SECTION 17.2 New Ideas and Art

Renaissance Humanism Humanism – a new way of understanding the world based on the values of the ancient Greeks and Romans that believed that the individual and human society were important. Wanted a balance between religion and reason. The Arab scholars knew the classic Greek and Roman works very well. The Crusades opened trade with the Middle East and Italians gained access to this work once again. One famous scholar Francesco Petrarch (1300s) encouraged Europeans to search for Latin manuscripts in monasteries all over Europe. Libraries were built to keep them safe. Including the one at the Vatican.

Changes in Literature During the Renaissance, educated people wrote in “pure” Latin, Latin used in ancient Rome. But poetry and stories were written in vernacular (everyday languages)Italian, German, French. Normal people could read vernacular. Dante Alighieri, a poet in Florence, wrote one of the world’s greatest poems in the vernacular called The Divine Comedy. It’s a tale of a man’s journey from hell to heaven and the horrible punishments for different sins in detail Chaucer also wrote in the vernacular. He wrote The Canterbury Tales in which he describes 29 pilgrims on their journey to the city of Centerbury. It describes the levels of English society, from the nobles to the poor.

The Printing Press Spreads Ideas In the early 1450s, Johannes Gutenberg developed a printing press that used movable metal type. Made it possible to print many books much more quickly. It allowed ideas to spread more quickly. The Gutenberg Bible was the first European book produced on the new press.

How did Humanism Affect Society? Humanist scholars studied everything – plants, animals, human anatomy and medicine, and the stars and planets. One Renaissance scientist was Leonardo da Vinci.  He dissected corpses to learn anatomy and studied fossils to understand the world’s history. He was also an inventor and an engineer.  Drew sketches of a glider, helicopter, and a parachute, other sketches show a version of a military tank and scuba diving suit. AMAZING!

Artists in Renaissance Italy During the Renaissance, wealthy Italian families and church leaders paid artists to create paintings, sculptures, and buildings for display throughout their cities. What was new about Renaissance Art?  Tries to who people as they appear in real life and show their emotions.  Images of Jesus were to remind Christians about their belief that he was born to save the world.  Artists used new techniques called perspective to make the painting looked 3D.  Also used chiaroscuro – softened edges by using light and shadows instead of stiff outlines to separated objects.

The Peak of Renaissance The peak of the Renaissance was from 1490 t when 3 great artists were making their masterpieces.  Leonardo da Vinci – one of his most famous works is The Last Supper painted on the wall behind a church alter. Painted on wet plaster with water color – fresco. It shows human emotions through the small differences in how each apostle held his head or his position in relation to Jesus. Also painted the Mona Lisa.  Raphael Sanzio – best known painting is the School of Athens which depicts a number of Greek philosophers.  Michelangelo Buonarroti – painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. He was a sculptor at heart. He believed his work was inspired by God. Best known sculpture is a 13 foot tall statue of David.

The Renaissance Spreads: The Northern Renaissance The Northern Renaissance refers to culture in places we know today as Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands. Flanders – oil painting developed here. It allowed artists to paint intricate details and surface textures Jan van Eyck was a master of oil painting. Albrecht Durer is one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance because he mastered both perspective and fine detail. Best known for his engravings. Four horsemen of the Apocalypse is one of his famous works.

Who was William Shakespeare? In England, the Renaissance took place in writing and theater more than in art.  It also took place later, during the the 1500s while Elizabeth I was queen. William Shakespeare was the greatest English writer of that era. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and historical plays. Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet.