Download the renaissance

Unit One: The World Re-Invented (Chp.1)
THE RENAISSANCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------INTRODUCTION:
The Renaissance is usually regarded as the time from about 1350 to 1550. The term Renaissance
is adopted from the French equivalent of the Italian word rinascita,
meaning “rebirth” (stated by Giorgio Vasari to describe the return to the ancient Roman manner
painting by Giotto di Bondone). Jacob Burckardt, a 19th century Swiss historian was the first
to apply the label “Renaissance” to 15th century Italy.
The Renaissance describes the new and radical changes that took place in European culture
during the 15th and 16th centuries. The period brought the demise of the Middle Ages and
embodied the attitudes and ideas that ignited new intellectual and artistic achievements as well as
social and economic achievements. Was the Renaissance period revolutionary? The
Renaissance period impacted everything from art, politics, science and religion.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(antithesis) The Renaissance did uphold some traditions of the Middle Ages.
- The Renaissance period believed in the hierarchies of the universe (ie. worm becomes a slug,
then a lion, to an eagle)
- Feudal attitudes were also inherited. Social inequality continued in a world with nobles
and commoners.
- Most of the civilians in Europe were poor. The Renaissance movement in high culture
had little impact outside of the elite classes.
- The chief ambitions of the medieval states continued: Make war, make money, feed the
court and implement justice (ie. public executions were very common in cities.)
- Renaissance artists and thinkers blended what they recovered with medieval traditions
and then added new knowledge.
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Where Did The Renaissance Orginate? Why?
The Renaissance originated in Italy –particularly Northern Italy. Why?
1) Italy’s culture was linked to the achievements of Ancient Rome which differed from
dominant Gothic traditions found in most of the continent.
2) Italy experienced a peaceful and stable time period in the last half of the 15th century.
The Peace of Lodi (1454) ended a war between Milan and Venice and subsequently
had all the states of the Italian Peninsula join the Italian League – (which called on the
Italian states to maintain existing borders and defend one another from attack. This
peaceful time period in Italy lasted until 1494 allowing for resources to go towards
arts and civic projects.
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3) By the 1500s, the feudal economy was replaced by a capitalist economy. In a capitalist
economy, using money to make money was important. Lending money to make
interest was frowned upon during the Middle Ages and it also violated Church law.
(land was considered secure wealth vs. money which was viewed as liquid and volatile)
Powerful banking families like the Medicis of Florence and the Fuggers of Augsburg
began to flourish in this capitalist era ( capitalism relies on the organization of capital,
labour and raw materials to produce surplus wealth) Powerful merchants would
sponsor voyages of exploration and colonization to look for raw materials to be refined
by European manufacturers. The importance of cities grew as these merchants grew
more powerful economically. Venice would become a vital port and cities like Milan
would be manufacturing centres.
Lorenzo the Magnificent 1469-1492
Cosimo de' Medici 1434-1464
4) Flourishing cities in Northern Italy in particular wanted to establish their city as the
greatest in Europe. Wealthy merchants became patrons of the arts, commissioning
paintings, sculptures and new buildings. These wealthy citizens tried to get the best
artists, artisans and scholars to work in their city to show the city’s greatness.
5) By the late 1300s, a large percentage of the population of Northern Italy lived in urban
centres. In England, only a small number of people lived in cities. The cities in
northern Italy were large some having populations of 100,000 or more. Urban centres
required citizens to have more training than farm laborours. And so, Italian cities
established publicly supported schools and political organization of the city-states
allowed citizens to participate.
6) The Medici Family and Florence: During the renaissance Florence was the fourth
largest city in Italy. Trade and banking was the main source of wealth and the most
powerful of the ruling families was the Medici. In 1434, Cosimo de Medici was
appointed to lead the Florentine government. Cosimo was a patron of the arts and
his grandson Lorenzo de Medici sponsored such artists as Botticelli and Michelangelo.
Pope Julius II was the son of Lorenzo de Medici and he summoned Michelangelo to
Rome to paint the Sistine Chapel.
What is Humanism?:
Humanism defined the Renaissance. Humanists were concerned with humaniora (latin) that
means “human studies” or “the humanities”. As a result , humanists embraced the liberal arts,
including grammar rhetoric, poetry, history and philosophy. The difference between humanists
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and Middle Age teachers was their close following to classical models and their focus on earthly
actions and the concerns of humans.
Starting in Italy around 1350, a group of men later referred to as “humanists” began to target
medieval Latin. Humanists wanted to go back to the elegant from of Latin of Augustan Rome.
