
The Renaissance
We’ll begin our journey in the mid-15th century, with one of the most well-known eras: the Renaissance. The height of this period saw some of the most notable artists of all time: Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael. One of the reasons this period was so critical, and our reason for starting here, is that it marked the transition from the medieval period to the modern era. While many things shaped this period of art history, a few fundamental principles stand out: the use of perspective, the attempt at stability and balance in compositions, and the relentless push towards realism. To illustrate these ideas, I have selected da Vinci’s The Last Supper:
Perspective
The use of perspective was brand new to the Renaissance. The Last Supper shows an entire scene created using single-point perspective. The focal point is directly on Christ’s head, drawing the viewer’s gaze. Perspective not only increases the realism but directs the viewer’s attention to the most important area.
Stability and balance
Another key principle of the Renaissance is balance and stability in composition. The Last Supper has a sense of overall stability, enabled by the long table at the bottom of the scene. This grounds the painting and keeps it from feeling lopsided. Also, notice the symmetry across the entire piece: six people on each side and a mirror image background, all revolving around the central figure. And notice how Christ is shaped like a triangle, with his head at the peak. This was not accidental. This sort of balance and stability is a hallmark of Renaissance art.
Baroque
The Baroque period followed the Renaissance and peaked around the 17th century. In stark contrast to the Renaissance, it was marked by dynamic, active and highly dramatic images. Many paintings from this period appear to capture an active moment and feel very much alive, as if they could move at any second. The Baroque period continued the realism that began in the Renaissance, but it brought a drama and sense of motion that had not been done. Some of the most important artists among the countless during this period are Caravaggio, Rubens and Bernini. Many of the most dramatic icons of certain European cities were created in this era. For example, the Trevi Fountain in Rome was designed by Bernini and is a prime example of Baroque sculpture. We can relate the three most common characteristics of art from this period to modern design: drama, rich color, and intense dark and light contrast. Let’s look at Caravaggio’s Calling of St. Matthew:
Stark contrast
The characteristic Baroque quality of intense contrast between light and dark is clearly visible here. This fundamental principle of design is taught in our introductory design classes, so the topic certainly isn’t new to anyone. Still, let’s consider its role in this painting. Most of all, it highlights the most critical elements. The individuals’ faces stand out boldly against the shadowy background, effectively focusing the viewer on the subject matter and minimizing the distraction of the environment. The technique is a way to ensure that the story in the painting is easily understood. These are all qualities we want on the web. We want our designs to be easy to understand and, by extension, easy to use. We also want the critical elements — what we might call action items — to stand out. I’ve found a website that exhibits just these qualities:
Drama

Rococo
The Rococo period followed the Baroque in the 18th century. During this period, artists shifted to lighter topics, focusing on things like aristocratic life and romance. Art from this time is characterized by elaborate ornamentation and light graceful imagery. Some of the most influential artists of this period were Jean-Honore Fragonard, Watteau and Boucher. One of the most notable landmarks from this period is the Gardens of Versailles.
Ornamentation
To say that the ceiling is ornamental would be an understatement. It pushes the very limit of ornamentation. This is a signature of Rococo art. Ornamentation was used in unprecedented ways, adding flair and elegance like never before.
Playful scene
The subject of many paintings from this period form an interesting contrast to the regality of the ornamentation. For example, The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard presents a lighthearted and trivial scene. But combined with the extreme ornamentation, it creates some internal tension.
Neoclassical
As usually happens in art, one generation rejects the previous and goes in the completely opposite direction. In the Neoclassical period, artists rejected the trends of the Rococo period, regarding them as over the top and trivial. They reverted to classical approaches, including those of the Renaissance and Classical Greek and Roman art. The Neoclassicists embraced what they viewed as ideal standards to produce optimal results. This meant embracing the most notable artists, works of art and methods of these ideal periods. The movement covered the mid-18th and early-19th centuries, giving us such artists as Jacques-Louis David, Rembrandt Peale and Antonio Canova, to name but a few. These artists adopted styles and subject matter from earlier eras. It’s easy for us to overlook that a painting such as Jacques Louis-David’s period-defining Oath of the Horatii would have been considered “classical” at the time.
Historical
David’s painting is above all a historical reference. It depicts a scene from a work of Classical Roman historian Livy. David was in effect recalling an era long past.
Romanticism
The Romantic period in art history began in the middle of the 18th century and was strongest in Europe. Despite its name, it wasn’t concerned with what you would consider typical Romantic matter. Instead, artists sought to imbue their works with strong emotion, including shock, fear, uncertainty and, of course, love. Some of the most prominent artists of the time were Francisco Goya, Eugene Delacroix and Thomas Cole. The objective of generating an emotional response from a design is almost a given. Most often, the intention of a website is to elicit a physical response from the user: getting them to click on something, buy something, read something or the like. Playing on emotion can be a powerful way to accomplish this.Emotion


Conclusion
The notion of looking to the past for inspiration and understanding is not new. It is the reason every creative-related educational program includes a load of art history courses. As a former student of such courses, I can attest that they often bore and frustrate many students. But with an open mind, we can find timeless ideas that apply to our daily work. Of course, this article merely skims the surface of these periods in art history. But I hope the dots are starting to connect for you. Embrace our rich history, and draw inspiration and techniques from it. You will be amazed by what you can learn and use in your own work. This brings us up to the beginning of the 20th century, which I will cover in another article. Do you see any other elements in these periods of art history that we can apply to modern websites?Patrick McNeil
Patrick McNeil is a designer, developer and writer; but above all things he is a passionate educator. He is a Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Missouri St. Louis where he focuses on teaching UX Design methods and front end development techniques. Patrick is also the author of the bestselling book series The Web Designer's Idea Book and the curator of DesignMeltdown.com. For more information about Patrick visit his personal site, pmcneil.com, or follow him on Twitter @designmeltdown.
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