDO DA VINCI

Self-portrait, circa 1515

Born: April 15, 1452 (in town of Vinci)

Died: May 2, 1519 (aged 67)

(Pages: 252-254)

MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI

Portrait fused in from Michelangelo’s
death mask. 1564
Born: 6 March 1475
Died: 18 February 1564 (aged 88)

(Pages: 252-254)

RAPHAEL

Self-portrait. 1506

Born: April 6, 1483
Died: April 6, 1520 (aged 37)
(Pages 257-258)

Your Posting

Choose an artist and one work of his that you like the most. I encourage you to include a picture (see

tips below)

1
st

paragraph – Intro on artist’s life and personality (put 3-4 sentences with major facts);

2
nd

– (On artist) – What was he famous for? What was his contribution into art history?

3
rd

– (On work of his art) – Provide a brief analysis and tell what exactly speaks to you in this work.

Conclusion – Who do you consider the greatest genius among three of them? Which one impresses you

the most as an artist? Whom do you like better as a person? To whom do you feel closer or more

sympathetic? I welcome your thoughts and takes on the Renaissance.

Leonardo da Vinci and his legendary
master piece –
Mona Lisa. 1503-1506

Louvre Museum. Paris, France.

Here is one more question to ponder. What do you think about the numerous modern-day

“versions” of the most celebrated painting in the history of art?

By surrealist artist Marcel
Duchamp.

Contemporary parodies.

What motivation could be bringing these works to life? Do they prove the incredible influence by the

masters of the past? Are they the parodies mocking the traditional authoritative figures? Could they be

the attempts of the modern artists to assert themselves through rejecting the classical models? Or

could they show that the mastery of the old masters still provides a source of inspiration? What is your

thought and say?