Art and Love in Renaissance Italy opens Sunday at the Kimbell Art Museum

by Laura Seewoester

When people think of Renaissance Italy, usually Michaelangelo and da Vinci come to mind, as well as large, elaborate perspective paintings and anatomically correct figures. While da Vinci was the quintessential “Renaissance Man,” (a term coined by Michaelangelo, by the way), there was more to the Renaissance than the sum of a few artists. Art and Love in Renaissance Italy focuses less on the art and more on the life of the wealthy during the 14-16th centuries. The display revolves around the central theme of love and everything that surrounds it, including matrimony, childbirth and even doing “the deed.”

The Kimbell Art Museum's new exhibit Art and Love in Renaissance Italy starts with a focus on betrothal, marriage and childbirth featuring wedding portraits and items often included in a dowry, given as wedding gifts or made for the wedding ceremony. This includes examples of brightly colored maiolica (a type of ceramic), venetian glass and jewelry. Upon closer examination of each object you start to get a feel for the culture of the times. The women did not wed in white, the marriages were arranged, and even some of the humor of marriage that still exists today is expressed in the work. For example, there is plate depicting the husband tied up to a tree and the wife threatening him with a knife. Some things really do stand the test of time.

In addition to the objets d'art surrounding love and marriage, the exhibition displays childbirth trays and bowls and a few other items that are used during and after the birth of a child. These works provide a small window looking into how childbirth was approached during the Renaissance, with the mother pictured in elaborate and expensive clothing bought for the occasion while servants help her, swath the baby and play it music.

The second section of the exhibition (located behind a green wall bearing a warning) displays erotic art of the time period. The works are mostly of a satirical nature by greats such as Parmigianino and Romano. The earlier part of the exhibition serves as a good reference to the time period for the viewer to understand the satire (reading the title plates helps provide a reference as well). A warning: this section of the exhibition is not exactly what you would call “child friendly.” If you take the “shelter them” approach to parenting, do not bring your children behind the green wall before taking a look at the display first. Don't let this, however, discourage you from bringing your children at all, the erotic section is very blocked off.

The final section of the installation features works that a couple would likely hang in the newlywed's bedroom. This section displays large panel paintings typically associated with the Renaissance, a few by the likes of Fra Filippo Lippi and Titian. These include works representing beautiful women, stories from the Bible and family portraits.

The most intriguing aspect of Art and Love in Renaissance Italy is the fact that paintings are displayed with pottery and artifacts from the time period (where as usually paintings and artifacts are separated in a gallery), giving the viewer a solid perspective on life and art during the Renaissance. The viewer can fully encompass the role art had in the everyday lives of the wealthy. Everything they owned was meticulously designed and painted, all with close attention to detail and symbolism. Even the pieces that served a function, such as a plate used in a wedding or the childbirth trays used to hold items during labor, were exquisitely painted and decorated by established artists. The exhibition offers a little history, art history, and a look into high society and even fashion during the Renaissance (something for everybody).

Art and Love in Renaissance Italy runs through June 14. Check the museum calendar for events related to this exhibit.

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