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Use of Light and Shadow to Model Figures |
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Use of Light and Shadow to Model Figures |
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Masaccio  Tribute Money fresco, 1425-27 Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence |
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Masaccio's important contribution to the art of the Renaissance is his understanding that light comes from a fixed source. Here the light strikes the figures at an angle and illuminates some parts of the body while leaving other parts in shadow. This technique makes figures seem more solid and gives them a sense of volume. Note especially the faces and the folds of clothing. (Click here to see the entire fresco.) |
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Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa 1503-5 |
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Leonardo, a High Renaissance artist, took chiaroscuro (the use of light and shadow) a step further. Here the very subtle lighting effects, which serve to blur the outlines of the figure, add psychological depth to the depiction of this mysterious woman . |
All images marked MAS were photographed on location by Mary Ann Sullivan. All other images were scanned from other sources or downloaded from the World Wide Web; they are posted on this password-protected site for educational purposes, at Bluffton College only, under the "fair use" clause of U.S. copyright law.
