Birth of the Renaissance - 14th Century Fine Art

14th Century Fine Art

Period: Jan 1, 1301 to Dec 31, 1400

Frescos in the Chapella Scrovegni

Jan 1, 1305

Giotto di Bondone, an Italian painter and architect known for painting the Frescoes in the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel) in Padua, Italy. A man named Scrovegni was the donor of the chapel, and the interior frescos were designed to reflect his honor. Giotto had many assistants help him paint the frescos, and the assistants likely painted the secondary figures, backgrounds, and decorative boards.

Saint Rumbold's Cathedral

Jan 1, 1312

Also known as the Mechelen Cathedral this church, in Mechelen, Belgium, is the largest church in the city. During the war in the 16th century, the interior sustained heavy damaged and underwent extensive renovations. St. Rumbold’s is described as a masculine church because many of the interior statues are of men rather than the Virgin Mary. Master Mason Jean d’Oisy was the architect of the second phase of construction during the 14th century.

Maesta

Jan 1, 1315

The Maesta, a large fresco painted by Simone Martini, an Italian artist, is an outstanding example of 14th-century Italian art. Martini is known for influencing the development of International Gothic style. The Maesta is one of his first known works and is located on the north wall of Sala del Moppamondo (Sala del Consiglio) Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy. Martini’s style, depicted in the Maesta is known for soft, decorative and elegant features.

La Commedia (The Divine Comedy) by Dante Alighieri

Jan 1, 1320

This poem, The Divine Comedy, describes the saga of a pilgrim's voyage to Hell, Purgatory and eventually to Heaven. The Pilgrim is the alter ego of the author, Dante. The Divine Comedy expresses the consequences of sin and the exuberance of Heaven. View full text here https://www.gutenberg.org/files/8800/8800-h/8800-h.htm

Tuba Sacre Fidei/In Arbor/Virgo Sum

Jan 1, 1322

Tuba sacre fidei / In arboris / Virgo sum Phillip de Vitry
This composition, written by Phillip de Vitry, a French composer, and poet considered one of the most innovative of his time. His work paved the way for more complex music over the following hundred years. He changed the writing of notes in repeated patterns by noting them individually causing music to “break free” from the older ways of noting music. Listen to the song here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7rxE7QdsJU.

Cantwella Fada

Jan 1, 1330

Also known as the Long Man, this statue of a knight was carved from a single slab of limestone by an unknown artist. It is at the Kilfane Church in Kilkenny, Ireland. The church is a national landmark in Ireland. It is believed this statue represents a knight, Thomas de Cantwell, who fought in the crusades during the 13th century. Cantwella Fada may have been a sarcophagus slab, originally, but now it rests upright against an inner wall of the church.

Psalm Byzantine Chant No. 2

Jan 1, 1330

John Koukouzeles is the author of this Byzantine chant written in the early 14th century. Koukouzeles was of Albanian-Bulgarian descent and was a composer and singer. He is known for creating a new style of singing called “kalophonic” and a musical exercise called “Mega Ison” which had 60 different vocal signs. The chant is complicated, and people spent years studying his compositions. Listen to the Byzantine Chant here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSaYTgVm94Y.

Bone pastor, Guillerme / Bone pastor, qui pastores / Bone pastor

Jan 1, 1334

Bone Paster was written by Guillaume de Machaut a French composer and poet between 1325 and 1334. This composition is a motet, or choral composition for the church, for three voices. Machaut’s poems and music were famous in Europe, and 142 of his musical works still exist today. Most musical compositions of Machaut’s time were anonymous or no longer known to us. Listen to Bone Paster here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uU2FY57UeU

Casket with Scenes of Romance

Jan 1, 1340

This casket is made of ivory in the French Gothic style. It was likely made between 1330 and 1350 and is housed in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. There are only eight known caskets surviving today. Paris was known for ivory carving during the 14th century. Likely a wedding gift, these caskets were thought to be used by wealthy women to store jewelry and valuables. Many different courtly themes were carved in these caskets; this one has scenes of romance.