Humanists contributions included:
a) finding lost literary “treasures” such as the Letters of Cicero, the histories of Tacitus,
and even some Greek works.
b) creating the science of philology – the study of vocabularly and usage. (helped in
forged documents,…)
c) creating school reforms that encouraged an eloquence in language in the literary world.
d) having both the Latin and vernacular literature take on an antique form leading
individuals like Shakespeare to write his classic works.
e) Many humanists assumed important job titles such as chancellors of Venice and
Florence, secretaries at the papal court, important tutors and orators in Northern Italy.
The humanist movement was strong in Florence and Tuscany under the Medici family.
Cosimo de Medici, Florence’s wealthiest and most influential citizen, studied the works of
ancient authors and collected manuscripts of classical writings. He created the Plato academy,
where intellectuals would gather to discuss ideas concerning the classics.
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A couple of notable authors emerged from the Renaissance period:
a) Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374): is known as the first humanist. He believed in
earthly physical love and living an active life (differed from Medieval ideas). He
argued the earthly love of women was important because it would lead to love of
God who created women. He questioned monastic life and believed that the clergy
would be more useful working in society and saving souls. He was the first writer
to reject some of the ideas at the core of medieval philiosophy.
b) Baldesar Castiglione – wrote the Book of the Courtier in 1514 & it was a popular
book in Europe. It was popular among the rich aristocrats validating their wealth and
show. It also promoted self-control that would make someone “Renaissance cool.”
Baldesar was a diplomat and courtier who had served many princes before his book.
He wanted to restore Florence’s past glory and his Courtier revolved around the
humanist ideal: knowledgeable about warfare, yet refined, cultured and well educated.
(primary source handout)
c) Niccolo Machiavelli – was a secretary during the Florentine republic years. He lost
his job when the Medici returned to power in 1512. He was arrested and later exiled
but he came up with a pamphlet known as “The Prince”(1513). He dedicated to the
Medici Pope – Leo X, to help earn a job. He gave those in power great respect as he
asked: Is it better that a prince be loved or feared? Nick voted for fear. He was greatly
troubled by the turmoil that resulted from Piero de Medici’s actions in the late 15th
century and firmly believed that a strong ruler was necessary if Florence was to
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overcome its problems.
He constructed a realistic science of human nature aiming at the reform of Italian
society and the creation of a secure civil life. Machiavelli's republican principles
informed by a pragmatic view of power politics and the necessity of violent change
were the most original contribution of the Renaissance to the modern world.
d) Deisderius Eramus – was Europe’s first public intellectual and he translated the New
Testament from Greek to Latin. He was x-monk from Rotterdam, Netherlands.
e) Thomas More – was English lawyer wrote Utopia in 1516. In his Utopia, he
prescribed the radical solution of a classless, communal society, bereft of Christianity
and guided by the dictates of natural reason. He was killed by Henry VIII when he
didn’t join Henry in the break with Rome.
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Renaissance Art:
The new revolutionary form of art work that emerged is known as realism. Artists tried to
achieve greater detail in their works but required more anatomical research.
In the Middle Ages, people were often purposely depicted smaller than religious figures to show
the insignificance of humanity. Unlike the artists in the Middle Ages, Renaissance artists chose
to glorify humans and place them “in the centre of the universe.”
Painted portraits, seen as vanity during the Middle Ages, became very popular. Perspective was
rediscovered allowing artists to make their paintings more realistic. For example, adding
windows to their paintings, artists were able to add depth to their work and move away from the
flat, two dimensional style of the Middle Ages. Classical times also influenced the Renaissance
interest in depicting nudes. Artists focused on the ideal human form and the perfectibility of
humans rather than their imperfections.
At first, commissions for Renaissance art came from mainly from the churches. As the wealthy
middle class emerged, more and more commissions originated from merchants and bankers. The
art produced was primarily religious, though a secular influence became apparent in the move
towards naturalism.
The Renaissance Art movement was inspired and provoked by many:
Sandro Botticelli – renowned artist of the mid 15th century; was the principal painter for the
Medici family. One his famous works The Birth of Venus (1482) (handout). The Birth of Venus
was one of the first female nudes of the Renaissance, and depicts the goddess of love emerging
from the sea on a shell. The painting combines medieval mysticism, pagan symbols, and
Renaissance naturalism to produce an enchanting picture.
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Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), the famous Italian painter and scientist, engineer,
musician,…He was gifted with horses, a genial courtier and a great organizer of celebrations.
His famous works include the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. Francesco del Giocondo, a
wealthy Florentine merchant, commissioned Leonardo to create a portrait of his wife,
Madonna Lisa Gherhaedini. After working on the painting for four years, Leonardo decided not
to part with it and instead, took it to France when he moved there. When he died in 1519, the
portrait became part of the French royal collection (Francois I) and remains on exhibit in the
Louvre in Paris.
