Famous People of the Renaissance

Michelangelo Sculptor, engineer, architect & poet David Pieta “melancholy genius” David Pieta Sistine Chapel St. Peter’s Cathedral

Michelangelo’s Pieta Pieta Analysis Video What type of descriptive words do the narrators use to describe the Pieta? What does Pieta mean in Italian? How do you see this in the sculpture?

Leonardo da Vinci Talents ranged over many areas Mona Lisa The Last Supper

Lost History- Mona Lisa Mona Lisa Video How would you describe Leonardo da Vinci’s personality? What is the Mona Lisa composed of? What is the average viewing time for the Mona Lisa?

Raphael Artistic talent and a “sweet and gracious nature” The School of Athens Various Madonnas

School of Athens The practice during Imperial Roman times of furnishing libraries with portraits of great poets was revived in fifteenth century Italy. Raphael revolutionized this practice in the Stanza by harmoniously arranging large groups of people as one unit in his fresco compositions. In the fresco of the School of Athens, sages from different epochs are arranged as colleagues in a timeless academy. Those that have been positively identified using accurate historical evidence are: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, Alcibiades, Diogenes, Ptolemy, Zoroaster and Raphael. Plato is in the center pointing his finger to the heavens while holding the Timaeus, his treatise on the origin of the world. Next to him, his younger pupil Aristotle holds a copy of his Ethics while describing the earth and the wide realm of moral teaching with his extended hand in an elegant horizontal gesture.

Machiavelli Guide for rulers on how to gain and maintain power The Prince Real rulers in an age of ruthless politics

Machiavelli Machiavelli and the Prince What was The Prince based on? 3 most important characteristics: Act boldly, protect power, appear unwavering while remaining flexible

Johann Gutenberg Printed first complete edition of the Bible Used printing press with movable type 15-20 million copies of Bible by 1500

William Shakespeare English poet & playwright Expressed universal themes in everyday, realistic settings Common language Renaissance Histeria Shakespeare

Martin Luther German monk & professor of theology 95 Theses Arguments against indulgences Faith alone

John Calvin Priest & lawyer Founded Calvinism Believed in predestination World divided into saints and sinners

Nicolaus Copernicus Heliocentric model of universe (theory) Planets revolve around the sun Orbit called an ellipse

Galileo Studied moons of Jupiter and their orbit Heliocentrism (proved) Tried before the Inquisition and forced to admit to his “heresies”

Rene Descartes Human reasoning as the road to understanding Discourse on Method (1637) “I think, therefore I am”

Isaac Newton Single force keeps planets in their orbits: gravity Laws of motions & mechanics