Wealth and the Arts

European Renaissance: Causes Italy’s strategic location on the Mediterranean and increased trade between Asia and Europe creates wealthy Italian city-states. Wealthy merchants and nobles act as patrons supporting artists, writers, and scholars. Rediscovery of classical texts and art.

European Renaissance: Effects Increasing emphasis on secular, rather then religious themes. Increased use of the vernacular. Science based on careful observation. Architecture based on classical styles Arts become more realistic. Secular rulers gain strength. Increasing availability of trade goods and luxury items. Gutenberg’s revolution in printing – spread of ideas and increased literacy.

Secularism and Humanism Renaissance writers describe the dignity of man and celebrated sensual pleasures. Increasing use of vernacular languages. Niccolo Machiavelli argued in The Prince that rulers must do whatever is necessary to hold power “the end justifies the means”, rather than act according to laws or conscience.

Impact of The Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture Giotto - as an Italian painter and architect from Florence. Generally considered the first in a line of great artists who contributed to the Renaissance. Used depth, realism, and emotion in his paintings

Giotto’s Arena chapel north wall

Impact of The Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture Masaccio –the first great Italian painter of the Italian Renaissance. He was the best painter of his generation because of his skill at recreating lifelike figures and movements as well as a convincing sense of three-dimensionality

Masaccio’s The Tribute Money

Impact of The Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture Leonardo Da Vinci –was a painter, sculptor, architect, scientist, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, astronomer, cartographer, botanist, historian and writer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived in the Western world. His genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man, a man of "unquenchable curiosity" and "feverishly inventive imagination".

Da Vinci’s Last Supper

Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa

Impact of The Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture Michelangelo - was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer of the Renaissance. A number of his works in painting, sculpture, and architecture rank among the most famous in existence. He is the best-documented artist of the 16th century.

Michelangelo’s Moses

Michelangelo’s David

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

Impact of the Renaissance: Architecture Brunelleschi – was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is perhaps most famous for his development of linear perspective and for engineering the dome of the Florence Cathedral, but his accomplishments also include other architectural works, sculpture, mathematics, engineering and even ship design.

Brunelleschi’s dome of the Florence Cathedral

Impact of the Renaissance: Scholarship and Literature Most wrote in the vernacular (local) language

Impact of the Renaissance: Scholarship and Literature Petrarch –rediscovery of Cicero's letters is credited for initiating the Renaissance. Also called the Father of Humanism. Petrarch's sonnets were admired and became a model for lyrical poetry. The first to develop the concept of the "Dark Ages."

Impact of the Renaissance: Scholarship and Literature Erasmus – Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian who questioned the Church

Impact of the Renaissance: Scholarship and Literature William Shakespeare - English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist

Impact of the Renaissance: Scholarship and Literature Cervantes - Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright

Impact of the Renaissance: Political Niccolo Machiavelli –was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer, who is recognized as the founder of modern political science and political ethics. Author of The Prince – a guide to secure and maintain power

Impact of the Renaissance: Political Lorenzo Medici was a magnate, diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists, and poets. Best known for his contribution to the art world, sponsoring artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo.

Impact of The Renaissance: Intellectual Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher, and mathematician. Played a major role in the scientific revolution during the Renaissance. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Impact of The Renaissance: Intellectual Johann Gutenberg was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe. His invention of mechanical movable type printing started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important event of the modern period.