Renaissance Humanism in Art

What is Humanism? philosophy or way of thinking that was found in writing and in art was based on the classics, the writings of ancient Greece and Rome believed that education could dramatically change human beings goal of Humanist education was to create complete citizens-all subjects and skills studied Humanist schools provided the model for the basic education of the European ruling classes until the twentieth century

Dante—Poet and Humanist Dante wrote about how man’s life on earth should be filled with good deeds appreciating beauty in all forms and Dante: poet and one of the first Humanists Dante wrote about how man’s life on earth should be filled with good deeds appreciating beauty in all forms.

Petrarch: another one of the first Humanists Petrarch did a lot to foster Humanism’s development. He started a movement to find forgotten ancient Roman manuscripts written in Latin, found especially in monastic libraries.

Vernacular Literature In the fourteenth century the Italian works of Dante and the English works of Geoffrey Chaucer helped make such vernacular (literature written in the language of the people) literature more popular.

Machiavelli and The Prince Machiavelli was an independent thinker and about ethics and politics Man could use knowledge and reason to achieve greatness

Big Question : How does art show this Humanist philosophy?

What did Humanists believe? 1. man is capable of all things 2. man is born with the potential to act nobly and with purpose 3. man can act knowing what is morally right and wrong because that knowledge of right and wrong exists already within man

David by Michelangelo

Michelangelo’s David shows that: 1. man is capable of all things 2. man is capable of noble action 3. man can act based on knowing what is morally right and wrong intrinsically (naturally)

The Three Graces by Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli’s Three Graces shows that: Greek and Roman influence in Renaissance art interest in ancient Greek and Roman writing like mythology interest in ancient art forms (modeling of the human form)

Creation of Adam by Michelangelo

Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam shows that: 1.humanizing of Biblical figures 2.no halos 3.figures looked realistic 4.faces had personality-sense of individuality 4. appreciation of human form

Humanists believed in the Importance of mathematics 1. use of logic 2. use of mathematics in art 3. proportion in art 4. depth of perception 5. perspective

Vitruvian Man by da Vinci Vitruvius was a Roman architect who was interested in perfect proportion.

Last Supper by da Vinci

Education and Independent Thinking people need to learn to think for themselves logical dialogue, discussion with purpose celebration of scholars like Socrates and Plato

School of Athens by Raphael

Realistic Approach to Religious Themes human personalities in faces emotions are evident human connection- mother and son

Challenging the Old Order 1. old way of doing things no longer the ONLY way 2. new knowledge and technology need to be embraced and appreciated 3. ideas, philosophies, religions from other cultures, countries should be examined

Brunelleschi’s Duomo in Florence, Italy

Secular (non religious) Subjects 1. portraiture 2. artists signed their own work 3. personality of subjects

Mona Lisa by da Vinci

Self Portrait by Albrecht Durer

Milkmaid by Jan Vermeer

Science and Art -use of physics and metallurgy to create huge bronze statues

Bronze Stallion by da Vinci

Humanism!!!!!!