Question

Michelangelo and other Renaissance artists used a "polarity of themes" in their paintings and sculpture. Explain what "polarity" means in general and the two themes often seen in Renaissance art. Provide specific examples of art work which demonstrates this polarity

Answer 1

Polarity means the difference between two separate things like the north and south pole. In Renaissance art the two "polarity of themes" commonly seen are gender roles and religion. Michelangelo' s La Pieata is a perfect example of the religion theme as it has the polarity of a mortal known as the virgin mary holding her deceased son Jesus and the son of God himself. For gender roles there is a piece of work called Venus and Mars by Sandro Botticelli. This piece shows role-reversal as Venus the goddess of love seems to have control over everything in the scenery, while Mars the god of war is asleep and unaware of his weaponry being taken from him leaving him helpless.