Intro. to Art and history

Art evolution in the Renaissance

The sculpture of the Four Crowned Martyred Saints , by Nanni Di Banco (National Gallery of Art Washington D .C . Online , illustrates the directed link between the renaissance and the classical Roman techniques . The piece , located on the north face of Orsanmichele in Florence Italy , creates a depth of style as well as meaning . Modeled after the tale of the four stonemasons , martyred under Roman emperor Diocletian , the piece recollects the lives of the early Christian artisans . The realism of the piece illustrates the changes seen in the

renaissance style - as artistry began to return to the idea of realism Also , with its thematic relation to the story of religious peril , the piece also touches on the strong Christian aspects of the movement (Janson 558

There are many reasons for which this piece of sculpture is appealing Firstly , the ease to which the four figures can assume the identities of the four saints of the tale , or , because of their proximity to the grain market and the original use of the Orsanmichele , they can also symbolise the four heads of the guilds represented by the market . Secondly , the piece is a strong return to the ancient Roman style of sculpture which creates a sense of timelessness for the piece . Finally , the piece was so well constructed that even after the four figures lost their gilding they are still stunning (National Gallery of Art Washington D .C Online

The location of this piece has a history which more than make worthy the creation of an intricate piece of art . The history of the Orsanmichele begins with an apple orchard , sometime before the 1240 . A sect of Benedictine nuns had dedicated the orchard to Saint Michael before the area was annexed by the city of Florence in 1240 . The area was then used as a grain market , however in honor of it former use , the area would retain the name Orto San Michele (the Orchard of Saint Michael

The market remained an open venue until 1337m when the building which now stands in the area was begun . The building retained the name , and therefore its tie to the religious history of the area . However , this was furthered by the painting of the Virgin Mary on an inside wall to watch over the market . The building was updated following the city 's boost in revenue caused by the black plague . At this time it was decided that all of the powerful local trade and mason guilds would be commissioned to decorate a specific area of the outside fazade of the building - which is how Nanni Di Banco became involved with the Orsanmichele (Janson 556

The ability for the identities of the four figures to change according to the whim of the beholder is a very interesting part of di Banco 's work . The most accepted story behind the identities of the figures from the story of four martyred stone masons . These men , who refused to carve the image of...