The Renaissance in Italy

Setting the Stage: BRING ON THE CHANGE: Middle Ages failed the people: Wars ravaged nations Plague was disastrous and killed many The Church was questioned In N Italy—writers and artists expressed the topics in paintings and stories with new style

The Renaissance Meaning: Started in Northern Italy Rebirth “revival of art and learning” Started in Northern Italy Thriving cities Wealthy merchant class Classical heritage (Greece and Rome) Strived to revive the culture of classical Greece and Rome, but instead created new culture

Medici Family and the Arts Patrons for art and architecture Funded huge amounts of Florentine art and architecture Basilica of St Lawrence

Changing Values Humanism— Study of classical texts led to this Focus of human potential, importance of individuality and achievements The HUMANITIES: History, literature, philosophy

Changing Values Arts— Life became more secular Patrons: the wealthy, church leaders, other important figures Life became more secular Secular—worldly, rather than spiritual

Changing Values Upper class Men and Women— Men: Create art and push for excellence in education “universal man” or “renaissance man” Arts and education: charming, witty, well educated, dance, sing, play music and write poetry. Physical: skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman

“Renaissance Man” A man who is a master of many different important areas of study Examples: Leonardo da Vinci—painter, sculptor, inventor, scientist (always called “The Renaissance Man” Michelangelo Buonarroti—painter, sculptor, architect, and poet

Changing Values Upper class Men and Women: Women: Not expected to seek fame, but instead expected to inspire and support art (patronize) Seek well rounded education and charm

Revolutionized Art Perspective—three dimensions on a flat surface (used by Renaissance painters) Humanism displayed through the art: Real, almost lifelike paintings Beauty, color, zeal, inspiration and meaning now a goal of the artists Human body far more accurate

The Vanishing Point

Michelangelo Pieta

Michelangelo’s David

Leonardo da Vinci The Mona Lisa

Raphael– School of Athens

Women Artists Anguissola— First to gain international recognition

Renaissance v Middle Age Art

Revolutionized Writing Vernacular writing vs Latin Vernacular = native language Dante did this in Middle Ages, most Renaissance writers adopted this

Francesco Petrarch “Father of Renaissance” First to declare a difference between the Renaissance and Middle Ages Wrote in both Italian and Latin Famous sonnets—about Laura One of the earliest and most influential humanists

Giovanni Boccaccio Decameron—book of stories Tragic and comic views of life Presented characters’ individuality

Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince—political guidebook Addressed the imperfection of humans and that what was morally right was not always politically effective

A Woman of Influence Vittoria Colonna Exchanged sonnets with Michelangelo Helped Castiglione publish The Courtier

Results of Italian Renaissance New art and literature styles New values—importance of individual

20. Changes in the Arts Changes in Society 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. Printing made information available and inexpensive. Availability of books promoted increased desire for learning and rise in literacy. Published accounts of new discoveries, maps, and charts led to further discoveries in variety of fields. Christian humanists’ attempts to reform society changed views about how life should be lived. People began to question political structures and religious practices.

The Renaissance Spreads North

Focus of the Northern Renaissance The focus of the Renaissance in Northern Europe was more religious Many sought religious reform and a return of the Church to its true mission and spirituality Many were highly critical of the worldliness and corruption in the Church and papacy Northern Renaissance figures believed that education and literacy were key to social and religious reform Advocated the translation of the scriptures into the vernacular languages

Major Historical Events of the Renaissance Period Age of Exploration (Period of European Expansion) Protestant Reformation and the Religious Wars Scientific Revolution- Rise of Modern Science The Rise of the Modern Nation-state

Characteristics of Renaissance Art Realism Three-dimensional Balanced and ordered Portraits Landscapes and attention to depictions of nature Classical style Depiction of classical themes and stories

Humanism: The School of Athens by Raphael - a celebration of classical learning

Individualism –Portraits -portraits celebrated the unique qualities and personality of the individual person (two examples by Leonardo da Vinci)

Secularism-non-religious Renaissance art often depicted stories and scenes from classical literature

Religion remained a major focal point of Renaissance art -The Sistine Chapel-Michelangelo

Northern Italian Art

Hans Holbein

Bruegel