• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.371-376
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• 2024

This paper analyzes the main characteristics of proto-humanistic art theory in the book Il Libro dell'Arte by the artist of the early Renaissance, Cennino Cennini. His book, written in the late 14th century, opened the door to the Renaissance and attempted to make art independent from the poetic implications and rhetoric of literature for the first time in history. Cenini tried to have the creative nature of art, especially painting, recognized by society. Since Cennini's will became the starting point for the development of great art theories published by Alberti and Leonardo in the 15th and 16th centuries, the historical necessity of studying Cennini is fully acknowledged. Therefore, this paper examines the historical achievements of Cenini as an art theorist, who aroused academic interest in the social status of artists as well as the intellectual potential of art. Chapter 1 of this paper first examines the background of the birth of Libro. In the main body of this paper, the theoretical characteristics of Cennini's Libro as the first humanistic art theory are categorized into three areas: 1) the relationship between painting and liberal arts, 2) disegno as a bridge between mind and hand, and 3) pedagogy of painting. Through this process, this paper discovered that Libro combined practical guidelines and ethical recommendations for painting through its unique non-systematic structure. Cennini's attempt is defined as a historical practice for the intellectual emancipation of art and a historical foundation that provides inspiration for the production of Renaissance humanistic art theory.