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Name
Class
Date
Biography
The Renaissance
Isabella d’Este
1474–1539
WHY SHE MADE HISTORY Isabella d’Este
promoted the fine arts during the Renaissance
by commissioning artwork and music from
renowned artists and musicians of the time.
As you read the biography below, think about
how Isabella d’Este’s refined taste influenced
artists and musicians of the time.
Isabella d’Este was a famous Renaissance patron
of the arts. She came from a wealthy and powerful
family. Since childhood Isabella was known for
having an outstanding intellect. At an early age, she
learned to translate Greek and Latin. Isabella had a
remarkable memory, and knew some of the classics
by heart. Isabella also loved music and was skilled at
playing the lute, singing, and dancing.
Isabella’s family engaged her to Francesco
Gonzaga, heir to the Marquis of Mantua. In 1490,
after 10 years of engagement, Isabella married
Francesco, who was by then the reigning Marquis of
Mantua. Isabella and Francesco had seven children,
five girls and two boys.
Isabella’s husband Francesco was a heroic soldier
and perfect gentleman. In Mantua, Isabella helped
Francesco promote fine arts and letters through his
government. In their castle, Isabella had a studiolo,
which was a small room covered with fine paintings
and carvings depicting ancient myths. Isabella used
this room was to display works of art, showing off
her good taste and artistic expertise.
Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY
VOCABULARY
patron a wealthy and
influential person who
sponsors and supports
some person or
institution
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The Renaissance
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Name
Class
Date
Isabella d’Este, continued
Biography
Isabella’s love for fine arts drove her to collect
works from some of the best artists of the time. She
backed painters such as Perugino, Titian, Mantegna,
and Raphael. Isabella even tried many times to get
Leonardo da Vinci to paint her portrait, but he
never would. A sketch of her, a drawing, was the
only work he did for her.
Isabella also loved music and dancing. Under her
patronage, a particular type of aristocratic music
called the frottola became popular in northern
Italy. Isabella enjoyed playing the lute. She also
experimented with new instruments and dances.
Isabella was a good politician and played an
important role in the affairs of Mantua. Isabella
always sought the well-being of her people, which
made them very loyal to her. While acting as regent
for her husband, who had been taken hostage,
Isabella successfully commanded the city’s military
forces. After her husband’s death in 1519, Isabella
once again acted as regent for her son. She was also
the ruler of a section of the Romagna, Solarolo. She
governed this region until her death in 1539.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Identify Who were some of the painters that Isabella backed?
2. Evaluate How important do you think it was for painters and other artists to
receive the patronage of influential aristocrats? Explain your answer.
ACTIVITY
3. If you had the opportunity to become a patron, which person, group,
organization, or institution would you choose to support? Write a letter
explaining why you have chosen to become the sponsor of the individual
or group.
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The Renaissance
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Answer Key
The Renaissance
Vocabulary Builder
Section 1
5. True
6. False—Don Quixote, written by Miguel de
Cervantes, poked fun at the romantic tales
of the Middle Ages.
1. ruled Florence; valued education; under
2.
3.
4.
5.
family’s rule, Florence became the
center of Italian art, literature, and culture
means rebirth; emphasis on people as
individuals; the period that followed
Europe’s Middle Ages
one of the greatest travelers in history;
traveled as a messenger for the Mongol
emperor Kublai Khan; wrote a book
called Description of the World
caravan route that linked Rome and China
from about AD 1 to 200; use declined after
the fall of the Roman Empire and Han
dynasty; reopened when the Mongols took
over China in the 1200s
type of government controlled by a single
rich merchant family; head of family
called signore; competed against each
other for wealth and fame
Biography Miguel de
Cervantes
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Miguel de Cervantes’ most famous work
was Don Quixote.
2. Possible answer: Cervantes led a colorful
and adventurous life. His experiences,
such as his capture by pirates, may have
served as subjects for his writing. He had
disappointments in life such as financial
ruin and imprisonment. This may have
caused him to become disillusioned with
society and want to write a satire about it.
ACTIVITY
3. Answers will vary.
Biography
Johann Gutenberg
Vocabulary Builder
Section 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
perspective
Italian
Leonardo da Vinci
humanism
Dante Alighieri
Michelangelo
Petrarch
Niccolo Machiavelli
1. Johann Gutenberg’s invention was a new
printing method using movable type.
2. Possible answer: The new printing
method made possible the mechanical
reproduction of religious writings without
losing their qualities of color and design.
ACTIVITY
3. Answers will vary.
Vocabulary Builder
Section 3
Biography Isabella d’Este
1. False—Johann Gutenberg developed the
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
movable type printing press.
2. True
3. False—Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch
priest who was the most important
scholar of Christian humanism.
4. False—The Praise of Folly was written
by Desiderius Erasmus as a criticism of
uneducated clergy.
1. Isabella commissioned Perugino, Titian,
Mantegna, and Raphael.
2. Possible answer: It was very important
for artists to receive the patronage of
aristocrats. With their support, artists
could achieve recognition and make a
living. Without their supports, artists
could not have spent their time
painting or sculpting because they would
have needed to work.
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The Renaissance
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Answer Key
ACTIVITY
organ connected with love. In line 7, the
speaker mentions love.
2. Love is portrayed as a real presence that has
the power to grant wishes, in this case, the
speaker’s desire to see the one he loves again.
3. Students’ letters will vary.
Biography Jan van Eyck,
Raphael, and Titian
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
Madrigal 2
1. The speaker considers himself or herself
1. Possible answers: Jan van Eyck, Raphael,
and Titian were all painters.
to be beautiful.
2. Possible answers: Jan van Eyck, Raphael,
2. Possible answer: Beauty is a gift, but one
and Titian each contributed his own
innovative painting techniques and styles.
They served as examples of the humanist
tendency in art during the Renaissance.
They were great influences on fellow
artists of the time and later.
that is short-lived.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
The Passionate Man’s Song by
John Fletcher
1. The person goes walking around at night
ACTIVITY
with his or her head down and arms
crossed, staring at the ground, unspeaking,
but sighing heavily. The writer suggests
that even though the melancholy person
suffers, there is a sweetness to the
suffering that is enjoyable.
2. Answers will vary. Examples: The writer
believes that melancholy people are also
passionate people. The “passionate man”
of the title enjoys being melancholy and
wants to sing about it.
3. Pamphlets will vary.
Literature
CALL-OUT BOXES:
(p. 13) Don Quixote sells useful land to buy
books.
(p. 14) “complicated conceits were as pearls in
his sight”
ANALYZING LITERATURE
1. He is an educated man because he reads
MAKE A COMPARISON
novels. He is also somewhat impractical
because he sells good land to buy
novels. He also doesn’t work very hard.
Most of his time is spent on leisure
activities.
2. The people ate hash, lentils, bacon, eggs,
beef, mutton, and pigeons. They dressed up
on holidays. Some of them enjoyed hunting and had housekeepers and helpers.
3. Answers will vary.
1. They all involve passionate feeling, be it
love, vanity, or melancholy.
2. Answers will vary. Examples: The
Renaissance was a time in which people
liked singing about feelings, such as love
and sadness. They used songs as a way
to tell other how they were feeling and
explore their emotions.
Primary Source Songs of
the Renaissance
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
Madrigal 1
1. The person the speaker compares to the
sun is the person the speaker loves. In
line 4, the speaker mentions his heart, the
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43
The Renaissance