“Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it “Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it.” - Oscar Wilde On average, a Tupperware party is held somewhere in the world about every two seconds.

The Italian Renaissance Main Idea In Italy the growth of wealthy trading cities and new ways of thinking helped lead to a rebirth of the arts and learning. This era became known as the Renaissance.

The Beginning of the Renaissance 1300, Black Death, starvation, warfare had overtaken Europe Catastrophic events, enormous loss of life may have led to changes of the 1300s Decrease in population led to: Increase in food production Decline in food prices More money to spend Specialization in products Changes in Society Urban areas specialized, particularly in Italy Italy divided into several large city-states in north, various kingdoms, Papal States south Catholic Church, nobles, merchants, artisans dominated society in city-states Many sought to display new wealth with knowledge of arts The Rise of City-States

Venice

Venice

Venice

Venice

Venice

Venice

Milan

Milan

Milan

Milan

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

How did society and cities change in the 1300s? Question: How did society and cities change in the 1300s? Answer(s): Specialization in agriculture increased, resulting in more trade; urban areas became centers of commerce; merchants and artisans became important; some cities became displays of wealth.

Inspiration from the Ancients Renaissance Ideas As the economy and society changed, new ideas began to appear. This period of interest and developments in art, literature, science and learning is known as the Renaissance, French for “rebirth.” Venetian ships carried goods for trade and Greek scholars seeking refuge Scholars brought ancient works thought to be lost Inspiration from the Ancients Italians who could read looked for more information Read Arabic translations of original texts Searched libraries, found lost texts New World of Ideas As they read, began to think about philosophy, art, science in different ways Began to believe in human capacity to create, achieve Different Viewpoints

Humanism Humanities Roots Interest in ancient Greek, Roman culture Characteristics of good education Scholastic education gave way to classics: rhetoric, grammar, poetry, history, Latin, Greek Subjects came to be known as humanities, movement they inspired known as humanism Humanists emphasized individual accomplishment Humanities Roots traced to work of Dante; work contained glimpses of what would become focus on human nature Historians believe Renaissance began with two humanists who lived after Dante—Giovanni Boccaccio, Francesco Petrarch Both wrote literature in everyday language not Latin Advances were made in medicine, as well as astronomy Roots

Dante, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Francesco Petrarch

A Portrait of Savonarola By Fra Bartolomeo, 1498. Dominican friar who decried money and power. Anti-humanist  he saw humanism as too secular, hedonistic, and corrupting. The “Bonfire of the Vanities,” 1497. Burned books, artwork, jewelry, and other luxury goods in public. Even Botticelli put some of his paintings on the fire!!

The Execution of Savonarola, 1452

Secular Writers Service Renaissance Man Early 1500s life in Italy seemed insecure, precarious Church no longer served as source of stability, peace Form of humanism developed from Petrarch’s ideas; focus was secular, was worldly rather than spiritual Humanists argued that individual achievement, education could be fully expressed only if people used talents, abilities in service of cities. Service Ideal Renaissance man came to be “universal man,” accomplished in classics, but also man of action, who could respond to all situations. Renaissance Man

Examples of Renaissance Men How to Act Italian diplomat Baldassare Castiglione wrote book, The Courtier Described how perfect Renaissance gentleman, gentlewoman should act Book includes fictional conversation between duke, guests Castiglione’s Advice Castiglione gave nobles new rules for refined behavior in humanist society Speak of serious, as well of amusing subjects; know Latin, Greek Be well-acquainted with poetry, history; be able to write prose, poetry How to Rule Philosopher, statesman Niccolò Machiavelli also wrote influential book Experiences with violent politics influenced opinions on how governments should rule in The Prince

Baldassare Castiglione

Niccolò Machiavelli

Machiavelli Machiavellian advice seemed to encourage harsh treatment of citizens, rival states Describes men as “ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers” Advises rulers to separate morals from politics Power, ruthlessness more useful than idealism Ruler must do whatever necessary to maintain political power, even if cruel Machiavelli’s theory that “the end justifies the means” deviated from accepted views of correct behavior Idea that state an entity in itself, separate from its ruler, became foundation for later political philosophy

Science of the Renaissance Scientific Information Humanists searched archives, Arab translations for classical texts Discovered wealth of scientific information Natural World Focus of Renaissance on human sciences, history, politics, geography New ideas about natural world began to be explored also Scientific Challenges Science soon became important avenue of inquiry Church’s teachings about world were challenged, particularly that Earth center of universe Earth, Sun Nicholas Copernicus said Sun was center of universe Galileo Galilei arrested by church officials for saying Earth orbited Sun

Nicholas Copernicus

Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei

What were some important new ideas of the Renaissance? Question: What were some important new ideas of the Renaissance? Answer(s): inspiration from the ancient Greeks and Romans; humanism; secular focus; new theories in science

Competition Among Patrons Renaissance Art The arts a reflection of the new humanist spirit Medieval artists—idealized and symbolic representations Renaissance artists depicted what they observed in nature Medieval times, anonymous artists who worked for church created art Renaissance artists worked for whoever offered them highest price Buyers of art, patrons, might be wealthy individuals, city governments, or church Patrons of the Arts Wealthy individuals competed, displaying wealth, modernity through purchase of artworks Florence, Lorenzo de Medici supported most talented artists Milan, ruling Sforza family benefactors of artists, others Competition Among Patrons Renaissance artists wanted to paint the natural world as realistically as possible.

