Download renaissance

RENNAISSANCE
The 5 W’s
This is the beauty of the ancient Greeks and
Romans
Visiting the sculptures in Rome
The world went from the expression of idealized beauty of Greek
sculpture and the realism of Roman sculpture to the symbolic
and decorative (?) art of the Middle Ages.
What is the Renaissance?
THE ”REBIRTH” OF CIVILIZATION AFTER 1000 YEARS OF
THE MIDDLE AGES ALSO REFERED TO AS THE DARK
AGES.
Rebirth refers to both
a rediscovery of
ancient classical texts
and learning (mostly
ancient Greek and
Roman) Thus
Renaissance can refer
to this rebirth of
classical learning and
knowledge or to the
ensuing rebirth of
European culture.
WHY Did It Happen?
The Black Plague theory for the rise of the Renaissance
In the 14th Century, it is estimated that up to one-third or
more of the population of Europe died of the plague.
• The plague was indiscriminate; it affected kings and
serfs, priests and peasants, the pious and the sinful.
• Fervent Christian beliefs did provided protection from it.
• This led people to think more about life rather than the
afterlife. During the Middle (Dark) Ages the people of
Europe believed their time on earth was to prove there
worth for entering heaven. There emphasis was more on
the hereafter than the here and now.
• This, together with the invention of the printing press by
Gutenberg (1450s) and the rediscovering of the
humanistic philosophies from the Ancient Greek Roman
era ( such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates) created the
intellectual climate for the emergence of Humanism- the
interest in man and his relationship with the world around
him.
More on the WHY
• About 1450, European scholars became more
interested in studying the world around them. Their
art became more true to life. They began to explore
new lands -to seek life and new civilizations-to boldly
go where no man has gone before . These are the
stories of explorers like: Bartholomeu Dias, Vasco da
Gama, Christopher Columbus-this was the
beginning of the Age of Exploration.
• Handbooks, guides, and charts, along with the
invention of more sophisticated and practical
nautical instruments. Crucial to these innovations
were Muslim and Jewish contributions in mapmaking
and navigational instruments..
Where?
• The Renaissance began in northern Italy, most
notably Florence, and then spread through
Europe. Italian cities such as Naples, Genoa,
and Venice became centers of trade between
Europe and the Middle East. Arab scholars
preserved the writings of the ancient Greeks
in their libraries. When the Italian cities traded
with the Arabs, ideas were exchanged along
with goods. These ideas, preserved from the
ancient past, served as the basis of the
Renaissance. When the Byzantine empire fell
to Muslim Turks in 1453, many Christian
scholars left Greece (and Constantinople) for
Italy.
Humanism
• Many Renaissance scholars looked to the past for inspiration.
In the works of the classics they found a spirit similar to theirs
that valued innovation in this world rather than looking
forward to the next world after death.
• A person who studied the classics was called a humanist.
Humanists recreated classical styles in art, literature, and
architecture. Humanists believed that by studying the classics,
they could understand people and the world better. One
humanist wrote, “To each species of creature has been allotted
a peculiar and instinctive gift. To horses galloping, to birds
flying, comes naturally. To man only is given the desire to
learn.”
• The humanists emphasized the importance of human values
instead of religious beliefs. Renaissance humanists were often
devout Christians, but their promotion of secular, or nonreligious, values often put them at odds with the church.
• Today we refer to the study of literature, philosophy and art as
the humanities.
Sounds lovely this must have been a
peaceful time….NOT !
City-states in Italy-Where the Renaissance started.
•
•
•
•
Northern Italy was divided into a number
of warring city-states, the most powerful
being Milan, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Genoa,
Ferrara, and Venice.
Northern Italy was further divided by the
long running battle for supremacy
between the forces of the Papacy and of
the Holy Roman Empire. Each city aligned
itself with one faction or the other, yet
there was internal divisions within the
cities. They used mercenaries.
