Medieval, Renaissance, or Modern Art? World History
Medieval
Medieval
Renaissance
Modern
Renaissance (Michelangelo’s David)
Medieval
Renaissance (Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa)
Medieval
Renaissance (School of Athens) Socrates Plato Aristotle Ptolemy Pythagoras
Modern
Modern
Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with Ermine
Medieval
Renaissance (Michleangelo’s Sistine Chapel)
Renaissance
Renaissance (David, by Michelangelo)
What was the Renaissance? The rebirth of classical learning and the arts in Europe beginning in the 1300s; also the transitional period from Medieval times to modern times
Where in Europe did the Renaissance have its origins? Italy: Florence, Venice, & Rome
Why did the Renaissance develop in Italian city-states? Florence: Medici rulers helped foster a spirit of humanism among artists and scholars; personal wealth supported writers, artists, & philosophers Rome: In the Vatican large palaces & churches were constructed to increase prestige; magnificent paintings and sculptures created for decoration Venice: economic power from trade led to prosperity; through trade the city became a link between Europe and Asia; new ideas and styles filtered in from Asia
Architecture Classical style (Greek & Roman); comfort and beauty, glass windows, domes, columns, & arches Cathedral of Florence is best example Brunalleschi is best known architect
Sculpture Greek & Roman like nudes in bronze or marble Freestanding Donatello, Michelangelo & Ghiberti
Painting Realistic as opposed to flat, depth or perspective(3D), human emotions, lighting Less religious, more secular Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci (Mona Lisa, & Last Supper), & Masaccio
Why? Contacts with the Byzantine Empire and Muslims in the Holy Land from the Crusades Overseas trade led to growth of cities in Italy Europeans began to question the Catholic Church Wealthy merchants and officials wanted to display their wealth Italy had more access to Roman ruins Italy had more access to ancient manuscripts from Constantinople than the rest of Europe (through foreign scholars) Italy led the West by the 14th century in banking and trade Italy was more urbanized than the rest of Europe
Renaissance Writers Wrote in the vernacular Wrote for self expression or to portray individuality Humanists (human potential and achievement over classic texts and church teachings) Francesco Petrarch & Boccaccio Niccolò Machiavelli & Vittoria Colonna (woman) Vittoria Colonna
Niccolò Machiavelli Historian & political thinker who wrote a political guide book called The Prince The Prince (1513) Assumed people were selfish, fickle, and corrupt Said leader must be as “strong as a lion and as shrewd as a fox” to succeed and defeat enemies “the end justifies the means” & “it is better to be feared than loved (if you can’t be both) is attributed to him. Not concerned with what was morally right Prince must mislead his people and lie to his opponents in the real world
Changes in the Arts Art drew on techniques and styles of classical Greece and Rome Paintings and sculptures portrayed individuals and nature in more realistic and lifelike ways Artists created works that were secular as well as those that were religious Writers began to use vernacular languages to express their ideas The arts praised individual achievement
Changes in Society Printing changed society by making more information available and inexpensive enough for society at large A greater availability of books prompted an increased desire for learning and a rise in literacy throughout Europe Published accounts of new discoveries, maps, and charts led to further discoveries in a variety of fields Published legal proceedings made the laws clear so that people likely to understand their rights Christian humanists’ attempts to reform society changed views about how life should be lived People began to question political structures and religious practices
Northern Renaissance Wealth and population increase in northern Europe Wealthy urban merchants & strong monarchies sponsored the arts (Flanders, England, & France) Artists were especially interested in realism Christian Humanists – Desiderius Erasmus & Thomas More (Utopia) Renaissance ideas spread with help of printing press (1440) invented by Johann Gutenberg – made books cheaper (like the Bible) Thomas More