Renaissance period in Europe and Italy entailed not only a rebirth in the practical fields of printing and architecture, but also in the more aesthetic fields of art and music. Many artists also indulged in a variety of different forms of science and art. The most notable of these is Leonardo da Vinci. In Renaissance art, the traditional religious theme was highlighted by new techniques, while also supplemented by more secular, mythical and pagan themes.
The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli is an example of pagan subject matter. It was completed during 1485-1486, and painted for the villa of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici. The painting shows the Goddess Venus as the focal point. Her nudity and beauty, as well as the lush depiction of the other figures, show the greater familiarity of the Renaissance with the physical. While Venus stands at the center of the painting, and is balanced by two figures on her right and one figure with trees on her left. While the balance is asymmetrical, these elements provide the painting with a sense of harmony.
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1498. This painting demonstrates the harmony of symmetrical balance. The focal point is Christ, with six disciples on each side of him. When compared to Venus, the mood in this painting is significantly somber. Venus depicts the joy of birth, while da Vinci's work focuses on the sorrow of the pain and death in the near future of Christ and his disciples.
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