There were also wars with France
(supporter of the Emperor) 1494
The Sack of Rome by Holy Roman
Emperor, Charles V 1527.(Spanish German
troops)
•It was a time of the bloody
Inquisition of the marranos and
Jews of Spain 1478-92
WHAT was the influence of the
Renaissance on the ARTS?
• The Renaissance was much more than simply studying
the work of ancient scholars. It influenced painting,
sculpture, and architecture. Paintings became more
realistic and focused less often on religious topics. Rich
families became patrons and commissioned great art.
Artists advanced the Renaissance style of showing nature
and depicting the feelings of people.
• Learning and the Arts began to flourish during the
Renaissance
• The invention of the printing press encouraged literacy
and helped to spread new ideas.
• Wealthy families (usually merchants/successful
businessmen and bankers) and the church had amassed
enough wealth to become patrons.
• The development of financial techniques such as
bookkeeping and credit allowed merchants to prosper.
Points to Remember
•flourishing of artistic and scientific activities
beginning in Italy in the mid 1300s
•The rise of the individual (The great invention of the Italian
Renaissance was the creation of the "individual," the notion that human
experiences and abilities should not be trivialized but in fact celebrated—
that man was, in fact, "the measure of all things.)"
•a reconnection of the west with classical antiquity
• the absorption of knowledge: mathematics, science(Copernicus and the Heliocentric Universe-1514 ) and Inventions
(Gutenberg’s printing press-1448)
•The awakening of a desire for beauty
•Start of the age of exploration
•a focus on the importance of living well in the
present
Florence-Centre of the Early
Renaissance
The city sought to live up to the
republican ideals of ancient Athens and
Rome. Sculptors used Roman models and
classical themes. This society had a new
relationship with its classical past — it felt
it owned it and revived it. Florentines felt
akin to 1st century BC republican Rome.
The merchants became the newly rich (before it was royalty
and the church) They competed with one another by building
grand palaces for themselves. The merchants were patrons of
the arts. Patron comes from the Latin word for father. They
hired artists to fill their homes with beautiful paintings and
sculptures. Patrons bought rare books and paid scholars to
teach their children. The money and encouragement of patrons
together with that of the church, made the masterpieces of
Renaissance art possible.
The Medicis-(Rise of the Merchants)
•
•
In the 15th century, the leading families of
Florence decided they needed a strong person in
charge to lead them against the growing threat of
rival cities. They chose Cosimo de Medici, a
wealthy banker, to take control of the government
(the original business of the Medicis was
pharmaceuticals which are reflected in their coat
of arms).
Cosimo maintained the appearance of republican
government, but he appointed his relatives and
people he could control to important positions.
When Cosimo died in 1464, his son and grandson
continued his policies. The Medici maintained
control by exiling people who disagreed with
them and encouraging other Italian cities to form
alliances with Florence.
•The best known of the Medicis was Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo, who
was known as “Lorenzo the Magnificent.” Lorenzo was not only a shrewd
banker and clever politician; he was also a scholar and a poet. Under
Lorenzo’s leadership, Florence became one of the most beautiful and
prosperous cities in Italy, as well as a center of the Renaissance.
The series can be found on Youtube
Pinturicchio
Who- the Artists
• The Renaissance patrons wanted art that
showed joy in human beauty and life’s
pleasures. Renaissance art is more lifelike than
in the art of the Middle Ages. Renaissance
artists studied perspective, or the differences
in the way things look when they are close to
something or far away. The artists painted in a
way that showed these differences. As a
result, their paintings seem to have depth.
Art is going to evolve bringing back the
beauty, proportions and realism of the
classics.
Retro Greek/Roman art with a
modern humanistic twist
The following slides illustrate the
evolution from Gothic art to Early
Renaissance.
Cimabue
GothicMadonna of
Sana Trinita
GIOTTO
•1280 Byzantine•gold background
(symbol of heavenly
light)
•Flat chair
•All the angels have
the same faces and
the prophets have
the same faces they play the same
role
•Modonna face not
natural (looks like
an alien)
Giotto was an
apprentice to
Cimbue
Madonna-1310
An artist from Florence named Giotto was one of the first to paint in this new style. Giotto lived more
than a century before the beginning of the Renaissance, but his paintings show real emotion. The
faces are more individual and realistic. The bodies look solid( more shading as well), and the
background of his paintings shows perspective. The art produced during the Renaissance would build
upon Giotto’s style.
