1. The Renaissance

2. The Renaissance
How can we describe the Renaissance as a movement of “rediscovery”?
What were some of the significant innovations of the age?

3. The Early Modern Period
“Early Modern”? (ca )
Followed Middle Ages
What was happening in Europe?
Movement toward secular state
Divided Western Christianity
Growing emphasis on science
World becoming more global, more dominated by Europe

4. Origins and Humanism The Renaissance
“Rebirth” of culture and heritage of Greco-Roman antiquity
Italian Origins
Wealth
Remnants and ruins of ancient world

5. 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: classical languages and documents, liberal arts
“Ad fontes!”

6. Origins and Humanism Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) Renowned humanist
Hated Middle Ages!
Encouraged revival of classical studies
Wrote in classical Latin
Searched for ancient manuscripts

7. Origins and Humanism Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)
Florentine chancellor
Met important international leaders  “experience”
The Prince (1513)
Manual for despots
Prince might have to be immoral
Lion and the fox
“Virtue” in politics is ambiguous!

8. Origins and Humanism
Questions?

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

10. Italian Art and Architecture
Chartres Cathedral ( ), France

11. Italian Art and Architecture
Renaissance Goals
Imitate nature
Revive classical idealism, architectural motifs
Capture sense of individual
Emotion
Portraiture
Polykleitos, Doryphoros (ca. 450 BC)

12. Italian Art and Architecture
Linear Perspective
Goal: create illusion of 3D
Observations of artists
Parallel lines “converge” as they recede into the distance
Objects’ sizes vary depending on distance from viewer

13. Italian Art and Architecture
By Giotto, Arena Chapel ( )

14. Italian Art and Architecture
Giotto’s The Lamentation, Arena Chapel

15. Italian Art and Architecture
Donatello’s David ( )
Bronze
First freestanding, life-sized nude since antiquity
Renaissance traits
Classical nude male
Movement
Calm, ideal beauty

16. Italian Art and Architecture
Leonardo’s The Last Supper (ca )
Mural
Subject: announcement of coming betrayal of Christ
Renaissance traits: individuality, psychology

17. Italian Art and Architecture
Leonardo’s The Mona Lisa ( )
Portrait of Florentine merchant’s wife Donna Lisa
Individualized, yet idealized!
Ambiguous smile!

18. Italian Art and Architecture

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

20. Italian Art and Architecture
Michelangelo’s David ( )
Huge!
Renaissance traits
Pent-up energy
Visage is tense, psychological insight
Demonstrates knowledge of human body

21. Italian Art and Architecture
Michelangelo’s vaulted Ceiling, Sistine Chapel ( )

22. Italian Art and Architecture
The Creation of Adam ( )

23. Italian Art and Architecture
Detail: Christ as Judge, the Virgin
Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment ( )

24. Italian Art and Architecture
Raphael, The School of Athens ( )

25. Italian Art and Architecture
Guess who?

26. Italian Art and Architecture
Façade of S. Andrea, Mantua (ca. 1470)
Architect: Alberti
Temple front
Triumphal arch

27. Italian Art and Architecture
Dome, Florence Cathedral ( )
Cathedral’s construction began ca. 1296
Engineering problems  no dome!
Brunelleschi ( )
Student of classical architecture
Resolved engineering problems
Created most celebrated dome since antiquity!

28. Italian Art and Architecture
Questions?

29. The Northern Renaissance

30. The Northern Renaissance
The Printing Press
Moveable lead type developed ca. 1450
Attributed to Johann Gutenberg
Can now print many copies of a book
Huge impact on Europe
Ideas spread rapidly
Increased literacy
Books now cheaper

31. The Northern Renaissance
Northern Humanism
Classics
“Christian Humanism”
Religious reform

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

33. The Northern Renaissance
Sir Thomas More ( )
English lawyer, lord chancellor
Very spiritual
English Humanist
Wrote history
Utopia (1516)

34. The Northern Renaissance
Northern Art
Interest in oil painting
Vibrant color
Minute detail
Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait (1434)
Portrait of Italian banker, his betrothed
Detail and depth
Spiritual symbolism

35. The Northern Renaissance
William Shakespeare (ca )
Playwright, London
Greatest English writer
Many plays set in Roman, English past

36. The Northern Renaissance

37. The Northern Renaissance
Questions?

38. The Renaissance
How can we describe the Renaissance as a movement of “rediscovery”?
What were some of the significant innovations of the age?

39. Primary Source Petrarch’s To Posterity What kind of a source?
What do we learn about Petrarch’s attitude toward the Middle Ages?
What kinds of references to antiquity do we find here, and the study of antiquity?
What important events from his life did he describe?

40. Primary Source Machiavelli’s The Prince What kind of source?
What does the term “Machiavellian” mean?
What did Machiavelli describe here that was “Machiavellian”?
What kinds of references to the ancient world did he make?
What do we learn about his knowledge of events of his own time (his “own experience”)?

41. Primary Source Vasari on Giotto and Leonardo Who was the author?
What kind of source?
How can we best describe the tone of the writing, his feelings toward these two artists?
What do we learn about Giotto and Leonardo?

42. Primary Source Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly
What type of writing was this, and its goal?
What did Erasmus have to say about…
The theologians?
The monks and friars?
The prelates of the Church?