Essay Titles/Questions

Choose ONE of the questions below and answer it in an essay that is between 2 and 3 pages long. Use specific examples of works of art and architecture which we have looked at in class and that are relevant to your argument. (Typed, MLA Format)

1. The Evolution of the Donor Portrait: Track the evolution of donor portraits (portraits of the work’s patron[s]) within religious works of art from the late Medieval through Renaissance periods. Choose 3-5 works that include donor portraits which we have examined in class and discuss how the portrayal of the donor[s] reflects the attitudes, preoccupations, beliefs, etc. of the culture in which each piece was made. Consider placement, size, and prominence of the donors when discussing each work.
2. The Renaissance Nude: The nude human form, which had become exceedingly rare in the Middle Ages, made its return in Italy during the Renaissance. Using 3-5 examples from the course, discuss the development of the nude figure from its return to prominence in the Quattrocento through the Cinquecento. Analyze how the reemergence of the male nude is reflective of the cultural environment and shifting attitudes in Italy during this time period. Consider the changes in form and association the nude figure underwent over the course of the time period. Keep historical context in mind.
3. Classicism in Renaissance Architecture: How did classicism (elements of classical Greece and Rome) influence the architecture of the Italian Renaissance (Early, High and/or Venetian), and to what extent did Renaissance architects deviate from their classical predecessors? Use 3-5 examples of Renaissance architecture to support your argument.

(40 points)

Due: Thursday 9 October