His pursuit of realism witnessed him dissecting 30 corpses in 25 years to better understand the
human anatomy.
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) He was born in Caprese, part of the Republic of
Florence. He was for his paintings, sculptures and poetry. He combined a classical style with
Christian themes. In 1501, he won a commission from the city of Florence to sculpt a statue of
the Biblical giant killer – David and completed it in 3 years. Michelangelo’s portrayl of the
meditative David before the contest, as he wrestled with the decision to act. David’s pose
combines stillness with the promise of movement. His intense facial expression reflects his
inward search for the strength to face Goliath. David was unveiled at the entrance to Florence’s
city hall in Sept. 1504 gaining him and the city great fame.
Pope Julius II wanted Michelangelo to paint the 12 apostles and some ornamental designs on the
ceiling of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. He completed this work in 1508-1512; he had to paint
from a scaffold with paint dripping into his eyes. Many of the pictures such as the Creation of
Adam are nudes that would have been unheard of two centuries ago.
Raphael, a man of very different temperament, evoked, in paintings of Madonnas and in
frescoes, not overwhelming forces but sublime harmony and lyric, graceful beauty. He decorated
the official rooms of the Vatican Palace.
Sofonsiba Anguissola Some women artists did work during the Renaissance. This was rare since
middle and upper class women were encouraged to follow more lady-like pursuits. Anguissola
persisted and eventually became a portrait painter in the court of King Philip II of Spain.
Renaissance Architecture:
Again, Florence was the leader here. The completion of the duomo – Santa Maria del Fiore. A
large dome roof had to be built and it set a bold new standard once it was completed
City planning improved. The unplanned streets of medieval Europe were no longer considered
adequate. Instead, planners wanted to lay out cities in an efficient grid pattern. (few were of
these plans were implemented due to cost)
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The construction of palazoos. These 3 story structures including a ground floor which served as a
storefront for the family business. This a typical Renaissance design as was
the use of Greek-style columns and sculpture. The construction of these homes from the wealthy
led them to commission artists to make works to decorate their homes
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What led to the downfall of the Renaissance in Rome?
a) Lorenzo de Medici’s son Piero angered France and Charles VIII by opposing France’s
choice to be king of Naples. France marched their troops and Piero gave up quite
quickly. He begged Charles for mercy and offered France territories in Florence
including Pisa. The Florentines grew angry at Piero. Eventually Florence with the help
of Spain drove the French out, but, now the Spainish were in control of much of Italy
by 1525.
b) Pope Clement VII – created some serious issues in his foreign affairs. A
mutinous army of Germans and Spaniards stormed Rome in 1527. For months
the city was pillaged for Renaissance treasures. Many artists took of to other
areas of Europe. They brought their tastes and skills and with the printing press,
the humanist ideals were spread to other areas.
(The production of books in the Renaissance period had its own revolution. The invention of the
movable type by Johann Gutenberg (1397-1468) in Germany (Mainz) in the
1440s made books more common and less expensive. This print promoted vernacular languages
like English, French, and German,… This increased the Europe’s literacy rate although its was
mostly men who could read and write. It also decreased the barrier between the different social
classes. This helped lengthen the Renaissance time period.)
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Baldesar Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier
The book of the Courtier was written as a guide to conduct for members of the aristocracy. Here
is some of Castiglione’s advice:
“I say, then, that since the princes of today are so corrupted by evil habits and by
ignorance and false conceit, and since it is so difficult to acquaint them with truth
and entice them to virtue… the Courtier should win for himself the good will of his
prince… And if the Courtier is such as he has been described, he will accomplish
with little effort and thus always be able to disclose tactfully to his prince the truth
of all that matters. In addition to this, the Courtier will be able little by little to
instill goodness in the prince’s mind and teach him continence (self restraint),
fortitude, justice and temperance (moderation)….
I judge that the chief and true profession of the Courtier ought to be that of arms.
There are also many other exercises which, while not dependent directly on arms,
still have close relationship with them and greatly promote manly vigour.
Our Courtier will be considered excellent and in all things will have grace,
especially in speaking, if he shuns affectation (behaviour that is put on for display
and not natural or genuine).
Therefore, what chiefly matters and is needful for the Courtier in order that he may
speak and write well is, I think, knowledge, because one who knows nothing and
who does not have anything in his mind that merits being understood is powerless
to say or write anything.
The Court Lady… is to possess the same virtues as the Courtier…also, she should
avoid affectation and cultivate sprezzatura (nonchalance – not to be concerned; or
power to repose). She is to avoid manly exercises and manners and preserve a
feminine sweetness and delicacy… Above all, she should acquire a pleasant
affability in entertaining men, being neither too bashful nor too bold in company”