Telling the Story of the Early Renaissance

    A major painting that I have chosen to analyze from the Early Renaissance time period is the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden, a realism fresco painted by Masaccio. Masaccio painted Adam and Eve in a three-dimensional form with the lightest parts of the painting on the two to draw the viewer's attention to the front part of the figures, with the shadows and darkest parts being behind them, in addition to them being in the center of the painting. Adam and Eve are shown naked with sorrowful looks on their faces to provide a sense of vulnerability, dismay, and shame since they were the first to be kicked out of the Garden of Paradise. "...shows not only realism in the figures, but also a profound sense of human emotions: the shame and dismay of the firm human beings as they are driven from the Garden of Paradise," (Cunningham 270). Adam is shown covering his face of sadness while Eve is shown covering her body with her head up crying. Both actions and facial expressions convey realistic human emotions that evoke empathy and a feeling of despair from the viewers. Masaccio seems to have painting the piece as if there was a barrier surrounding Adam and Eve from the rest of the painting. I think this is once again to separate the couple from the rest of what is happening to draw attention to their emotions. The second thing that viewer's eyes are drawn to is the angel chasing them out. The angel is painted in red, contrasting the blue background, making the angel pop out more. The warm tone hues coming from around the angel towards Adam and Eve seem to be fading and blending into the cool tone background, eliminating harsh lines surrounding the two as well. 

Masaccio
Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden
c. 1424-27
fresco
    Masaccio created the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden around 1425. It portrays a scene from the biblical Book of Genesis where Adam and Eve get kicked out from the Garden of Eden for eating the fruit that God forbid them from eating. Masaccio's Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden was kept in the "Brancacci Chapel of the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence" (Cunningham 270). Masaccio's art style was influenced by Brunelleschi and Donatello and later influenced Florentine painters. One of the painters that was influenced after Masaccio's death was Michelangelo. "...young Michelangelo often crossed the river Arno to sketch the frescoes in the Brancacci chapel," (Cunningham 270). 

    What I have found interesting about this artist and fresco, was the different factors Masaccio put into Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden. From the colors, to the composition, to the placement, to the lighting, all of it came together to depict clearly what Masaccio had a goal of presenting. That is, the expression of human emotion. It is an art piece with not a lot going on, but a lot to say. Masaccio is an amazing artist and is not known as "the precocious genius of Florentine painting"
(Cunningham 269) man for nothing, but I feel like I was able to see how talented he was through this meaningful artwork he created.  I also found it interesting to learn about frescoes after seeing in the text, because I have not heard about it beforehand. It amazed me that he was able to do that with watercolor. 

Here is a quick 8 minute video with more information on Masaccio as well as some more of his work! 

Works Cited

  • Cunningham, Lawrence, and John J. Reich. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print.

“Masaccio's Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden.” ItalianRenaissance.org, www.italianrenaissance.org/masaccios-expulsion-of-adam-and-eve-from-eden/.

“Art in TUSCANY: Masaccio: The Expulsion of Adam and Eve From Eden: Travel Guide for Tuscany.” Art in Tuscany | Masaccio | The Expulsion Of Adam and Eve from Eden | Travel Guide for Tuscany, www.travelingintuscany.com/art/masaccio/capellabrancacci/cacciatadalparadiso.htm.

“Expulsion from the Garden of EDEN ANALYSIS.” Artble, 19 July 2017, www.artble.com/artists/tommaso_cassai_masaccio/paintings/expulsion_from_the_garden_of_eden/more_information/analysis.













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