The Renaissance

What is the Renaissance? 1300 – 1600 “rebirth” Great intellectual and artistic creativity during the Renaissance Began in northern Italy while France and England were fighting the Hundred Years War Marked by a revival or rebirth of interest in classical Greek and Roman art, literature, and learning

Conditions that gave rise to the Renaissance Northern Italy was a highly urban region – Venice, Genoa and Florence were major centers for trade. Venice and Genoa were seaports Northern Italy was a merchant’s region – they dominated politics, society and business. Success depended on wit not inherited social rank – idea of individual achievement. Popes no longer had control of Italian city-states due to the Great Schism Merchants competed with each other for business, and as patrons or sponsors for the arts – glory in helping artists create works of genius.

New Values Celebration of the individual was a theme of the Renaissance In the middle ages artists worked for the glory of God, in the Renaissance artists wanted to be known as individuals Renaissance scholars loved the writings of Greece and Rome – they were called humanists There was an enjoyment of worldly pleasures – a person might love and enjoy life without offending God.

Renaissance Continued “The Renaissance Man” – Those who excelled in many fields (art, architecture, science – like Leonardo Da Vinci The Courtier – Book written that described the Renaissance ideal for men Upper class women were as well educated as men during the Renaissance, HOWEVER most women had less political, economic and social influence than women of the Middle Ages Florence was the leading city during the Renaissance – textiles and banking The Medici family ruled Florence during the Renaissance

The Artists Giotto Early 1300’s, mastered the technique known as fresco painting (painting with pigments on wet plaster) Style was different than the Middle Ages – figures looked real and lifelike, created illusion of depth in his paintings This is Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna

Donatello Rejected the style of Medieval stonecutters. Wanted his figures to appear real and alive 1st European since ancient times to create a large free standing human figure in the nude. Mazzoco – Emblem of Florence

Michelangelo - David “David” white marble statue of the biblical figure. 16ft. Tall Expresses Renaissance belief in human dignity and greatness, one of the most famous works of art of the Renaissance.

Michelangelo – The Sistine Chapel Asked to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in 1508 The popes were rebuilding Rome which had declined while the Popes lived in Avignon He painted over 5,800 ft. of ceiling over 3 years – on his back It contains 9 paintings illustrating the Creation, the birth of Adam, and the story of Noah

Raphael La Belle Jardinière

Boticelli – Birth of Venus

Leonardo Da Vinci Had a fascination with the human personality He was a painter, inventor, and scientist among other things. Essence of the ideal of the “Renaissance Man”

Mona Lisa

The Last Supper

The Northern European Artists of the Renaissance Many northern European artists who had visited Italy brought back the ideas of classical culture, curiosity in the world and human potential to their countries. Helped spread the Renaissance and Renaissance ideals throughout Europe. Includes painters, sculptors,writers, etc.

Durer Produced woodcuts and engravings that became very popular in in Germany Emphasis on realism Style spread to other German artists

Hans Holbein the Younger Specialized in painting portraits that looked like photographs Henry VIII

Bruegel the Elder Flemish painter captured scenes from everyday life such as weddings, dances, harvest, and the changing seasons. Rich colors and vivid details The Peasant Dance

Writers and Philosophers Dante 1265 – 1321 Poet, Born in Florence Used real people in his poem – used dead friends and enemies in his poems and told of their lives. Poems comment on the political events of the time Interest in human personality is key. His Divine Comedy is sometimes called the “bridge” between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Petrarch Born 1304 Wrote poems and letters in Italian and Latin Imitated the classical style of Cicero Strove for simplicity and purity in his writings.

Machiavelli Wrote during a time period of war in Italy, Italian city-states were forced to ally themselves with foreign powers (like Spain) The Prince – Wrote this book while angry about the invasion of foreigners – book is about gaining and keeping power Thought most people were selfish, fickle and corrupt Concerned with what was politically effective – NOT morally correct. Maintain political power any way possible. The end justifies the mean.

By the 1600’s new ideas and artistic styles appeared which brought an end to the Renaissance. The ideals of the Renaissance continued to influence Europe and the ideal of individualism from the Renaissance will play a major role in the rise of democratic ideas.