Medieval+and+Renaissance+Art+compared+(II)

Take a look at the sources and then answer the question.

**Source A:** Fragment of The Ayala Altarpiece, commissioned 1396. This alterpice is made up of 15 scenes that show the story of Christ’s life. It depicts the Adoration of the Magi, or kings, from the Christian story about three kings who journeyed, following a star, to bring gifts to the newborn Christ Child.Each scene is accompanied by words found in the borders and separated or framed by columns. The altarpiece was made more than 600 years ago for a Spanish nobleman named Don Pedro  López de Ayala to be placed in his funerary chapel. Wearing clothes of the time, Don Pedro and his son appear in one scene.  The artist who painted this altarpiece is unknown. During medieval times, many works of art were left unsigned because art was considered a craft, much like carpentry or metalsmithing. It was not until the Renaissance that artists regularly began signing their work and became widely recognized for their individual creative talents.

**Source B:** Adoration of the Magi, 1495. Atributted to Raffello Botticini (Italian, 1477– c. 1520). This tondo, or “round painting,” shows the Christian story that focuses on three kings who went to Bethlehem (south of Jerusalem) to present gifts to the newborn Christ Child. Jesus and Mary are shown greeting the magi on the steps of a building modeled after ancient Greek and Roman ruins. The artist copied the architecture from the ruins of a Roman basilica (house of worship) thought to have been the Temple of Peace. The figures in the painting wear contemporary clothing combined with togas to demonstrate the meeting of Renaissance Florence with the Classical world.

1) Compare and contrast the Adoration of the Magi with the Ayala Alterpiece taking into account the following:  a) Depiction of the Adoration story  b) Figures  c) Depiction of space or depth  d) Location it was created for.

Answer all tasks in a short essay, do NOT answer each aspect separately in short answers.

2) Taking into account what you analysed in Question 1 and your own knowledge about Renaissance Europe, explain why Source B marks a clear break from medieval-style painting.

NOTE: Remember that each answer is independent from the other. This means that you cannot make reference to Question 1 when answering Question 2 (i.e. "As it is said above..." "As I mentioned in the previos question...")

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