Renaissancefellowship weblog

Renaissance Art

Italy was the birthplace of one of the most important periods of human history – the Renaissance period. Renaissance stands for the word “rebirth” in French. The art during this time was inspired by the classics of Rome and Greece. The transformation did not only happen in their form of art alone, it also influenced other fields like literature, science, and architecture.

One of the most significant changes that influence the Renaissance period is the transformation of the society’s social structure. Prior to the Renaissance period, the three major levels of society were the nobility, the churchmen, and the peasants. The emergence of the merchant class started during the Renaissance era. These affluent merchants would like to adorn churches and cathedral with artworks, thus they regularly hire artists to accomplish the task. For large and major projects, guilds of craftsmen would often compete for the commission. Most of the time, wealthy aristocratic families supported and sponsored art projects in the community.

Painting on oil canvas was first introduced in the Renaissance period. By studying and applying special techniques like that of the shadow and light, artists were also able to paint three dimensional images for the first time. Most of the themes of Renaissance artworks revolve around mythological subjects and nature scenes. Most of the paintings portray or show different proportions of images base on their distance and size from the subject matter. The two greatest artists during this time were Leonardo DaVinci whose famous work was Mona Lisa and Michelangelo who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

July 31st, 2008 at 11:02 am | Comments & Trackbacks (0) | Permalink


Renaissance Costumes Surge in Popularity

While many people associate costumes with children and the Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating, increasing numbers of adults are rediscovering the joy that comes from dressing in period costumes. Thanks to the influence of Renaissance Faires and the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), adults are embracing costumes and accessories that hearken back to the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance of the 14th through the 17th centuries.

Historic Celebrations

During the Renaissance (which literally means “rebirth”), shifting perspectives in philosophy, art, literature, science, and religion had a tremendous impact in Europe, the effects of which are felt to this day. Today’s Renaissance Faires capture the essence of that time, with an abundance of music, entertainment, art, and food that celebrate the eras in which they’re set. While many Renaissance Faires are set in the England’s Elizabethan Era, others find their inspiration in the French Renaissance or in pirate themes of the18th century.

Similarly, the Society for Creative Anachronism honors the Middle Ages and Renaissance by researching and creating personas who would have lived during those times. Artisans, combatants, cooks, and others diligently perfect their characters, and gather together - in SCA garb and sometimes with SCA armor - to celebrate with historical accuracy.

Finding the Right Costumes

Whether you’re attending a weekend Renaissance Faire or are steeped in the SCA culture, the right costumes enrich and enhance your experience. Watching men battle with medieval swords or attending a medieval wedding is simply more meaningful when your appearance blends in with the era. Because it’s not always easy to achieve historical accuracy, it’s helpful to find a merchant who can reliably guide you to the proper apparel and accessories. Thanks to the Internet, it’s never been easier to find sources to help you in your quest.

For example, the best online stores will help women find the right undergarments (like chemises, hoopskirts, bloomers, and corsets) to wear under their dresses, skirts, or ball gowns. Men can find everything from vests and doublets to puffy-sleeved shirts and breeches. Pirate costumes, Scottish clothing and kilts, and children’s costumes are also available from the right online Renaissance stores.

Accessories are a Must

When you’re dressing for a particular era, accessories complete your look. For example, Renaissance clothing tends not to have pockets, so a pouch is the perfect accessory to carry your necessities. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, hats were de rigueur, so you’ll need to find the proper cap, beret, snood, veil, or hood.

While well-choreographed battles are part of the Renaissance Faire experience, and SCA events are fraught with well-trained warriors, weaponry can also be a costume accessory. Accessory weapons don’t need to be functional; indeed, they must only fit in with the era you’re recreating. Look online to find sources of mini collector weapons, weapon carriers and belts, and accessory swords.

Making Your Own

Once you begin attending Medieval or Renaissance events, the chances are good that you’ll want to expand your wardrobe using techniques from the era. The best online sources offer an array of costume patterns for everything from Tudor and Elizabethan gowns to corsets and tunics.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Renaissance Costumes Popular or Majon’s Clothing directory

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

July 19th, 2008 at 8:17 pm | Comments & Trackbacks (0) | Permalink


Renaissance Costumes Surge in Popularity

While many people associate costumes with children and the Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating, increasing numbers of adults are rediscovering the joy that comes from dressing in period costumes. Thanks to the influence of Renaissance Faires and the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), adults are embracing costumes and accessories that hearken back to the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance of the 14th through the 17th centuries.

