Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance and The Northern Renaissance Chapter 17: Sections 1 and 2 Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance and The Northern Renaissance

Meaning of Renaissance Comes from the French word meaning “rebirth” A restoration of classical arts and learning of Rome and Greece, which had almost been extinct during the Middle Ages A time of creativity and change in Europe, began in the mid-14th century A time of rebirth after the disorder and disunity of the medieval world

Why Italy? Italy was center of Roman history Also cities were prosperous centers of trade and manufacturing Wealthy merchant class there promoted the cultural rebirth by stressing education, individual achievement, and spending money to support the arts

The Renaissance Moves North The Renaissance moved north to France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and England 100 years after it began in Italy. Why? The plague reduced the population in Europe and recovery was delayed in the north, recovering from the Hundred Years’ War Only after 1450 did the north enjoy economic growth to support the Renaissance How? Cities like Flanders grew rapidly, supporting wealthy patrons Monarchs hired Italian artists and architects

Renaissance v. Middle Ages People changed their thinking in the Renaissance and this fostered development (modernization) in many areas of life– from government to science to the arts to religion Renaissance: reawakened interest in classical learning, Middle Ages: some preservation of classical heritage, but not a focus Renaissance: think about here and now, Middle Ages: think about what happens when you die Renaissance: More focus on achievement of the individual

Petrarch’s Contributions Humanism- intellectual movement at the heart of the Italian Renaissance that focused on worldly subjects like human potential and achievement rather than on religious issues A Florentine poet and early Renaissance humanist (“father of Renaissance humanism”) Assembled a library of Greek and Roman manuscripts His sonnets (14-line poems) were written in both Italian and Latin

“Renaissance Man” Renaissance thinkers were eager to explore richness and variety in human experience The Renaissance ideal was the person with talent in many fields A Renaissance man is a well-rounded person with many talents and interests Examples: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Lorenzo de Medici

Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael Leonardo da Vinci: Painted Mona Lisa, sketched nature/models, inventor, anatomy, engineering, music, etc. Michelangelo: Sculpture of David, Also painted Sistine Chapel ceiling and altar wall Donatello: His statue of David was the first large free-standing nude since ancient times Raphael: Paintings blending Christian and Classical ideals, School of Athens was a painting of a gathering of famous thinkers, also painted tender pictures of the madonna

Renaissance Art v. Medieval Art Reflected humanist concerns Did portray religious figures, but with a Greek or Roman background Pictures of well-known figures Tried to make art look more realistic with use of perspective Perspective– artistic technique used to give drawings and paintings a 3-D effect on a flat surface Oil Painting– allowed painters to build layers on their work and also had more vibrant colors Human body portrayed more accurately than before

Christ Giving the Keys to St Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter: Fresco in Sistine Chapel…PERSPECTIVE AT WORK!

Medieval or Renaissance and why? Medieval Italy, 1300s Religious, no use of perspective Lack of accuracy in human form Renaissance Italy, 1450 Religious, but with a Greek background Use of perspective

Which came first? Botticelli, Italy, c. 1500 This one! Berlinghiero, Italy, 1230s

Byzantine or Renaissance?

Portrayal of Humans More accurate with use of perspective Studied human anatomy and drew from live models to look more realistic

David

Sistine Chapel

God Creates Adam

The Last Judgment (On Altar Wall)

Helping People Climb to Paradise

St. Bartholomew with Flayed Skin Self-Portrait of Michelangelo

Trying to Go to Paradise…

Being Pulled Toward Hell

The Medici Family The Medicis were a family in Florence who were among the richest bankers and merchants in Europe Uncrowned rulers of the city of Florence Lorenzo represented the Renaissance ideal: politician, financial supporter, poet A generous patron of the arts Patron- person who provides financial support for the arts

Machiavellian Politics Machiavelli: Wrote of the ideal ruler and how to gain and maintain power in The Prince Stressed that end justified means Provided a realistic view of politics

Francois Rabelais, Shakespeare, and Cervantes William Shakespeare Towering figure of Renaissance literature Wrote poems and plays A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, Tue Taming of the Shrew Writing Style Master of the English language: invented words like bedroom, heartsick, sneak, hurry Drew from classics for inspiration and plots Revealed souls of men, examined human flaws

Accessibility of Literature New works were written in the vernacular: everyday languages that people spoke and understood For this reason, they appealed to many people Others besides the clergy and nobility could enjoy literature, and write it

The Conflict of Erasmus Greek humanist Translation of Biblical works Made Greek edition of the New Testament, Improved the Latin translation Translation of the Bible into the vernacular Felt that even the uneducated should be able to read the Bible Called for Church reforms Challenged Church worldliness Wrote The Praise of Folly, a humorous look at the immoral behavior of the clergy Taught that chief duties were open-mindedness and good will toward others

Sir Thomas More Utopia: an ideal place Sir Thomas More described the ideal society in Utopia Men and women live in harmony Private property does not exist No one is lazy or uneducated Justice is used to end crime

Johann Gutenberg His printing press was breakthrough technology Printed a complete edition of the Bible using movable metal type Changes with the printing revolution Books were cheaper and easier to produce More people learned to read and write as their were more books printed Gained access to broad base of knowledge Changed religion “The preaching of sermons is speaking to a few of mankind, but printing books is talking to the whole world” People could read the Bible for themselves Will be a cause of the Protestant Reformation