Research Article

Hermeticism and Renaissance Art

Yiting KongExperimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This study mainly discusses the influence of Hermeticism on Renaissance art through Italian humanism, showcasing the emergence and major focus of Hermetism, the inheritance and dissemination of Hermeticism by humanists, and the embodiment of their ideas in Renaissance art. This study used the documentary analysis method as the research method in order to analyze information from different sources, such as the explanation of the ideological origin of hermeticism and its influences, which helps the reader to get acquainted with Hermeticism and its relation to the Renaissance in a more objective and multifaceted way. Additionally, the study delved into the symbolism and iconography present in Renaissance art that can be traced back to Hermetic principles, providing a deeper understanding of the spiritual and philosophical underpinnings of these works. By examining the intersection of Hermeticism, Italian humanism, and Renaissance art, this research sheds light on the interconnectedness of these movements and their lasting impact on cultural and artistic development.

Keywords: art history; Hermeticism; Renaissance; symbolism
Published: May 6, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2024.22506
Volume: CHR Vol.59
pp. 49-52
Download PDF

References

  1. Thomas, Keith. Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-Century England. London, Penguin, 2003.
  2. Hermes Trismegistus, & Scott, W. (1968). Hermetica. Dawsons Of Pall Mall.
  3. Hanegraaff, W. J. (2013). Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  4. Michael Allen Gillespie. (2010). The Theological Origins of Modernity. ReadHowYouWant.com.
  5. Battistini, M., Giammanco, R. M., & Getty, P. (2007). Astrology, magic, and alchemy in Art. Los Angeles J. Paul Getty Museum.