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The Italian Renaissance
Presented By:
Kristyn Nicole Abhold
Taylor Rose Warner
Chris Kenichi Winden
The Italian Renaissance

Like a newly lit candle, the Italian Renaissance was
able to lead Europe out of the Dark Ages and into an
era where scholarship, art, literature, politics, and
society flourished. It was a time when the past was
rediscovered and old ideas were improved. Society,
politics, and philosophical ideas were constantly
evolving. The rich and powerful fought over art
instead of land. It was also an era where the
concept of separation of church and government
gained momentum and the scale of power began to
shift from the church to the rich.
Politics in Italy

Renaissance Italy had no single ruler but the country
consisted of about twenty small city states with
different forms of government

As Italian cities grew and prospered many of them
chose to become self-governing states- other
communities formed republics which were dominated
by the leading merchants in that region.
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These communities quickly became industrial
powerhouses which ultimately led to rivalries between
communities. Many political brawls occurred in Italy,
most were regarding trade routes and resources.
Politics in Italy Continued

In the mid 1400’s the house of Medici led to the end of
republicanism and other forms of government and implemented
princely rule as the new popular form of government.

The Medici family dominated many Italian city states throughout
the renaissance from about 1434-1737. The Medici’s were the
richest family in Italy and quite possibly all of Europe at the time.
They headed Europe’s largest bank and were thoroughly
involved in politics. In one way or another, the Medici family had
their hands in all of the city-states in Italy.

The Medici family gained a lot of power from their own rule by
way of fear. Rule in renaissance Italy was chaotic and
unpredictable
Commerce in Italy

Commerce was a positive aspect to the ever
changing political climate in Italy

Trade and business experienced a dramatic
uproar during the Italian renaissance. Feudalism
was nearly extinct and the population began to
increase, banks flourished, and new technology in
manufacturing led the people into an economic
revolution

In the 1300s and 1400s Italy dominated all trade

Italy had a very diverse economy where many
different goods were produced. Each region had
its own specialty good

Overseas exploration helped develop many
different trade routes that made trade more
universal and convenient. It also brought many
different goods to Italy.
Religion

The religious climate of the Italian
Renaissance was in a state of decay

The power of the Pope and the
Catholic Church was being abused
and had become more political than
religious. The Popes were more
concerned about strengthening their
borders from constant invasions by the
French than saving souls.

During this corrupt and morally
bankrupt period, the Italian people
became disenfranchised with the
Church and strict devotion began to
wane. Different cults and beliefs
emerged in its place.
Humanism

One of the most influential movements of the Italian Renaissance was
the Humanist movement. The Humanists, were a reflection of the
radical times, they gravitated more toward the intellectual or
philosophical rather than religious side of life and spoke openly against
the Church.

They were branded atheists. however, They did believe that there was
a god. However, they preached of tolerance of different religious
viewpoints and believed that there were no absolute truths such as
those taught by the Church. Instead they believed in individualism and
that a person should find solace within himself.

Though the Humanist movement did not directly attack or contradict the
Catholic Church, it did provide a startling different viewpoint.

The main goal of the Humanists was not Religious change; but instead
the study of art and its ancient texts.
Literature

There were a great number of themes in 13th-century
literature: Humanism was emerging as a new outlook and this
undoubtedly fueled the fire for many Italian writers.

Many humanistic writers used the classic works of Plato and
Aristotle as the focus of their inspiration

All of the prevalent themes were a realization of the beauty of
the world and an optimistic faith in Man and Nature.

