In comparing the Medieval Age to the Renaissance, we can see the changes and transitions that took place between these two periods. These transitions can also be seen in art completed during these periods. The medieval painting entitled The Baptism of Christ is attributed to the artist Lorenzo Monaco and was done in 1387-8. It depicts the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. The religious theme of this painting reflects the culture and values of the time. In contrast, the Renaissance painting, School of Athens by Raphael, depicts the greatest of the ancient philosophers gathered together. This exemplifies the Renaissance ideals of philosophical and scientific thinking. Although this particular Renaissance piece is purely secular, many others, even others by Raphael, depict religious themes.
In addition to the subjects of these two paintings, the aesthetics also differ quite a bit. This can be illustrated in the use of colors and their different values. Although the two paintings use the same general colors of rich reds, greens, and gold, the differing intensity and values of these colors change the entire impact of these pieces. The Baptism of Christ uses darker, deeper values making the piece seem darker and more dense. This contrasts with the School of Athens in which the values of the colors seem much lighter. The difference in the scale of these two paintings also affects the aesthetics. The elements in Monaco’s painting are not proportional which contributes to the darker, heavier effect. Raphael’s painting is not only proportional but uses the element of perspective, an important aspect of Renaissance art, which aids in providing a lighter, less dense affect. Both of these pieces display the characteristic styles of the periods in which they were completed and show the change and transition between the two periods.
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