THEME OF DEATH IN THE RENAISSANCE VISUAL ART Theme of death in the Renaissance Visual Art The theme of death has been used by artist throughout the time since the existence of art. In order to see the place of death in the arts, it is necessary to know its definition, its place among the religions and philosophies, as well as its meaning that has been carried throughout the ages. Death has been described as losing all the symptoms of life. However in Abrahamic religions death has been accepted as a road to another world thus not accepted as an end to everything on the contrary the beginning of an eternal life. In relation to this, in the scope of philosophy, many ideas has been produced about death. This study tries to cover all these definitions and opinions about the death while examining and inquiring the samples of artworks that has been produced within the scope of the relationship between the death and visual arts. Renaissance lead world to make connections for Art, science, philosophy and architecture in between Ancient Greek and Rome and is usually described as discovering humanity with all aspects. Undoubtedly, these revelations and discoveries brought reformation along with them. In this study, the course of changing and developing visual arts has been inquired while specifically considering the theme of death. The lives of artists and artworks has been analysed via visuals. Used examples were chosen among the ones that played important part in the progress of renaissance art. The artworks which depicts death were examined and similarities and differences were displayed according to their approach to the ways of death.

Death, Renaissance, Art, Visual arts, Philosophy, Religion