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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. “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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

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

13. Byzantine or Renaissance?

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

15. David

16. Sistine Chapel

17. God Creates Adam

18. The Last Judgment (On Altar Wall)

19. Helping People Climb to Paradise

20. St. Bartholomew with Flayed Skin
Self-Portrait of Michelangelo

21. Trying to Go to Paradise…

22. Being Pulled Toward Hell

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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