Question

Many of the new ideas and attitudes that marked the Renaissance times were shown in art.A new idea called humanism put a focus on human interests,needs,and abilities.This new ides changed how artists painted their subjects as well as the choice of subjects they painted.

Change of Subjects

In the Middle Ages,the subject of almost all European art was religion,specifically Christianity and the Catholic Church.Although Renaissance artists continued to paint religious paintings,they also branched out to other subjects including Creek and Roman mythology（神话）,historical subjects,and portraits（肖像）of individuals.They also focused on the details of everyday life.

Realism

One of the big changes in art was to paint and sculpt subjects realistically.This is called realism and concerned with a number of techniques that make the subjects and background look like what they would in real life.This also meant giving the subjects more emotional qualities.

Many new techniques were introduced during the Renaissance.These techniques helped to improve the quality and realism of the art.

Perspective—perspective is drawing or painting a picture such that it looks like there are three dimensions.It gives the illusion（错觉）that some objects in the painting are further away than others.

Balance and Proportion—Drawing subjects such that they are the correct she when compared to each other.

Use of Light and Dark—Many artists started using light and shadows in their works to add drama, perspective,and timing to their art.

Sfumato—a technique used by Leonardo da Vinci to add additional perspective and dimension to paintings.It was a way of blurring（变暗）the lines between subjects.This technique was used in Leonardo's Mona Lisa.

Foreshortening—It is another technique that adds perspective and depth to paintings;foreshortening is a way of shortening lines to give the illusion of depth.

1.Before the Renaissance,what was(were) the primary subject(s) of paintings during the Middle Ages ?

A. Kings and Queens. B. Portraits of people.

C. Greek Mythology. D. Christianity.

2.What does realism mean when referring to paintings and art?

A. That the subjects and background appear as they would in real life.

B. That the paintings are landscapes of nature with no people.

C. That the painting is flat with little perspective.

D. That the subjects are only people.

3.What artistic technique make(s) some objects in a picture look further away than others?

A. Perspective. B. Balance and Proportion.

C. Sfumato. D. Light and Dark.

4.What was foreshortening?

A. When artists painted people shorter than they really were.

B. A way of making people look taller than they really were.

C. A technique where artists shortened lines to make some special effects.

D. When artists used shadow and light in their paintings to give the illusion of depth.

Answer 1