Historic Celebrations

During the Renaissance (which literally means “rebirth”), shifting perspectives in philosophy, art, literature, science, and religion had a tremendous impact in Europe, the effects of which are felt to this day. Today’s Renaissance Faires capture the essence of that time, with an abundance of music, entertainment, art, and food that celebrate the eras in which they’re set. While many Renaissance Faires are set in the England’s Elizabethan Era, others find their inspiration in the French Renaissance or in pirate themes of the18th century.

Similarly, the Society for Creative Anachronism honors the Middle Ages and Renaissance by researching and creating personas who would have lived during those times. Artisans, combatants, cooks, and others diligently perfect their characters, and gather together - in SCA garb and sometimes with SCA armor - to celebrate with historical accuracy.

Finding the Right Costumes

Whether you’re attending a weekend Renaissance Faire or are steeped in the SCA culture, the right costumes enrich and enhance your experience. Watching men battle with medieval swords or attending a medieval wedding is simply more meaningful when your appearance blends in with the era. Because it’s not always easy to achieve historical accuracy, it’s helpful to find a merchant who can reliably guide you to the proper apparel and accessories. Thanks to the Internet, it’s never been easier to find sources to help you in your quest.

For example, the best online stores will help women find the right undergarments (like chemises, hoopskirts, bloomers, and corsets) to wear under their dresses, skirts, or ball gowns. Men can find everything from vests and doublets to puffy-sleeved shirts and breeches. Pirate costumes, Scottish clothing and kilts, and children’s costumes are also available from the right online Renaissance stores.

Accessories are a Must

When you’re dressing for a particular era, accessories complete your look. For example, Renaissance clothing tends not to have pockets, so a pouch is the perfect accessory to carry your necessities. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, hats were de rigueur, so you’ll need to find the proper cap, beret, snood, veil, or hood.

While well-choreographed battles are part of the Renaissance Faire experience, and SCA events are fraught with well-trained warriors, weaponry can also be a costume accessory. Accessory weapons don’t need to be functional; indeed, they must only fit in with the era you’re recreating. Look online to find sources of mini collector weapons, weapon carriers and belts, and accessory swords.

Making Your Own

Once you begin attending Medieval or Renaissance events, the chances are good that you’ll want to expand your wardrobe using techniques from the era. The best online sources offer an array of costume patterns for everything from Tudor and Elizabethan gowns to corsets and tunics.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Renaissance Costumes Popular or Majon’s Clothing directory

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

July 19th, 2008 at 8:10 pm | Comments & Trackbacks (0) | Permalink


Italian RENAISSANCE ART Period and Artist History

This major cultural rebirth and revival began in Italy during the 1300’s and spread throughout Europe until around 1650.

Here are a few of the historical milestones during this period of great change.

Lorenzo de Medici (MED-uh-chee) (1449-1492) was a prominent ruler of Florence, Italy who was also a strong patron of many great artists of that era:

Sandro Botticelli created the well know painting: “The Birth of Venus”.

Leonardo Da Vinci created the paintings: “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”.

Michelangelo sculpted “David” and “Pieta”. He designed the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica and painted the Sistine Chapel frescoes.

As a young man, Michelangelo lived with the Medici family in Florence for a period.

In 1492, Columbus was credited for the discovery of America which was named after the ships navigator, Americus Vaspucci.

The Reformation of the 1500’s was a religious movement which opposed the sale of “Indulgences” by the Roman Catholic Church. Church authorities would absolve and pronounce someone free of guilt for a specific monetary price. The reformation movement opposed the sale of these “Indulgences” and this set the foundations for the Protestant churches. Martin Luther, John Calvin and John Knox were leaders in this movement. Henry VIII declared himself head of the Christian Church in England.

During the Renaissance, the arts, architecture, literature and science received a new breath of life and relief from the relatively bleaker periods of the dark and middle ages.

Lamps, paintings, furniture, architecture and home decor items of all kinds will forever be influenced by RENAISSANCE ART period. A lamp, painting or sculpture showing two people touching hands brings a vision of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and “The Creation of Adam”.

- Jim Hoyle

Biography: Since 1979 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp Outlet - North Carolina’s Most Exclusive Unique Table Lamps, Floor Lamps and Antique Lamps. If you would like to share information about any lamp, lamp company or lighting in general, or if you have any comments or questions, you can contact Jim at: junguljim@bellsouth.net. His company’s website is: http://www.hoylelamps.com

July 19th, 2008 at 8:03 pm | Comments & Trackbacks (0) | Permalink