Rebuilding The Renaissance

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Episode 191 - The Capponi Altarpiece Part II Sep 14, 2022

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Jacopo Pontormo's altarpiece for the Capponi Chapel in the church of Santa Felicità in Florence, Italy, is one of the most beautiful paintings of the Italian Renaissance. Yet, the subject matter of painting still confuses art historians as it does not fit in any traditional iconographic parameters. This episode unpacks Pontormo's great painting and the various theories that surround it.

Episode 190 - Pontormo's "Capponi Altarpiece" - Part I Sep 07, 2022

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In 1525, Jacopo Pontormo, one of the greatest Mannerist painters of Florence, was commissioned to decorate the family chapel of Ludovico Capponi in the church of Santa Felicità. While the altarpiece is the chapel's most celebrated work, Pontormo also decorated its dome, pendentives and window wall with beautiful paintings. This episode examines the history of the chapel and reconstructs its original decorative scheme.

Episode 189 - Theory - What Is Mannerism? Aug 31, 2022

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The art produced in Italy in the first half of the 16th century seemed to intentionally reject the principles of Renaissance art. Artists such as Pontormo, Rosso Fiorentino, Giulio Romano, Parmigianino, and Bronzino introduced their own particular styles to their works, creating what later art historians would term "Mannerism." This episode will unpack this controversial and often confusing movement, and explore its various expressions.

Episode 188 - Michelangelo's Unfinished "Slaves" (Accademia Gallery, Florence) Aug 24, 2022

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With the death of Pope Leo X in 1521, Michelangelo was forced to abandon his work on the New Sacristy and to return to the unfinished tomb of Pope Julius II. It was, in fact, for the tomb that Michelangelo began work on the so-called "Slaves" today in the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy. Often incorrectly described as being intentionally unfinished, the sculptures reveal the artist's unique vision of the human form as well as his absolute mastery of the art of carving marble.

Episode 187 - Michelangelo's New Sacristy in Florence Part III Aug 17, 2022

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This episode examines the extraordinary tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici in the New Sacristy. The allegorical figures of "Dawn" and "Dusk" are two of Michelangelo's most elegant statues, while the "Effigy of Lorenzo de' Medici" is a clear allusion to the Classical "thinker" pose. We also analyze how the sculptural groups interact with the general architectural program of the room.

Episode 186 - Michelangelo's New Sacristy in Florence Part II Aug 10, 2022

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This episode examines the extraordinary tomb of Giuliano de' Medici in the New Sacristy. The allegorical figures of "Day" and "Night" are two of Michelangelo's most beautiful statues, while the "Effigy of Giuliano de' Medici" is a revolution in funerary statuary.

Episode 185 - Michelangelo's New Sacristy in Florence Part I Aug 03, 2022

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While working on the facade project of San Lorenzo, Michelangelo undertook another architectural project for Medici Pope Leo X. Known as the New Sacristy, and located in the Medici Chapels in Florence, Italy, the space was intended to serve as a royal funerary space for the Pope's brother and nephew. This episode addresses the history of the space as well as the visionary architectural design conceived by Michelangelo as a type of stage for his extraordinary sculptures.

Episode 184 - Michelangelo's Facade Model for San Lorenzo (Casa Buonarroti Museum) Jul 27, 2022

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In 1515, Michelangelo undertook his first architectural commission for the facade of the Medici church of San Lorenzo in Florence. For the project, he produced a large wooden model of the facade, today located in the Casa Buonarroti Museum in Florence, Italy. This episode examines the history around the commission as well as Michelangelo's extraordinary model and architectural vision.

Episode 183 - Leonardo da Vinci's Late and Controversial Works Jul 20, 2022

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Although Leonardo's Virgin, Child and St. Anne may have been commissioned as early as 1503, it was still in the artist's studio in 1517 - two years before the artist died. The painting of St. John the Baptistis instead considered the master's last known painting. This episode not only examines Leonardo's final years and those few works that were produced during this period, but also the best-known controversial works attributed to him. There are, in fact, almost as many contested paintings attributed to Leonardo as there are certain attributions.

Episode 182 - Answers to Open Questions XIII Jul 13, 2022

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From the evolution of Romanesque to Renaissance architecture, to urban tabernacles in Florence, to the identity of the apostles in Leonardo's "Last Supper," to Michelangelo's boxer nose, to Lorenzo Ghiberti potentially being insane - and much, much more - this episode answers the very questions that you ask me about the great art, artists and history of the Italian Renaissance.

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