SOCIETY AND THE ARTS Artists – became interested in portraying the beauty of the human body and the natural world Patrons – people who paid artists to produce works, played an important role in promoting the arts during the Renaissance Included members of the new wealthy merchant class; government; the Church Artists made works to decorate private homes or to display in public buildings

PAINTING Mona Lisa (1503-1505) Leonardo da Vinci

PAINTING Artists like Michelangelo, found inspiration in the art of the ancient Greeks and Romans Medieval art had religious themes – this continues through the Renaissance – however – influenced by humanist ideas, subjects were interpreted in new ways Growing interest in portraits and landscapes Reflection on the humanist interest in the individual, the present world, beauty and human excellence

In this painting, Crivelli illustrates many elements humanists used to create naturalism and beauty: Natural world – symbolized by the peacock Light and Shadow – on the faces of the angel and the Saint, and on the ground beside them Texture and Pattern – on the carpet, on Mary and the Angel’s clothing, the flooring, decorative services Realistic details – the child on the left side of painting peeking around the corner Elegance – Mary’s hands; the angel’s hands The Annunciation with Saint Emidius (1486) Carlo Crivelli

The Birth of Venus (1486) – Sandro Botticelli Painted for the Medici family patrons – How does the artist express graceful movement in detail taken from this painting?

The Madonna and the Meadow (early 1500s) Giovanni Bellini Enthroned Madonna and Child (1200’s) Artist unknown

ARCHITECTURE

Architecture Renaissance architects from throughout Europe travelled to Rome to study the Pantheon, Colosseum and other classical building Inspired architects such as Filippo Brunelleschi to design the Duomo (the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) and the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence

SCULPTURE

Sculpture Medieval sculptors Renaissance sculptors became “artists” were seen as craftsmen rather than artists Usually part of a construction team for cathedrals, carving figures and decorations that told biblical stories Renaissance sculptors became “artists” Humanist sculptors focused on beauty and accuracy Michelangelo and others were viewed as celebrities with international reputations

LITERATURE

Literature Writers focused on translating the works of Roman and Greek writers and copying their styles Books written in the vernacular (the language of the people) became more accessible Humanist writers focused on expressing their thoughts and emotions

Humanist Writers Francesco Petrarch – leading Italian poet who wrote hundreds of love poems “sonnets” to a woman called Laura Wrote a letter to posterity in which he showed his contempt for the society he lived in and expressed his praise for the classical period Christine de Pisan – Europe’s first professional female writer In “The City of Women” – argued that people should be judged not by gender but by virtues and abilities.