No.1: how Renaissance paintings influence football today
In fact, countless goal celebrations would not exist without the help of such homage to antiquarian ideas and methods in the early fifteenth century. Some of the more notable ones include the popular ‘rock the baby’ routine and ‘the robot.’ The former has its roots in the many depictions of the nativity, whilst Peter Crouch’s robot dance is particularly reminiscent of a well documented event in 1492 when the statue of John the Baptist at Orsanmichele came temporarily to life and awkwardly travelled to Santa Maria Novella and back. Obafemi Martins’ trademark backflips are allegedly identical to those performed by the cripple healed in the Masaccio and Masolino frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel (a fresco which was short lived, having been painted over due to spatial limitations).
One of the most important yet largely forgotten aspects of Renaissance art is the powerful influence it still manages to wield in modern popular culture. One of the most famous physical allusions of recent times was during Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool in the Champions League last season. Abandoning typical methods of goal celebration, some of the Chelsea team opted for the more cultured approach: their interpretation of Beato Angelico’s Deposition of Christ (1432-1434). Lampard, the goal scorer, portrays Christ, whilst Drogba and Carvalho act as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. It is fantastic to see football players taking the time in such a crucial match to display the strong artistic bonds between early Renaissance Italy and the Beatiful game.
In fact, countless goal celebrations would not exist without the help of such homage to antiquarian ideas and methods in the early fifteenth century. Some of the more notable ones include the popular ‘rock the baby’ routine and ‘the robot.’ The former has its roots in the many depictions of the nativity, whilst Peter Crouch’s robot dance is particularly reminiscent of a well documented event in 1492 when the statue of John the Baptist at Orsanmichele came temporarily to life and awkwardly travelled to Santa Maria Novella and back. Obafemi Martins’ trademark backflips are allegedly identical to those performed by the cripple healed in the Masaccio and Masolino frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel (a fresco which was short lived, having been painted over due to spatial limitations). It simply could not be easier to spot the many traits footballers and football fans owe to the period. Tottenham Hotspur fans are renowned for uncannily resembling the damned from Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement for instance. Try it yourself at home and why not take a football with you next time you visit the National Gallery?
THOMAS
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