The Renaissance

Renaissance Definition: Rebirth of art and cultural ideas of ancient Greece and Rome starting at the end of the middle ages Where: Started in Italy spread all over Europe

Why did ancient culture need a “rebirth”? After Roman Empire ended in the 400s— people lived in small villages. There was no communication between villages and no sharing of culture

How did Ancient culture survive to be rediscovered? During the middle ages Catholic Clergy copied ancient documents to keep them alive Nobody was reading these things, but they still existed

How did the ancient cultural artifacts get rediscovered? Merchants who traveled to far away places brought back goods and ideas Soldiers coming back from the crusades in the middle east brought back goods from what used to be the Eastern part of the Roman Empire Europeans also began to read classics from the Islamic Empires

Changes in Government structure during the Renaissance The power of kings and nobles declines Towns begin to grow where trading is happening City States emerge: a town and its surrounding area becomes an independent unit

Changes in Government continued… City states had their own taxes and trade and laws---no king Called themselves republics (a kind of democracy Really powerful families were often in control

Changes in Economy during the Renaissance: Increase in contact between East and West because of crusades Leads to use of Currency to make trade for goods easier

Changes in Social order during the renaissance Merchants, bankers and businessmen became more powerful as a result of increased trade Wealthy people paid for artists to produce art for the cities---artists and craftspeople gained power

Changes in Religion How did the events of the late middle ages lead to a change in religion? 1.Crusades 2.The plague

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY ARE WAS “INFLUENCED” BY CLASSICAL ART?

Characteristics of Classical Art: Purpose of art to show importance of regular people as well as gods and goddesses People in art were lifelike, but perfect Bodies were portrayed as in motion Faces were calm Pictures of people doing regular things Paintings had little or no perspective

Marble Statue Greek 5 th Century copy of Roman Bronze

Mosaic Diana, the huntress-goddess

Question How do you think medieval art will be different from Classical art?

Medieval Art The Purpose of art was to teach religion to people who could not read and write

Characteristics of Medieval Art Most art showed Jesus, Saints and people from the bible Important people and things were shown larger than everything else Figures were still: no movement Fully dressed, serious faces Two dimensional Bright colors, solid color background

Byzantine Baby Jesus and Mary

Power of the priest

New Philosophy: Humanism Attempt to balance religion with individual dignity and nature: people are important. This life is important, not just heaven Concepts: 1.Individualism 2.Humanities—study things like poetry, history etc.

HOE DO YOU THINK HUMANISM WILL CHANGE ART?

Renaissance Art The purpose of art was to show the importance of people and nature in addition to religion

Characteristics of Renaissance art Religious and non religious scenes Nature Lifelike 3D figures---knowledge of anatomy Action Both nude and clothed Real people doing real things Faces express feeling Colors respond to light Symmetrical Background with perspective

School of Athens

The Last Supper