Student beats the Master
Giotto-The student beats the master (just a
little story)
• Giotto was born in poverty in the countryside near Florence,
the son of a peasant, and was himself a shepherd.
• The legend holds that at the age of 12, while his father was
tending the sheep, Giotto was drawing on rocks with chalk.
The artist Cimabue happened along and saw young Giotto
drawing a sheep, so natural and so perfect that Cimabue
immediately asked Giotto's father if the boy could come
with him as an apprentice to study art
• He stands as the key link between the Byzantine art of the
late middle ages, and the more realistic and humanistic art
which flowered in the Renaissance.
•
•
•
Gentile Da FabriarioAdoration of the Maji
Painted for the Strozzi
family, another merchant
family in Florence (textiles)
and rivals of Medici.
Strozzi was exiled from
Florence by Cosimo Meici.
Fabriario lived three years
in of the Strozzi’s houses
while painting this
commission (remember
the artists worked for
commission, they had little
say in the subject manner).
The painting is very vibrant
with real gold and silver in
a relief form ( this image
does not do it justice).
Carved plaster would first
be placed on the painting,
then gold leaved. The
painting would happen
after.
1423 3mx 2.8mTempra on wood
•
•
•
•
•
•
Landscape is painted
Realistic- real animals
Depth- spatial perspective
and some lineal perspective
Mary is in blue- shows
importance, blue was made
from ground Lapis Luzure
from Afghanistan-extremely
expensive
Commissioned by Strozzi so
the Magi are wearing the
rich clothes from their
company (a very expensive
ad- you want to be
important enough to meet
the Virgin Mary wear Strozzi
fabrics)
The artist is looking forward,
and the patron is beside him
holding a bird
Paolo Uccello : Battle of San Romano,
c. 1455, tempera on wood, 3.2 x 1.8 m, National Gallery, London.
•Where the Florentines beat the Duke of Milan (fighting between city-states)
•Use of Perspective and Foreshortening
Paolo Uccello : Battle of San Romanoc. 1438,
tempera on wood, 2.2 x 1.8 m, Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
Commisioned by Cosimo Medici
Flippo Lippi (what a character)
• Parents died when he was young and he was brought up by his
aunt from the ages of 2- 8 years old
• She couldn’t handle him so she sent him off to the monastery to
become a monk
• It is also said that-Early on he was captured by Moors whilst out
boating and sold into slavery in Africa, then later freed and
returned to Italy
• He was not a very good monk- he had many, many, girlfriends
• But he was an excellent artist, but he could not stick to it (ADD?).
Cosimo (the elder) Medici commissioned a painting by Flippo it
took hem 7 years
• Once Cosimo locked him in his room for days but he climbed out
of the window using sheets to visit his love- Lucrezia Buti (who
was also a nun)
• It’s said they had two children together
Coronation of the Virgin – 1439-47
Filippo Lippi and Assistance
John the Baptistpatron saint of
Florence and chosen
personal saint of the
patron (always
wears fur)
The bored Monk is Flippo,
bored of the painting,
what else?
