1. Aim: What were the greatest achievements of the Italian Renaissance?
The renaissance was the rebirth of Western Europe (15th – 16th centuries). At the end of the Middle Ages, Europeans looked to the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome for inspiration in art, literature, science, and philosophy.
I need to wake up!

2. I How did the Renaissance begin?
The renaissance began in the Italian city-state of Florence.
1. Ancient Roman ruins were a reminder of ancient Rome.
2. Florence and Venice developed trade empires in the Middle Ages.
3. The Medici family were powerful Florentine bankers. They used their wealth to finance art, infrastructure, libraries, and astronomical observatories!
4. Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1445  faster spread of ideas.
Lorenzo de Medici

3. The Italian City-States During the Renaissance

4. II Humanism
Humanism was a philosophy that was the heart of the Renaissance. Humanists believed that humans are rational and moral.
Studied classical art and literature (ancient Greek and Roman)
Believed in a well-rounded education, including the arts, science, history, and philosophy.
Religion was still important, but art and literature can also focus on secular (non-religious) themes
Petrarch is the “Father of Humanism”.
It is important “… to read what our forerunners have written and to write what later generations may wish to read…and to hand them down to our grandchildren as objects of veneration…”

5. III Renaissance Art vs. Medieval Art
Religious in theme
Some Renaissance art was religious, but often painted in a classical style (similar to ancient Greek or Roman art).
Flat (2-D).
Used perspective (art technique that creates illusion of 3D; making distant objects appear smaller)
People fully clothed. Lacked detail.
Realistic, detailed. Some nudes and portraits made.

6. Name the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

7. IV Italian Renaissance Art
A) Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) Painter, sculptor, engineer, and inventor. Dissected corpses to learn about human anatomy (he secretly dug them up) .

8. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, 15th centrury
Some art historians believe that it was the portrait of Francesco del Giacondo’s wife, a Florentine noble.

9. Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, 1498

10. Last Supper Perspective
vertical
horizontal

11. Leonardo da Vinci’s Vetruvian Man, 1492
Vetruvian Man shows us how Leonardo understood the proportions of the human body.
“Each separate part was a simple fraction of the whole. For example, the head measured from the forehead to the chin was exactly one tenth of the total height, and the outstretched arms were always as wide as the body was tall.” – bbc.com

12. Donatello’s David, 1440
The David by Donatello was the first free form sculpture since Ancient Rome!

13. Michelangelo
Michelangelo was a painter, sculptor, and engineer. He painted the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling between 1508 and 1512, under the patronage of Pope Julius II.

14. Michelangelo’s Pieta, 1499

15. Michelangelo’s David, 1504

16. Michelangelo’s David Continued…

17. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, 1508 - 1512

18. Sistine Chapel Details

19. Sistine Chapel Details

20. Raphael (1483 – 1520)
Self Portrait, 1506

21. Raphael’s School of Athens, 1511

22. Raphael’s School of Athens Details
Plato and Aristotle were great ancient Athenian philosophers. Plato is pointing to the heavens, symbolizing his belief that reality lies beyond the physical world. Aristotle’s hand is towards the earth, as he believed knowledge is gained from observing the physical world.

23. V Italian Renaissance Architecture
Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 – 1436) engineered the largest dome in the world for the Cathedral of Florence.

26. St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome Designed by Michelangelo, dome completed 1590

27. St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

28. VI Machiavelli
Machiavelli was a Florentine diplomat and humanist, wrote The Prince, a guide on how to rule.
“…I say that every prince ought to desire to be considered clement [moderate] and not cruel... Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved?... It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved... Because… friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or nobility of mind… in time of need cannot be relied upon; and men have less scruple [regret] in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which… is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.”

29. Summary Questions Why and how did the Renaissance start in Florence?
a) What was humanism?
b) How was humanism different from western European medieval beliefs?
3. Choose any TWO works of Italian Renaissance art or architecture.
a) List the title and the painter/sculptor/engineer
b) Describe it in some detail. What do you see when you look at it?
c) How do you know that it was made during the Renaissance? (Is it realistic? Is it religious or secular?...)
4. Read the excerpt of Machiavelli’s The Prince. What is his advice? Do you agree with his advice?

30. Key Vocabulary Brunelleschi’s Dome Raphael (The School of Athens)
Donatello (The David)
Renaissance
Humanism
St. Peter’s Basilica
Leonardo da Vinci (Mona Lisa, Last Supper, Vetruvian Man)
Machiavelli (The Prince)
Medici Family
Michelangelo (The David, The Pieta, Sistine Chapel)