Medici and Sforza

Lorenzo the Magnificent Cosimo de Medici Lorenzo the Magnificent 1478 - 1521 1517 - 1574

Styles and Techniques Studied perspective, represented three-dimensional objects Experimented with using color to portray shapes, textures Subject matter changed; artists began to paint, sculpt scenes from Greek, Roman myths Artists Methods Religious paintings focused on personality Humanist interest in classical learning, human nature Building design reflected humanist reverence for Greek, Roman culture Classical architecture favored Classical Influence

Realism & Expression Expulsion from the Garden Masaccio 1427 First nudes since classical times.

First use of linear perspective! The Trinity Masaccio 1427 Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! First use of linear perspective! What you are, I once was; what I am, you will become.

Perspective

Geometrical Arrangement of Figures The Dreyfus Madonna with the Pomegranate Leonardo da Vinci 1469 The figure as architecture!

Light & Shadowing/Softening Edges Sfumato Chiaroscuro

The “Classical Pose” Medici “Venus” (1c) Classicism Greco-Roman influence. Secularism. Humanism. Individualism  free standing figures. Symmetry/Balance The “Classical Pose” Medici “Venus” (1c)

The Liberation of Sculpture David by Donatello 1430 - First free-form bronze since Roman times

Filippo Brunelleschi 1377 - 1436 Architect Cuppolo of St. Maria del Fiore

Commissioned to build the cathedral dome. Used unique architectural concepts. He studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome. Used ribs for support.

Brunelleschi’s Dome

Comparing Domes

Other Famous Domes Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US capital (Florence) (Rome) (London) (Washington)

Leonardo da Vinci Michelangelo Sculpture, Painting Studied anatomy Highly talented in all fields, was an Italian polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer Wrote out ideas, filling 20,000 pages of notes Best known for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper Studied anatomy Age 24, won fame with Pietà, sculpture of Jesus’ mother Mary holding son’s dead body Sculpture communicates grief, love, acceptance, immortality Michelangelo Marble statue of David Most famous painting, artwork on ceiling of Sistine Chapel, 1508-12 Scenes from Old Testament considered one of greatest achievements in art history Sculpture, Painting

The Virgin of the Rocks Leonardo da Vinci 1483-1486

A Macaroni Mona

A Picasso Mona

An Andy Warhol Mona

A “Mona”ca Lewinsky

The Last Supper - da Vinci, 1498 vertical horizontal

Deterioration Detail of Jesus The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci 1498

A Da Vinci “Code”: St. John or Mary Magdalene?

David Michelangelo Buonarotti 1504 Marble

What a difference a century makes!

The Sistine Chapel Details The Creation of the Heavens

The Sistine Chapel The Fall from Grace

The Sistine Chapel The Last Judgment

Other Artists Raphael Bramante Raffaello Sanzio, became known as Raphael Renowned painter, accomplished architect Most famous work, The School of Athens, fresco—painting made on fresh, moist plaster Also well known for many paintings of the Madonna, mother of Jesus Raphael Renaissance architecture reached height with work of Donato Bramante Had already achieved fame when chosen architect of Rome Design for St. Peter’s Basilica influenced appearance of many smaller churches Bramante

Raphael’s Madonnas Sistine Madonna Cowpepper Madonna

Raphael’s Madonnas Madonna della Sedia Alba Madonna

The School of Athens 1510-1511

Da Vinci Raphael Michelangelo

Plato: looks to the heavens [or the IDEAL realm]. Aristotle: looks to this earth [the here and now].

Averroes Hypatia Pythagoras

Zoroaster Ptolemy Euclid

The Liberation of St. Peter by Raphael, 1514

Birth of Venus – Botticelli, 1485 An attempt to depict perfect beauty.

Primavera – Botticelli, 1482 Depicted classical gods as almost naked and life-size.

Pope Julius II by Raphael, 1511-1512 Pope Leo X with Cardinal Giulio deMedici and Luigi De Rossi by Raphael, 1518-1519 Pope Julius II by Raphael, 1511-1512

The Penitent Mary Magdalene by Titian, 1533 By the mid-16c, High Renaissance art was declining. Mannerism became more popular. This painting is a good example of this new artistic style.

Parmigianino's Madonna with the Long Neck (1534-40), Mannerism makes itself known by elongated proportions, highly stylized poses, and lack of clear perspective.

What was the ideal of Renaissance art? Question: What was the ideal of Renaissance art? Answer(s): capturing human personality, realism, human form