Social Studies 10

A great revival of classical (Roman and Greek) art, literature and learning in Europe. Renaissance means rebirth or revival.

Began in the Italian cities-states The city of Florence would be the heart of the Renaissance. Florence was under the rule of the powerful Medici banking family.

14 TH – 16 TH centuries

The Renaissance spread to the rest of Europe via the printing press. Before books copied hand on expensive parchment made from the skin of sheep or goats. A simple book could take 6 months to complete.

Paper came from the Chinese to Arabs and reached Europe in the 1300’s. Printing began in Europe in Germany and other northern countries. They carved the letters and words in wooden blocks then inked and pressed them.

15 th century: movable type was introduced (small wooden blocked engraved with individual letters that could be rearranged) The printing press was a new invention perfected by Johann Gutenberg of Mainz, Germany in Printed first addition of the Bible He used metallic movable type to print written works. The printing press allowed books and writing to reach a mass audience because they could now be mass produced. Knowledge and learning exploded

Artists, writers and scholars (beginning in Italy) who admired classical works Wanted to recreate the work of their ancestors. well-known (celebrities) Great patrons of the arts (individuals, governments, the Roman Catholic Church) sponsored these artists, writers and scholars or commissioned their works.

The concept of HUMANISM: focus on human concern and classics Emphasis on human ability Studied humanities (grammar, rhetoric or public speaking, poetry, history) Embraced life in all forms unlike their medieval counterparts who saw it as heresy to study pagan (non-Christian) ideas and achievements Sought to improve humanity and society through enlightened education and action An optimistic, self-confident and creative

Most art was in manuscripts and tapestries Stressed divine Symbolic qualities 2 dimensional Plain, flat background No real large scale painting

Development of 3 dimensional perspective Use of mythological symbols and nudes again in art Focus on human qualities instead of divine Giotti de Bondore – 1 st the paint life-life, 3D figure

Painted one of the first female nudes “The Birth of Venus”

Revived classical ideals of beauty and proportions of the human form Sculptors carefully studied human anatomy and made life like statues that accurately showed muscles and joints. Sculptures of nudes (not seen since ancient times)

One of the greatest Renaissance sculptors “Each act, each limb, each bone [is] given life, and lo, man’s body is raised breathing, alive, in wax or clay or stone.” Most famous sculpture is the statue of David in Florence.

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi Considered one of the greatest sculptors of all time and founder of modern sculpture Born in Florence His “David” was the first nude statue of the Renaissance Gattamelata was considered one of the best proportioned statues

Constructing symmetrical buildings, domes, columns, friezes, etc… in the style of ancient architecture

Third largest domed cathedral in the world Located in Florence Designed by Brunelleschi Octagonal dome

Largest domed cathedral in the world Completed by Michelangelo when he was 70 years old Borrowed ideas from Brunelleschi to complete it Located in the Vatican Heart of Catholicism

Contest to see who would sculpt the doors Ghiberti beat Brunelleschi and Donatello Took him 48 years to sculpt the bronze doors

Individuals who excelled in a variety of fields Two standout artists considered to be Renaissance Men Leonardo da Vinci Michelangelo

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci Architect, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, inventor, mathematician, musician, scientist, and painter Famous for his realistic paintings, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper Sketched plans for a helicopter, a tank, the use of concentrated solar power, a calculator, a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics, the double hull He studied anatomy (he even dug up corpses to learn how the body worked) Vitruvian Man is also one of his most famous works Wrote journals in mirror image (backwards)

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni Painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer best-documented artist of the 16th century. Two of his best-known works, the Pieta and the David, were sculpted in his late twenties to early thirties. Despite his low opinion of painting, Michelangelo also created two of the most influential fresco paintings in the history of Western art: the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. designed the dome of St Peter's Basilica. Revolutionized classical architecture with his invention of the giant order of pilasters.

Copernicus (Polish astronomer) stated that the sun not the Earth was the centre of the universe Copernicus and Kepler are considered among the founders of modern astronomy

New form economic force Wealth created by charging interest and by using profits from business to finance more commercial activities Huge banking families like the Medici's flourished Venetians were the best at exploiting this new means of gaining wealth

The Renaissance represented a shift towards a more optimistic view on human life and abilities. Art returned the Classics and the beauty of the human form. Learning and education became much more popular. Humanism became a popular philosophy.