We’re suppose to be looking att he Virgin Mary above, but we are drawn to
the woman looking at us on the bottom right (also many angels are looking at
her- that’s Lucrezia Buti , his lover (also wearing the same colours as Mary)
This was the
patron- he died
before Flippo
finished so he
looks dead-it
reads in latin- “He
finished the
work”
Filippo LippiMadonna with Child
and Two Angels-1465
•Belief that the young woman
is Lucrezia , the num
scandalously loved by the
friar/painter, who gave him a
daughter and a son (it has
been suggested the little boy
angel is Filipino who grew up
to be a famous painter
himself)
•Notice how they are
stepping out from the frame
•Very delicate composition
•The background (painting
within a painting) seems to
anticipate the future
expressive landscapes of
Leonardo da Vinci
Fashionable look in the Renaissance
Duke and Duchess of Urbino 1472 (realism of Rome-Humanism)
Piero della Francesca
•High forehead (plucked or shaved hairline
•Blonde hair (dyed hair using________)
•Pale skin (the high class did nto work in the field) used white makeup with______
•She was unusually pale because she was already dead and he was using her
death mask
Andrea Mantega- Dead Christ
(c. 1490Tempera on canvas, 68 x 81 cm, Milan
•He used extreme
foreshortening. (Parts get
smaller as the recede in
space)
•Looking in we see an
almost monstrous
spectacle: a heavy
corpse, seemingly
swollen by the
exaggerated
foreshortening. At the
front are two enormous
feet with holes in them;
as well as the nail holes
in the hands; on the left,
some tear-stained,
staring masks.
•Strong realism-the
wrinkled face of Christ
Sandro BotticelliFlorentine painter neglected
for centuries but now probably
the best-loved painter of the
Early Renaissance.
Sandro trained with Filippo
Lippi, who was the most
important influence on his
style. By temperament he
belonged to the current of late
15th-century art whose art
sometimes bordering on
sentimentality, a feminine
grace, and an emphasis on the
ornamental and evocative
capabilities of line.
Adoration of the Maji- 1475 1.11m x 1.34 m
Who’s who- If you’re a Medici your’re good enough to meet the Holy Family
(remember the Strozzi’s commissioned artwork on the same theme)
1. Lorenzo the Magnificent
2. Poliziano
3. Pico della Mirandola
4. Gaspare Lami
(a broker who footed the bill)
5. Cosimo the Elder
6. Piero the Gouty
(Lorenzo's Dad)
7. Guiliano de' Medici
(Lorenzo's younger
brother, later murdered
in the Pazzi Conspiracy)
8. Giovanni de' Medici
(younger brother of
Piero the Gouty)
9. Filippo Strozzi
10. Joannis Argiropulos
11. Sandro Botticelli
12. Lorenzo Tornabuoni
Botticelli-Primevera
Uffizi Gallery Florence(1481-82)- Tempra on wood 2.0 m x 3.1 m
Mercury- herald of Jovesymbol of knowledgewisking away the clouds of
winter
Cupid- blidfolded god of Love
Winged Zephyrus
who chased and
possessed the nymph
Chloris and them
married her giving
her the gift of
germinating flowers
Smiling figure –
transformation of
Chloris into Flora,
the Roman
goddess of
Spring
Venus as a symbol of
Three Gracesspring, being adorned with
may be a
the flowers of the three
symbol of
Graces
Liberality
• Example of the Roman/Greek culture on the Renaissance- not a Christian
related theme
•
It’s seen as the return to a golden age in Florence
Botticelli- Birth of Venus
(1482)- Tempra on canvas 1.8 m x 2.8 m
•Scene based on traditional mythology. The god of the winds, Zephyr, and the
breeze Aura are in a tight embrace, and are gently driving Venus towards the shore
with their breath. She is standing naked on a golden shining shell, which reaches
the shore floating on rippling waves. There, a Hora of Spring is approaching on the
tips of her toes, in a graceful dancing motion, spreading out a magnificent cloak for
her. More creative than realistic, she looks more like a statue.
•Pastel colours (added white alabaster to paint) SERENE and GRACEFUl
Sculpture- Donatello (the first of our Ninja Turtles)
•
•
•
•
•
Donatello’s bronze "David" is
believed to be the first freestanding nude statue since
Greco-Roman times.
Almost Life size (1.6 m)
"David's" stance suggests a
new self-awareness of his
physical form a combination
of classic style and
renaissance expression
(pride, dignity)
Symbolizes the victory of the
small and self sufficient
against the brute force of the
larger opponents
Sculpted in the Greek’s
contraposta style (the weight
of the on one leg, the
shoulders and the hips
counterbalanced each other
in a natural way so the figure
does not fall over).
•David (1430-1432)- Bronze