1. Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

2. Italy’s Advantages The Renaissance began in Italy From 1300 – 1600
Spread through Europe
From 1300 – 1600
Means rebirth
The revival of art and learning
Hoped to bring back the culture of classical Greece and Rome
Led to new styles of art and literature
Importance of the individual

3. Three Advantages of Italy
Thriving cities
Northern Italy had large cities
Vs rest of Europe which was rural
Wealthy from overseas trade
After the plague, fewer laborers and less business
Merchants pursued other interests, such as art

4. Merchants and the Medici
Wealthy merchant class developed
Dominated politics
Did not inherit social rank
City of Florence controlled by powerful banking family, the Medici
Ruled as dictators

5. Lorenzo de Medici
(aka Lorenzo the Magnificent)

6. Looking to Greece and Rome
Renaissance scholars wanted to return to the learning of Greeks and Romans
Inspired by the Roman ruins in Italy
Western scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts that were preserved in monasteries
Christian scholars fled to Rome with Greek manuscripts after Turks conquered Constantinople

7. Renaissance scholar

8. Classical and Worldly Values
A new outlook on life and art
Led to humanism, an intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements
Vs. Medieval scholars, who focused on Christian teaching
Influenced artists and writers to focus on classical traditions
Subjects of classical learning – history, literature and philosophy (the “humanities”)

9. Worldly Pleasures
Humanists believed a person could enjoy life without offending God
Although most people were devout Catholics, Renaissance life was secular – concerned with life here and now rather than the spiritual (religious) world
Wealthy people lived lavishly

11. Patrons of the Arts
Church leaders and wealthy merchants spent huge amounts of money for art
Became patrons 0f the arts – someone who financially support artists
Donated art to cities to show how important they were

12. The Renaissance Man
The ideal individual strove to master every area of study, including creating art
A man who excelled in many fields is a “Renaissance man”
Should be educated in classics, dance, sing, play music and write poetry

13. The Renaissance Woman Upper-class woman should also know the classics
Were expected to inspire art, but not create it
Little political influence

15. The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art
Artistic styles changed
More realistic style copied from Greeks and Romans
Used new technique of perspective – showing three dimensions on a flat surface (objects that are further away are smaller)

16. Use of perspective in Renaissance painting

17. Medieval painting lacks perspective

18. Realistic painting and sculpture
Emphasis on individuals led to paintings of prominent citizens (rather than only religious subjects)
More realistic depiction of human body
Michelangelo – painter
Sculpture showed people in natural positions and expressions that reveal personality
Donatello – sculptor (“David”)

19. Painting by Michelangelo
1508

20. Leonardo da Vinci
A Renaissance man: painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist
Painted the “Mona Lisa”
Painted “The Last Supper”

22. Raphael Advances Realism
Favorite subjects was Madonna and child
Greatest achievement was “The School of Athens”, showing some Renaissance figures as classical philosophers and their students

23. “The School of Athens”

24. A Few Italian Women Painters
Anguissola – known for her portraits of her sisters and of famous people
Gentileschi – painted strong, heroic women

25. Painting by Artemisia Gentileschi

26. Renaissance Writers Change Literature
Wrote in vernacular (native language), rather than Latin
Wrote for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects
Petrarch – writer considered father of humanism; wrote poetry
Boccaccio – wrote the Decameron - series of realistic stories – humorous with tragedy and comedy
Vittoria Colonna – woman writer
Machiavelli – wrote The Prince, explaining how a ruler should gain and keep power, by sometimes lying or tricking the people for the good of the state