1. The Renaissance in Italy

2. Setting the Stage: BRING ON THE CHANGE: Middle Ages failed the people:
Wars ravaged nations
Plague was disastrous and killed many
The Church was questioned
In N Italy—writers and artists expressed the topics in paintings and stories with new style

3. The Renaissance Meaning: Started in Northern Italy
Rebirth
“revival of art and learning”
Started in Northern Italy
Thriving cities
Wealthy merchant class
Classical heritage (Greece and Rome)
Strived to revive the culture of classical Greece and Rome, but instead created new culture

4. Medici Family and the Arts
Patrons for art and architecture
Funded huge amounts of Florentine art and architecture
Basilica of St Lawrence

5. Changing Values Humanism— Study of classical texts led to this
Focus of human potential, importance of individuality and achievements
The HUMANITIES:
History, literature, philosophy

6. Changing Values Arts— Life became more secular
Patrons: the wealthy, church leaders, other important figures
Life became more secular
Secular—worldly, rather than spiritual

7. Changing Values Upper class Men and Women— Men:
Create art and push for excellence in education
“universal man” or “renaissance man”
Arts and education: charming, witty, well educated, dance, sing, play music and write poetry.
Physical: skilled rider, wrestler and swordsman

8. “Renaissance Man”
A man who is a master of many different important areas of study
Examples:
Leonardo da Vinci—painter, sculptor, inventor, scientist (always called “The Renaissance Man”
Michelangelo Buonarroti—painter, sculptor, architect, and poet

9. Changing Values Upper class Men and Women: Women:
Not expected to seek fame, but instead expected to inspire and support art (patronize)
Seek well rounded education and charm

10. Revolutionized Art
Perspective—three dimensions on a flat surface (used by Renaissance painters)
Humanism displayed through the art:
Real, almost lifelike paintings
Beauty, color, zeal, inspiration and meaning now a goal of the artists
Human body far more accurate

11. The Vanishing Point

13. Michelangelo
Pieta

14. Michelangelo’s David

15. Leonardo da Vinci The Mona Lisa

16. Raphael– School of Athens

17. Women Artists
Anguissola—
First to gain international recognition

18. Renaissance v Middle Age Art

19. Revolutionized Writing
Vernacular writing vs Latin
Vernacular = native language
Dante did this in Middle Ages, most Renaissance writers adopted this

20. Francesco Petrarch “Father of Renaissance”
First to declare a difference between the Renaissance and Middle Ages
Wrote in both Italian and Latin
Famous sonnets—about Laura
One of the earliest and most influential humanists

21. Giovanni Boccaccio Decameron—book of stories
Tragic and comic views of life
Presented characters’ individuality

22. Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince—political guidebook
Addressed the imperfection of humans and that what was morally right was not always politically effective

23. A Woman of Influence Vittoria Colonna
Exchanged sonnets with Michelangelo
Helped Castiglione publish The Courtier

24. Results of Italian Renaissance
New art and literature styles
New values—importance of individual

25. 20. Changes in the Arts Changes in Society
Art drew on techniques and styles of classical Greece and Rome.
Paintings and sculptures portrayed individuals and nature in more realistic and lifelike ways.
Artists created works that were secular as well as those that were religious.
Writers began to use vernacular languages to express their ideas
The arts praised individual achievement.
Printing made information available and inexpensive.
Availability of books promoted increased desire for learning and rise in literacy.
Published accounts of new discoveries, maps, and charts led to further discoveries in variety of fields.
Christian humanists’ attempts to reform society changed views about how life should be lived.
People began to question political structures and religious practices.

26. The Renaissance Spreads North

27. Focus of the Northern Renaissance
The focus of the Renaissance in Northern Europe was more religious
Many sought religious reform and a return of the Church to its true mission and spirituality
Many were highly critical of the worldliness and corruption in the Church and papacy
Northern Renaissance figures believed that education and literacy were key to social and religious reform
Advocated the translation of the scriptures into the vernacular languages

28. Major Historical Events of the Renaissance Period
Age of Exploration (Period of European Expansion)
Protestant Reformation and the Religious Wars
Scientific Revolution- Rise of Modern Science
The Rise of the Modern Nation-state

29. Characteristics of Renaissance Art
Realism
Three-dimensional
Balanced and ordered
Portraits
Landscapes and attention to depictions of nature
Classical style
Depiction of classical themes and stories

31. Humanism: The School of Athens by Raphael - a celebration of classical learning

32. Individualism –Portraits -portraits celebrated the unique qualities and personality of the individual person (two examples by Leonardo da Vinci)

34. Secularism-non-religious Renaissance art often depicted stories and scenes from classical literature

35. Religion remained a major focal point of Renaissance art -The Sistine Chapel-Michelangelo

36. Northern Italian Art

37. Hans Holbein

38. Bruegel