The Black Plague: Art In The Italian Renaissance

Manny innovative thinkers and artists lived in the Italian Renaissance, a time of revival and rediscovery, helping Italy recover from the lack of progression in Medieval society. The Black Plague that swept through Italy in the 1300s caused political disorder and economic consequences, hindering Italy’s progression. However, in the early 15th century, Italy began to recover from the effects of the Black Plague. A revival of Greco-Roman antiquity, a restored emphasis on the potential and capacity of individuals, and the value of individual success in certain trades became evident in Renaissance society. Humanist thinkers such as Petrarch, Mirandola, and Castiglione abandoned the Medieval mindset of the 14th century, and embraced a mindset reflecting

For example, his statue David exemplifies Michelangelo’s success as a sculptor. Out of a block of marble remaining from a previous commission, Michelangelo created the seventeen feet high sculpture according to Greco-Roman standards. David stands in the Greek contrapposto stance, where his left arm is bent and his right leg is straight, while his right arm is straight and his left leg is bent. David’s body is rendered in the ideal physique, every muscle on his body is visible to the viewer. In Greco-Roman society, many believed that gods and goddesses were perfect, so artists depicted their statues in an ideal, godly way to show that humans are godlike. Michelangelo applies this Greco-Roman technique of rendering a body to make David look godly and divine. David’s colossal height towers over every man, and his glorified body appears more muscular and perfect than normal humans, exhibiting his heavenly presence. Also, Michelangelo chose to depict David right before his battle with Goliath, and his head looks off into the distance. This anticipation created by depicting Goliath before the battle adds to the emotional complexity of the work, capturing towering emotion. Many thinkers of the Renaissance share the common belief of individual potential and Michelangelo excelled above and beyond in his rendering of David, exceeding expectations of human