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In this monumental 50th episode, join me in discussing a likewise monumental artist of the early Renaissance: Donatello.

This episode examines the landmark works of the Florentine sculptor, taking a close look at his early life, mature works, and cultural impact. Donatello skillfully navigated the practical world of civic sculpture, then became a sought-after court artist in the elite world of early modern Italy. Looking closely at three sculptures in three mediums, this discussion details Donatello's vast innovations towards embedding life and sensation in his figures, an effect that would pulse through the veins of future Renaissance sculpture thanks to his departures from convention.

Works Discussed:

David, marble, ca. 1408.
Saint George, marble, 1415-17.
Penitent Magdalene, wood, ca. 1430-50.
Equestrian Monument of Gattamelata, 1453.
David, bronze, 1440-60.

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Undoubtedly one of the most important painters of the Florentine Renaissance, Masaccio broke the barriers of convention, producing the first monumental works in the Renaissance style. This episode discusses Masaccio's life and works, focusing on the famous Brancacci Chapel and his Holy Trinity in Santa Maria Novella.

A close look at these works illuminates the effects of heightened naturalism and linear perspective as artists looked away from the conventions of Gothic painting, particularly in the Holy Trinity, which demonstrated a new mastery over perspectival techniques, paving the way for future Renaissance artists to expand upon Masaccio's genius.

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Works Discussed:
Masaccio, Expulsion from Paradise, Brancacci Chapel, 1425-27
Masolino, Temptation in the Garden, Brancacci Chapel, 1425-27
Masaccio, Tribute Money, Brancacci Chapel, 1425-27
Masaccio, Holy Trinity, Santa Maria Novella, ca. 1427

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The early 1400's in Italy saw the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style in painting. In major areas of patronage, be it for churches or wealthy patrons, a new style flourished that was representative of the interconnectivity between European cultures and the wider Mediterranean, one that bridges the Gothic and Renaissance styles - the International Gothic. Looking at two masterworks, one from Lorenzo Monaco and one from Gentile da Fabriano, this episode examines the historical moment and the stylistic factors that unify and separate the Gothic and International Gothic in Italy.

Further, through Giorgio Vasari, we can look at how historical shifts in artistic style were perceived by later Renaissance writers, who looked to organize the trajectory of Italian art as a series of quantifiable improvements. These two artists help us bridge the end of the medieval period with the developments that will become Renaissance art.

Works discussed:
Lorenzo Monaco, Coronation of the Virgin - https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/coronation-of-the-virgin
Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi -
https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/adoration-of-the-magi

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