Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

Setting the Stage During the late Middle Ages, Europe suffered from both war and plague. Those who survived wanted to celebrate life and the human spirit. They began to question institutions of the Middle Ages, which had been unable to prevent war or to relieve suffering brought by the plague. Some people questioned the Church, which taught Christians to endure suffering while they awaited their rewards in heaven. In northern Italy, writers and artists began to express this new spirit and to experiment with different styles. These men and women would greatly change how Europeans saw themselves and their world.

The Renaissance Explosion in creativity in art, writing and thought that lasted from 1300 to 1600 Means rebirth Innovative art and literature styles New values- importance of the individual

Why it Started in Italy Thriving cities Wealthy merchant class Most of Europe was still rural Plague allows survivors to demand higher wages- less business opportunities led people to get involved in art Wealthy merchant class Didn’t inherit like nobles- used own skills Belief in individual achievement grew Classical heritage of Greece and Rome Wanted to return to learning of the Greeks and Romans

Classical and Worldly Values Humanism- movement focused on human potential and achievements Secular- worldly rather than spiritual Focused on here and now Patrons of the arts- financially supported artists

The Renaissance Man A man who excelled in many fields Should be charming, witty, well educated in the classics, dance, sing, play music, write poetry, be a skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman

Renaissance Woman Should know the classics and be charming, but shouldn’t seek fame Expected to inspire art but rarely create it

The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art Portrayed religious subjects, but in a realistic style Used perspective- 3-D on flat surfaces New emphasis on individuals

The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art Michelangelo Buonarroti- painter, architect, sculptor and poet Used realistic style when depicting the human body Dome of St. Peter’s, ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, David

The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art Donatello- statue of David (boy who became a great king) First free-standing nude sculpture in Europe since ancient times

The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art Leonardo da Vinci- painter, artist, inventor and scientist Studied muscle movements and veins, filled notebooks with observations and incorporated them in his art Wrote backwards Only 17 of his paintings survive today Mona Lisa, The Last Supper

The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art Raphael Sanzio- studied Michelangelo and Leonardo Famous for use of perspective Filled rooms of Pope Julius II’s library with paintings- called the Raphael Rooms

Renaissance Writers Change Literature Wrote works that reflected their time Wrote for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects

Renaissance Writers Change Literature Francesco Petrarch- poet, wrote about Laura, his ideal Little is known of Laura, except that she died of the plague in 1348

Sonnet 227 Breeze, blowing that blonde curling hair, stirring it, and being softly stirred in turn, scattering that sweet gold about, then gathering it, in a lovely knot of curls again, you linger around bright eyes whose loving sting pierces me so, till I feel it and weep, and I wander searching for my treasure, like a creature that often shies and kicks: now I seem to find her, now I realise she’s far away, now I’m comforted, now despair, now longing for her, now truly seeing her. Happy air, remain here with your living rays: and you, clear running stream, why can’t I exchange my path for yours?

Renaissance Writers Change Literature Giovanni Boccaccio- the Decameron- realistic stories told by a group waiting on the plague to pass Florence

Renaissance Writers Change Literature Niccolo Machiavelli- the Prince- how a ruler can gain and keep power in spite of his enemies Idea that most people are selfish and corrupt