Dwelling in the Funhun Mountains

Jan 1, 1347

This piece, painted by Huang Gongwang, a Chinese painter between 1348 and 1350 depicts the landscape of the Funchun Mountains where Huang lived in his later years. Huang started painting at age 50 and is known for his natural landscape paintings. The painting had several owners one who tried to burn it to bring it into the afterlife with him. The painting was salvaged and is now in two pieces, one at the Ahejiang Provincial Museum in Jangzhou the other at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Gregory the Great Chapel of the Holy Cross

Jan 1, 1360

The painting of Gregory the Great was commissioned by Charles IV for the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The work was painted by Theordoric of Prague, a Bohemian Gothic painter, and is housed in the Karlstejn Castle outside of Prague in the Czech Republic. Theodoric is known for using light and reflection to create the illusion of endless space. Theodoric is believed to be self-taught, and this painting is an excellent example of Theodoric’s work.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong

Jan 1, 1380

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a collection of stories told for generations. Guanzhong wrote down the stories that told of the events occurring a thousand years before during Han dynasty (200-280 AD). These are the stories of why there were three kingdoms in China and how the country is ultimately unified.

View full text here http://www.threekingdoms.com/

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Jan 1, 1382

A collection of stories, The Canterbury Tales is about the journey of 29 Pilgrims to a shrine in Canterbury. The tales are told by each pilgrim from their perspective beginning with the Knight. Each Pilgrim tells three tales, one on the way to the shrine and two after returning. Only twenty-three tales are complete. View text here http://www.librarius.com/cantales.htm

Our Lady of the Don

Jan 1, 1382

Painted by Theophanes the Greek between 1382 and 1395, this painting depicts the Virgin Mary and an infant Jesus Christ in a tender embrace. Our Lady of the Don is in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. The painting is believed to be a gift from Don Cossacks to Dmitry Donskoy just before the Battle of Kulikovo between the Golden Horde (Mongols) and forces under the command of Dmitri Donskoy (the Don).

Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar

Jan 1, 1383

Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is in Barcelona, Spain. Architects are Berenguer de Montagut and Ramon Despuig. The Basilica was damaged several times most severely in 1936 when a fire burned for eleven days destroying the altar, images, and files. Only some walls, columns and windows survived. The Basilica is now in its fully renovated form.

Schöner Brunnen

Jan 1, 1385

The Beautiful Fountain is made of iron and is in Nuremberg, Germany. The fountain sits in front of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). The fountain is over 62 feet tall and is surrounded by a protective fence added in the 1500’s. The fence includes two brass rings said to give good fortune to those who spin them. Heinrich Beheim is the architect of the fountain which includes 40 colorful figures meant to represent the Holy Roman Empire.

Chateau de Montaner

Jan 1, 1387

Chateau de Montaner is a castle located in southern France. It is on a hillside and was built as a military building to guard against attack from the English. The building, commissioned by the Prince of the Pyrenees, Gaston Phoebus enlisting architect Sicard de Lordat The castle was overtaken several times during different wars, and the dungeon turned into a prison, but it is now a national historic monument in France.

Church of Saint Barbara

Jan 1, 1388

Located in Kutna Hora, the Czech Republic, the construction of this Roman Catholic started in 1388 with original architect Jan Parlor of the Parlor family of architects. In 1905, 500 years later, the building of the church was finally completed. Although used for prayer during these 500 years, the church has some unusual asymmetry due to the length of construction and many changes to the design.

Retable of the Crucifixion

Jan 1, 1392

Jacques de Baerze, a Flemish sculptor, carved this piece in wood for an altarpiece. This one, the Retable of the Crucifixion, is kept in Dijon, France. The work is three panels connected by hinges with carvings on the interior. The exterior of the panels was painted by another artist. The piece was typically kept closed, showing the exterior paintings and only opened on special occasions.

Well of Moses

Jan 1, 1395

The Well of Moses is a marble sculpture made by Dutch artist Claus Sluter. The six-sided statue is currently kept at the Hospital de la Chartreuse in Dijon, France. The statue depicts six life-size prophets holding books and was originally designed to symbolize the fountain of life. Made in the International Gothic style, part of the statue, the Calvary group is missing.