Lesson Idea 1: Perspective - An examination of the changes in Renaissance visual arts with reference to the discovery of perspective as a visual illusion.

Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin of the Rocks

Lesson Idea and Outline.

Students will compare Renaissance painting with work from previous periods (ie Middle Ages, Byzantine). They will be asked to define differences and discuss reasons why they are there. They will examine the rules and techniques of perspective, and apply them through drawing and painting work based on observation.

Overview

This unit of work is designed to develop student awareness of the use of perspective as a tool for observational drawing. Students will also extend their knowledge of the historical periods studied.

Objectives

To develop students visual analysis skills. To foster an understanding of the Renaissance through the examination of it's artworks and art techniques. To foster students sensitivity to the variety of purposes to which art is put.

Time required

6 hours, 2X discussion/research, 1X sketching, 3X drawing/painting.

Materials and Equipment

Images for discussion/illustration, Books, Web access for research, pencils sketchpads, paint, canvass boards.

Procedures

• Introduce topic. Present images from the Middle Ages. Discuss and analyse with reference to the content, style and techniques used. Do the same with the Renaissance
.
• Discuss the similarities and differences between the periods. Refer to the content, discuss the symbolism.
• Discuss patronage and it's implications for artists.
• Examine the stylistic differences. What are they?
• Discuss the Renaissance in terms of its interest in the Arts and Sciences. Point out that this led to the use of the discoveries of Anatomy and Mathematics as legitimate artistic tools.
• Hand out worksheet. Discuss perspective, look at one and two point perspective.
• Explain that it is possible to have 3,4,or 1000 vanishing points, if necessary.
• Hand out activity sheet sheet. Students are to look at the work of 4 Renaissance painters and identify where the horizon line, vanishing point and orthagonal lines are in each work.
• Refer students back to the worksheet. Remind them of the rules of perspective.
• Take students outside and get them to sketch a scene.
• Students to "work up" their drawings in a medium determined by the teacher. paying particular attention to the "realism" of the scene.

Student Presentation Options

Student exhibition of their work. An online gallery with background material and student works.

Extensions

An examination of other Renaissance techniques. ie Chiaroscuro. Look at the work of other cultures, do they use perspective? why? why not? An examination of Renaissance painting, looking at the similarities and differences of work from the Northern, Italian and Elizabethan schools. An examination of the symbolism used in their work

Cross-curricular Options

English

• An examination of Renaissance language, it's development, grammar, and usage.

Health and PE

• An examination of Renaissance diet, both feasts and that of the peasantry. Food preservation techniques, Cooking and presentation of a Renaissance meal.

LOTE

• An exploration of the Renaissance through the language studied

Maths

• An examination of the mathematics of the time, with reference to it's current usage.

Music

• Look at the instrumentation of the times, perform music from that era. P.E: Renaissance games. Look at the sports of the time draw parallels between then and now. Play some Of the Sports.

Science

• An examination of the science of the time. Their knowledge and theories. i.e. DaVinci's flying machines, which ones might work? why?

SOSE

• An examination of Renaissance history. Why Florence? Why then? An exploration of Renaissance Society, It's structure, mores, and organisation.