[One Sip of a Book] Such Easy Art: 'Embarrassing Art Stories 7'

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a connection with the book. We excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from the book. - Editor's note

This book examines the influence of the Renaissance heyday that blossomed in 16th-century Rome and the Reformation that began in the region north of the Alps on art. It also closely reviews how the art of Rome, Florence, and Venice changed amid the turmoil caused by the Reformation. From the masterpieces of the Roman Renaissance heyday flourished by Michelangelo and Raphael, to Northern European art that still retained medieval worldviews, Protestant art used as a tool for spreading doctrine during the Reformation, and Mannerism art newly emerged after the Catholic Church crisis, readers will discover that 16th-century art developed diversely through intense challenges and explorations, becoming a foothold toward a new era.

Humanism is easy to talk about but quite difficult to define. Around the 15th to 16th centuries, or even as early as the 14th century, a movement to revive ancient culture arose. At a time when the existing Christian worldview centered on theology and God was dominant, a movement began to place more emphasis on human individuality, freedom, and honest emotions. In other words, it can be seen as a movement that dreamed of a human world and the restoration of humanity. So, if the Middle Ages were a world of God and religion, the Renaissance can be said to have dreamed of a realistic world that restores humans and humanity.

From Part 1, Chapter 2, "The Pope and the Emperor"

Michelangelo's thoughts on God and humans are reflected in the Creation of Adam. Since God created humans in His own image, discovering human beauty is essentially embodying God's divinity, a human-centered philosophy condensed within the painting. The innocent and pure, sinless appearance of humans at the moment of creation. It is a praise of humans born in God's image. Ultimately, it is praising God while simultaneously praising humans.

From Part 1, Chapter 3, "Man Given by God, Michelangelo"

There is a saying, "Good artists copy, great artists steal." When you accurately grasp and study what is good in the works of masters and develop it, your own originality is born. Raphael learned the composition of figures from Da Vinci and brought dynamic poses from Michelangelo to develop his own style in this way.

From Part 1, Chapter 4, "The Completion of Elegant Renaissance, Raphael"

Embarrassing Art Stories 7 | Written by Yang Jeong-mu | Social Critique | 556 pages | 25,000 KRW

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