The Early Modern Period “Early Modern”? (ca ) “Early Modern”? (ca ) Followed Middle Ages, post-classical period Followed Middle Ages, post-classical period Traits in Europe Traits in Europe Movement toward secular state Movement toward secular state Divided Western Christianity Divided Western Christianity Growing emphasis on science Growing emphasis on science World becoming more global, more dominated by Europe World becoming more global, more dominated by Europe

The Renaissance (ca )

The Renaissance When you hear “The Renaissance”… When you hear “The Renaissance”… What do you think of? What do you think of? What do you understand it to be? What do you understand it to be? Do we see it in culture at all? Do we see it in culture at all?

Origins and Humanism The Renaissance  “Rebirth”  Rebirth of what? Culture and heritage of Greco-Roman antiquity Make antiquity model for present  Italian Origins Wealth Remnants and ruins of ancient world Flourished throughout peninsula

Origins and Humanism Humanism  Emphasized study of form and content of classical learning  Goal: recapture culture of ancient world  improvement of individuals and society  Interests of Humanists Liberal arts Latin and Greek Classical documents  “Ad fontes!”

Origins and Humanism Francesco Petrarch ( )  Renowned humanist  Hated Middle Ages!  Encouraged revival of classical studies Wrote in classical Latin  Africa Searched for ancient manuscripts

Origins and Humanism Lorenzo Valla ( )  Major humanist, linguist  On the False Donation of Constantine (1444) Response to Donation of Constantine Valla’s Observations  Latin here not used until after Constantine  Exposed Donation as early medieval fraud

Origins and Humanism “Civic Humanism”  Some humanists became involved in public affairs  Literary talents  promote city  Focused on morality and ethics as applied in civic sphere Goal: inspire “virtuous men” to take leading roles in communities Follow examples of antiquity and Christianity

Origins and Humanism Niccolò Machiavelli ( )  Florentine chancellor  Met important international leaders  “experience”  The Prince (1513) Manual for despots on gaining and holding power Prince might have to be immoral Lion and the fox “Virtue” in politics is ambiguous! “Political realism”

Origins and Humanism Questions?

Italian Art and Architecture Madonna and Child (early 13 th cent.) Medieval Traditions  Mostly spiritual iconography  Paintings influenced by Byzantine style Stiff, solemn figures Shallow, flat space Golden skies!  Gothic architecture

Italian Art and Architecture Renaissance Art  Artists’ goals Imitate nature LINEAR PERSPECTIVE Revive classical idealism Capture sense of “individual” Secular iconography  GIOTTO (ca ) Pre-Renaissance painter Greatest paintings: Arena Chapel, Padua ( )

Italian Art and Architecture

The Lamentation, Arena Chapel

Italian Art and Architecture Donatello ( )  Studied classical statues in Rome  David ( ) Bronze First freestanding, life- sized nude since antiquity Renaissance Traits  Based on classical nude male  Movement  Calm, ideal beauty

Italian Art and Architecture Donatello, Il Gattamelata (1453) Padua, Italy Marcus Aurelius (ca. 175)

Italian Art and Architecture Leonardo ( )  Student of nature, genius  Quintessential “Renaissance man”  The Mona Lisa ( ) Portrait of Florentine merchant’s wife Donna Lisa Individualized, yet idealized! Ambiguous smile! One of Leonardo’s favorite works

Italian Art and Architecture The Last Supper (ca )  Mural  Subject: announcement of coming betrayal of Christ, Last Supper  Renaissance traits Perspective Individuality

Italian Art and Architecture Embryo in the Womb (ca. 1510)The Virtruvian Man (1490)

Italian Art and Architecture Michelangelo ( )  Renaissance man  Difficult character!  The Pietà (ca. 1500) Subject: Virgin Mary cradling dead Christ after crucifixion Renaissance traits  Appreciation for human body, drapery of clothing  Virgin Mary is idealized, youthful

Italian Art and Architecture David ( )  Huge!  Important traits Pent-up energy Visage is tense, psychological insight Demonstrates knowledge of human body

Italian Art and Architecture Vaulted Ceiling, Sistine Chapel ( )

Italian Art and Architecture The Creation of Adam ( )

Italian Art and Architecture Façade, S. Andrea S. Andrea, Mantua (ca. 1470)  Medieval church, required new façade  Architect: Alberti  Additions Temple front Triumphal arch

Italian Art and Architecture Dome, Florence Cathedral ( )  Construction of cathedral began ca (Gothic)  Building was incomplete Engineering problems  no dome Brunelleschi ( ) commissioned  Studied classical monuments and architecture of Rome  Resolved engineering problems  created most celebrated dome since antiquity Dome, S. Maria del Fiore, Florence

Italian Art and Architecture Cathedral dome was largest in western Europe since Pantheon!

Italian Art and Architecture Questions?

The Northern Renaissance

The Printing Press  Moveable lead type developed ca Attributed to Johann Gutenberg Can now print many copies of a book  Huge impact on Europe Ideas spread rapidly Increased literacy Books now cheaper

The Northern Renaissance Northern Humanism  Classics  “Christian Humanism”  Religious reform

The Northern Renaissance Erasmus of Rotterdam ( )  Dutch  “Prince of Humanists”  Projects Praise of Folly (1511) Critical edition of Greek New Testament (1516)

The Northern Renaissance Sir Thomas More ( )  English lawyer and lord chancellor  Very spiritual  Humanist Wrote history UTOPIA (1516)  First part: criticism of political-social abuses  Second part: description of social arrangements at ideal island of Utopia

The Northern Renaissance Northern Art  Interest in oil painting Vibrant color Minute detail  Jan van Eyck (ca ) Flemish The Arnolfini Portrait (1434)  Portrait of Italian banker and his betrothed  Detail and depth  Spiritual symbolism

The Northern Renaissance The English Language  Major changes throughout its history  WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (d. 1616) Playwright, London Greatest English writer Plays  37!  Many set in Roman and English past

The Northern Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance Questions?