Download Renaissance-3

The Spirit of
the
Renaissance
The Renaissance
From French “rebirth”
Beginning of Modern History
Began 1350 in Northern
Italian city-states
Why Italy?
Urban centers- rest of Europe rural
 Major seaports
 Florence, Venice, Genoa
Power of merchants in politics and
society
 Wealthiest & most powerful class
 Art sponsors (Patrons)
Cities had profited from central
location that dominated trade routes
Recovery of Classics
Humanities- subjects concerned
with culture and humankind
 Interest
in Greek and Roman Civ.
Secularism,science, rationality
and individualism
People imitated language,
customs, ways of Classical
Civilization
Some Definitions
Secularism- absence of
religion
Vernacular- language of a
particular area
 Home
language
Humanism
Study of Latin and Greek Classics
and ancient Church fathers
 for sake of learning
 hopes for rebirth of ancient
norms, values
Liberal Arts- grammar, rhetoric,
history, politics, moral philosophy
 celebrate humankind and life of
virtue
Interest in Earthly Life
Middle Ages
Ancient
writers used to
back Church
teaching
Life was
preparation for
afterlife
Renaissance
Tried to
understand
ancient
civilization
Live life as
fully as
possible
Petrarch
Pioneer of early humanism
Italian born poet
Led early development of
Renaissance humanism
Encouraged study of
Roman philosophy and
literature
Petrarch
Role of Men
According to Castiglione (The
Courtier)
Educated in Greek, Roman
Charming, polite, witty
Dance, write poetry, play music
Strong but graceful
Rider, wrestler, swordsmen
Role of Women
More chances existed for
women in Middle Ages
Education and talent was to be
used at home
Little opportunity in economic,
social, and political life
Role of Women
According to Castiglione
Upper-class educated like men
Classics, write
Paint, play music, dance
Not seek fame as men did
Inspire poetry not write it
Isabella d’Este
Famous art collector
Skilled in politics
Unlike most women
 Held
real political power
New Values of Renaissance
Celebration of the Individual
 MA- humility, not worthy of God
Love of Classical Learning
 MA- Church does not guide all
Enjoyment of Worldly Pleasures
 MA- life suffering, heaven better place
New Attitudes
 MA- devout, piety through plain
lifestyle
Renaissance Literature
Cervantes (Spain 1547-1616)
 Don
Quixote- mocked medieval
chivalry
Rebelais (1494-?)
 French
monk, scholar, physician
Shakespeare (1564- 1616)
 English
actor, poet, playwright
 Works drew on ancient world
Other Writers
Petrarch- Classical and
Christian values= uneasy
coexistence
 Letters
to the Ancient Dead
Boccaccio- social commentary
 Decameron
Dante- VERNACULAR
 Divine
Comedy
Miguel
de
Cervantes
William
Shakespeare
Niccolo Machiavelli
Diplomat of Florence (1469 – 1527)
Wrote The Prince (1513)
 guidelines
for rulers of time (lion & fox)
 People selfish, fickle, corrupt
 Ruler should do anything necessary to
keep power (politically effective)
 Rulers lied, broke treaties, killed as
people can’t be trusted
 Rule should be judged by results of
actions
Niccolo
Machiavelli
Sir Thomas More
English statesmen
Wrote Utopia 1516
 Greek
for nowhere
 Describes ideal peaceful
society
 Criticism of society, politics,
religion
Sir Thomas More
in the
Tower of London
By Holbein
Renaissance Art
Middle Ages
Served
Church
Little
individuality
People larger
than
buildings
Renaissance
Capture
individuals
character
Uniqueness of
people
Nature used as
standard
Balance and
proportion
Use of Perspective
Step toward realism
Impression of depth and
distance on a flat surface
First used in Medieval Age by
Giotto, not accepted
Use of math in painting
Chiaroscuro- “Naturalness” or
linear perspective, continuity
New Materials
In Middle Ages tempura was
used
 Dried
quickly, no corrections
Oil paint used
 Artists
could work slowly
 Create more colors
 More life-like effects
 Texture
Renaissance Artists
Giotto- Father of Renaissance painting
Raphael- master of space and balance

Religious art with Renaissance spirit
Michelangelo- painter, poet, architect,
sculptor
Frescoes- watercolor in wet plaster
 Sistine Chapel, Pieta, David

Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519
“Renaissance Man”
 The Last Supper, Mona Lisa

David by
Michelangelo
Pieta
By
Michelangelo
The Last Supper by da Vinci
Mona
Lisa by
da Vinci
Proportions
of Man
By
da Vinci
Plato and
Aristotle
By Raphael
Printing Press
1450’s invented by Johann Gutenberg
Bible was the first book printed
Effects:
 Bookmaking cheaper- literacy
widespread
 Bookmaking faster- more published
(vernacular)
 Scholars had better access to one
another’s works (from past to
present)
Johannes Gutenberg
The Northern Renaissance
Printing press carried the spirit
of the Renaissance to :
 France
 England
 Germany
 Netherlands
Religious questions were an
added interest
Northern Renaissance
Great artists had significant
impact on scholars and
students in Italy
Royal Courts- paintings were
show of grandeur
 French
hired Italian artists
Desiderius Erasmus
Catholic priest from Holland
Believed church was greedy,
corrupt, narrow-minded
Translated New Testament to
Latin
Wrote The Praise of Folly (1509) Satire
that criticized scholars,
clergy, etc. for narrow-mindedness
Erasmus
By Holbein
Northern Renaissance Art
Center- Flanders,
Netherlands (Dutch trade
brings in money, patrons)
Religious themes, symbols
Life in towns and
countryside
Use of light and shadow
Interest in classical themes
Early Inspiration
Flemish Painter (19351441)
 Naturalistic
style
 Vivid oil paint
 Fine detail, texture
 Illusion of 3-D
Northern Renaissance
Artists- Realism
Brueghel (1525-1569)
 Realistic scenes with detail
 Every day farm workers, townspeople
Rembrandt (Dutch)- light and shadow
Durer (German) inspires others
 Court painter to Holy Roman Emperors
Holbein (1497-1543)
 Portrait painter
 Painted for Henry VIII (England)
Bruegel’s “The Tower of Babel”
Abraham
and
Isaac
By Rembrandt
St. Anne
with the
Virgin and
Child
By Dürer
Henry VIII
By Holbein