Renaissance Classicism: Art, Literature, and Classical Influence

This essay delves into the Renaissance's classical influences, tracing the evolution of art through different periods. It begins by highlighting the recurrence of classical themes such as human beauty and nature, which shaped Renaissance art. The essay explores the impact of classical traditions, including Baroque and Rococo art, and the contrasting perspectives on beauty and form. The essay also examines the differences between classical and Renaissance art, emphasizing the broader range of subjects covered and the increased focus on the human body's details and beauty. References to scholarly articles and books are included to support the analysis, making this a comprehensive study of art history.

Running head: RENAISSANCE CLASSICISM
RENAISSANCE CLASSICISM
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1RENAISSANCE CLASSICISM
The classical tradition of art is widely referred to the Greco-Roman style of art
encompassing several innovations in painting, architecture, sculpting and decorative arts,
through an emphasis on the harmony of beauty and proportion. The age of Renaissance art
and literature carried certain strains of the classical tradition of art, which will be discussed
further in the essay.
Renaissance art was heavily influenced by the recurring themes in the classical
tradition, which pertained to human beauty and nature (Cox, 2015). The humanist nature of
the Renaissance movement enabled the artists to develop the existing artistic traditions of the
classical age. Furthermore, the influence of classical traditions of art is further observed in the
Baroque era of France, which was also characterized by grandeur, vitality and sensuous
richness like the art of the classical age. Baroque art further paved way for the rise of Rococo
art, which had frequent depictions of classical symbols.
However, the difference between the classical and Rococo traditions of art pertain to
perceptions of beauty through symmetry and form (Galbraith & Hodgson, 2015). The Rococo
form of art is more free and liberal in this regard, emphasizing on ornamentation and
asymmetry. Additionally, Baroque artists like Caravaggio and Bernini focused on the
depiction of human emotions more than form, as opposed to the classical tradition. The
difference between classical and Renaissance art pertains to the wider variety of subjects
covered under the scope of art than the medieval ages. Renaissance art further laid increased
focus on the details and beauty of the human body than the classical age.

2RENAISSANCE CLASSICISM
References
Cox, V. (2015). A short history of the Italian renaissance. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Galbraith, J. W., & Hodgson, D. J. (2015). Innovation, experience and artists’ age-valuation
profiles: evidence from eighteenth-century rococo and neoclassical painters. Journal
of Cultural Economics, 39(3), 259-275.