Dante Alighieri, Petrarch and Boccaccio were some of the
more widely known writers of the time. all with very humanistic
styles
Renaissance Art

"The artistic talents of the High Renaissance
sought to create coherent works of pictorial
illustration, which would enhance the vivid
qualities and aura of a work of art. The
essential characteristic of High Renaissance
art was unity. It was an equilibrium attained
through intuition. Unity in a piece of art could
not be obtained through rational
understanding or technical skill"
Art

The vast increase of wealth of the
small city-states of Italy, as a result of
trade and banking, was directly
responsible for the blossoming the arts
during the Italian Renaissance

Florence was the center of
Renaissance society. It was a place
where people of importance supported
the arts

The most prominent of these
contributors was Cosimo de' Medici
(1389-1464), who discreetly gained
control of the city and imposed his
power and authority from behind the
scenes

He generously spent his fortune on
scholars, painters, poets, and
sculptors.
Art

Italian Renaissance artists studied the natural world through direct observation

As a result, artists concentrated on secular themes of subjects stemming from
Roman and Greek history and mythology

The first generation of artists during the early Renaissance, including Donatello
and Masaccio (painting), shared many significant characteristics.
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They were passionate about art and believed that there was potential for incredible
growth
The artists of the Renaissance preferred to generate art forms that correctly emulated
the natural world and sought to convey human personality and behavior into their
works.
These art forms were often large sculptural forms or illustrative works that were
studies in the effects of color and light, the balance of measurable space, and
accurate representations
Art: High Renaissance

Around the mid 15th century, Florence had produced a new
generation of artists that included such masters as Sandro
Botticelli and Pollaiuolo. Soon, other Italian city-states, Venice,
Urbino, Naples, Padua, Milan, and Ferrara, started to search for
new artists to bring fame and fortune to their doorstep. This
caused competition and rivalries to spring up between artists and
even among the city-states.

Towards the end of the 15th century, the initial significant
advances of artistic Renaissance style established the principles
of linear perspective, proportion, and contraposto (twisted pose).
However, many artists were anxious to escape this style and
technique and started to strive for personal expression.
Art: High Renaissance

The essential characteristic of High Renaissance art was unity.
Technique alone could not produce a masterpiece.

The artistic talents of the High Renaissance sought to create coherent
works of pictorial illustration, which would enhance the vivid qualities
and aura of a work of art.

The technique of the High Renaissance only flourished for a brief period
(c. 1495-1520) and was dominated by some of the most gifted artists of
all time, among them
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Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519),
Michelangelo Bounarroti (1475-1564),
Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520).
All three artists also studied the anatomy of the human body, through
the dissection of human cadavers, an illegal practice at the time.
Differences
Leonardo Da Vinci
Michelangelo Bounarroti
Raphael Sanzio
Art: Late Renaissance

A major turning point in the advancement of Renaissance art was
the invasion of Rome in 1527, which momentarily ended
Florence’s role as a source of support and compelled artists to
travel to other centers in Italy, Spain, and France.

Anticlassical tendencies became apparent in Italian art.
Mannerism was a major artistic movement during this time that
emphasized grace and elegance.

Although the Late Renaissance lasted twice as long as the High
Renaissance, it too had to come to an end, but it will always be
thought of as one of the greatest periods of artistic innovation.
Architecture

The architecture during the Renaissance, like everything else
during that time period, was a return and rediscovery of the
classical period of the Romans and Greeks

Before the Renaissance the prevalent architectural style had
been the Gothic style of the medieval times, when renaissance
architects came around, the style changed dramatically

Perhaps one of the greatest influences of Renaissance
architecture was the classical architect Vitruvius and his treatise
De architectura. (Renaissance Architecture)

Vitruvius developed the foundation and instructions on how to
create a building in the classical form. All structures and columns
were based upon three basic orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian
Architecture

The Doric order consisted of the sturdier more masculine designs, and
in a multi-storied building it would be considered to be the base or first
story as it was strong enough to support additional stories

The Ionic order was also sturdy but consisted of thinner pillars and
contained as Vitruvius claimed an overall “more graceful” touch

The Corinthian order consisted of more decorative columns and motifs
and was almost always the highest story of a multi-story building. The
Corinthian order was like the penthouse of our modern times.

Yet the two most important of Vitruvius’s principles were his emphasis
on symmetria, or symmetry, where all the pieces of a structure were
geometrically balanced and his desire that all the parts of a structure
are harmonious or have general flow with one another, which was
known as disposito.
Renaissance Architecture