1. The Renaissance Darkness and Light

2. Renaissance Essentials After St.Thomas Aquinas, there were cracks in the unifying culture of Christianity Rebirth of humanism: everything revolved around man again, as in Greece and Rome We have to be educated to be human beings Compass, firearms, printing press

3. Transition from a minimum-level economy to a middle class based on banking/trade Individual can achieve wealth through diligence, innovation, and education Man is now infinitely great and valuable Pico della Mirandola Oration on the Dignity of Man

4. Baldassare Castiglione Renaissance social ideal: poet, scholar The Courtier: nobleness of birth, wit comely shape of person and countenance, grace, capable in arms, ingenuity and loyalty, pleasant, discreet

5. Plotinus – 3 rd Century Egyptian-born neoplatonist Plotinus’s Belief: a mystical union between the individual soul and “the One.” Union achieved by soul’s ascent through levels of spiritual purification Christians’ Modification: substituted “God” for the “One.” Christians: Soul is eternal

6. Marsilio Ficino, Humanist Philosopher Translated Plato’s writings into Latin (after fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Turks 1453) Platonic Academy in Florence (Cosimo financed, Ficino led) “Platonic” (or spiritual) love attracts the soul to God Renaissance painters: spiritual love inspired by physical beauty led to beautiful paintings

13. Ficino: “She was the very embodiment of “Humanitas…her Soul and mind are Love and Charity, her eyes Dignity and Magnanimity, the hands Liberality and Magnificance, the feet Comeliness and Modesty. The whole, then, is Temperance and Honesty, Charm and Splendor”

16. Titian, Venus of Urbino, 1538-1539 Oil on Canvas. 3 ft. 11 in. x 5 ft. 5 in