Renaissance 1. What were the backgrounds of the Renaissance historically? 14-16 C. A. famine, plague, war, and religious dissent, Latin of the church, of law courts, of Scholasticism in Europe; B. new birth of ancient Roman Latin for native literature as by Petrarch, the Italian poet, to describe ideas of humanism and patriotism.

The School of Athens (1510-1511), one of several frescoes in the Vatican Palace, depicts ancient Greek philosophers and scholars, such as Plato and Aristotle (center);it is considered a masterpiece in the portrayal of the artistic ideals of the Renaissance. It also illustrates the importance of classical studies to literary and cultural achievements of the era.

Classical Studies Renaissance humanists studied the literature of ancient Greece and Rome, believing that these classical works represented the height of human knowledge and were important models for a new age. St. Jerome in His Study by the Italian painter Antonello da Messina (1430-1479) depicts the 4th-century scholar Jerome. He was known for his important literary accomplishments, including a translation of the Bible into Latin.

Leonardo da Vinci known not only as a masterful painter but as an architect, sculptor, engineer, and scientist. His pursuit of knowledge was relentless and his discoveries left lasting changes in the fields of art and science. With his sophisticated skills and love for learning, Leonardo embodied the curiosity and individualism of the era and was the quintessential Renaissance man.

Giotto Italian painter Giotto is held in high regard as the artist who moved away from the traditional medieval technique of portraying the human figure as a stiff, flat, two-dimensional character. An artist far ahead of his time, Giotto began to protray humans as rounded, proportioned, and naturalistic. His work influenced the development of Renaissance art more than a century after his death in Florence in 1337.

Petrarch, who perfected the sonnet form and is often regarded as the first modern poet, was also one of the first humanists. Petrarch’s love of the classics and his belief in the value of human experience influenced his own writing and inspired other humanists.

2. What were the characteristics of the Renaissance. A 2. What were the characteristics of the Renaissance? A. rediscovery of Classical Literature and Art as objects of ideal beauty or learning, instead of professional work of theologians/philosophers; B. curiosity about the objective world; & interest in the morality of human actions, instead of abstract talks of religious issues; C. Individualism: concept of fame & education for overall development;

3. What interpretations were given by scholars of the Renaissance. A 3. What interpretations were given by scholars of the Renaissance? A. as rebirth of art that was inspired by ancient Greco-Roman glories; as rebirth of republican government in ancient Rome before emperors; as rebirth of Greco-Roman arts in the reform of Christian society; as the beginning of the modern era with a fundamental individualism; B. as gradual change based on the high order of civilized Middle Ages;

Portrait of Michelangelo Italian artist Michelangelo's extraordinary accomplishments in painting, sculpture, and architecture made him one of the outstanding figures in Renaissance art. During his lifetime (1475-1564) he influenced many young artists, including the Florentine writer and painter Giorgio Vasari, who included this likeness of Michelangelo in one of his own works.

Tomb of Leonardo Bruni Italian artist Bernardo Rossellino combined elements of architecture and sculpture when he created the tomb of Leonardo Bruni, a prominent Florentine humanist. Rossellino also evoked the grandeur of classical antiquity by borrowing elements such as the imperial Roman eagles seen directly below Bruni, as well as his crown of laurel. Bruni and his followers admired the republican government of ancient Rome and encouraged the citizens of Florence and other Italian city-states to adopt a new patriotism based on the Roman model. The tomb, begun in 1444, is in the Church of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy.

Voltaire The French writer and philosopher Voltaire is considered one of the central figures of the Age of Enlightenment, a period following the Renaissance which emphasized the power of human reason, science, and respect for humanity. Voltaire believed that literature should serve as a vehicle for social change. His biting satires and philosophical writings demonstrated his aversion to Christianity, intolerance, and tyranny. The expression captured in this portrait of Voltaire in 1718 hints at the sharp sense of humor with which he won the favor of 18th-century French society.

Medieval Schools During the Middle Ages, advocates of Scholasticism sought to forge a connection between classical Greek philosophy and Christian theology through the use of logic. Teachers and instructors employed the concepts of reason and revelation to teach their students how to think. In this 15th-century Italian painting, parents take their children to see a teacher of grammar.