RENNAISSANCE

1. RENNAISSANCE 15th century to 17th century A.D. characterized by humanism, three-dimensionality, return to ancient culture and Christian ideas Short version

2. Remember the beauty of the Greek and Roman sculpture

3. I remember, I saw them close in Italy.

4. The world went from the expression of idealized beauty of Greek sculpture and the realism of Roman sculpture to the symbolic and decorative (?) art of the Middle Ages.

5. What is the Renaissance? THE ”REBIRTH” OF CIVILIZATION AFTER 1000 YEARS OF THE MIDDLE AGES ALSO REFERED TO AS THE DARK AGES. The Renaissance refers to this rebirth of classical learning and knowledge and to the ensuing rebirth of European culture.

6. WHY Did It Happen? The Black Plague theoryfor the rise of the Renaissance In the 14th Century, it is estimated that up to one-third or more of the population of Europe died of the plague. • The plague was indiscriminate; it affected kings and serfs, priests and peasants, the pious and the sinful. • Fervent Christian beliefs did provided protection from it. • This led people to think more about life rather than the afterlife. During the Middle (Dark) Ages the people of Europe believed their time on earth was to prove there worth for entering heaven. Their emphasis was more on the hereafter than the here and now.

7. This led to a growth of learning about the world around them. • Which created the intellectual climate for the emergence of Humanism- the interest in man and his relationship with the world around him. • Humanists recreated classical styles in art, literature, and architecture. Humanists believed that by studying the classics, they could understand people and the world better. • The humanists emphasized the importance of human values instead of religious beliefs. Renaissance humanists were often devout Christians, but their promotion of secular, or non-religious, values often put them at odds with the church.

8. The rediscovering of Ancient Knowledge • As the knowledge of Greek declined during the transition to the Middle Ages, the Latin West found itself cut off from its Greek philosophical and scientific texts roots. • After the plague there was a shortage of manpower and goods …. so they had to trade with the larger world • While trading with the east they (mostly Italians) rediscovered that the Arab and Jewish scholars had preserved and translated the writings of the ancient Greeks (into Arabic with commentaries) in their libraries. (such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates) This rediscovered knowledge created the intellectual climate for the emergence of Humanism- the interest in man and his relationship with the world around him.

9. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg (1450s) spread the new knowledge to the common man • New Inventions- invention of more sophisticated and practical scientific and nautical instruments. • Also ancient sculptures were also rediscovered ..some in caves, some discovered by Italians excavating ancient statues in their local towns many of them damaged

10. What else was going on at this time • About 1450, Age of Exploration- explorers like: Bartholomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus-this was the beginning of the Age of Exploration.- search of knowledge • As well as wars, the inquisition and lots of infighting between countries and the city states in Italy.

11. Sounds lovely this must have been a peaceful time….NOT !City-states in Italy-Where the Renaissance started. • Northern Italy was divided into a number of warring city-states, the most powerful being Milan, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Genoa, Ferrara, and Venice. • Northern Italy was further divided by the long running battle for supremacy between the forces of the Papacy and of the Holy Roman Empire. Each city aligned itself with one faction or the other, yet there was internal divisions within the cities. They used mercenaries. • There were also wars with France (supporter of the Emperor) 1494 • The Sack of Rome by Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V 1527.(Spanish German troops) • It was a time of the bloody Inquisition of the marranos and Jews of Spain 1478-92

12. Emergence of the wealthy merchant • Italy became the centre of the trade between Europe and The East (remember Marco Polo) • Wealthy families (usually merchants/successful businessmen and bankers) and the church had amassed enough wealth • How do they nouveau rich impress others with their new wealth- elaborate houses, jewelry, parties (think the masquerade party in Romeo and Juliet) and commissioning art, art and more art. • They became patrons of the arts, and hired the best of the best- the emergence of celebrity artists instead of anonymous craftsmen

13. Florence and the Patrons • Florence, located in the hill country of north-central Italy, prospered because of the wool industry. During most of the Renaissance, wealthy merchants dominated Florence. • The Medicis- In the 15th century, the leading families of Florence decided they needed a strong person in charge to lead them against the growing threat of rival cities. They chose Cosimo de Medici, a wealthy banker, to take control of the government (the original business of the Medicis was pharmaceuticals which are reflected in their coat fo arms). Cosimo maintained the appearance of republican government, but he appointed his relatives and people he could control to important positions. When Cosimo died in 1464, his son and grandson continued his policies.

14. Points to Remember • flourishing of artistic and scientific activities beginning in Italy in the mid 1300s • The rise of the individual (The great invention of the Italian Renaissance was the creation of the "individual," the notion that human experiences and abilities should not be trivialized but in fact celebrated—that man was, in fact, "the measure of all things.)" • a reconnection of the west with classical antiquity • the absorption of knowledge: mathematics, science- (Copernicus and the Heliocentric Universe-1514 ) and Inventions (Gutenberg’s printing press-1448) • The awakening of a desire for beauty • Start of the age of exploration • a focus on the importance of living well in the present

16. Art is going to evolve bringing back the beauty, proportions and realism of the classics. Retro Greek/Roman art with a modern humanistic twist The following slides illustrate the evolution from Gothic art to Early Renaissance.

17. Cimabue Gothic-Madonna of Sana Trinita GIOTTO • 1280 Byzantine- • gold background (symbol of heavenly light) • Flat chair • All the angels have the same faces and the prophets have the same faces -they play the same role • Modonna face not natural (looks like an alien) • An artist from Florence named Giotto was one of the first to paint in this new style. Giotto lived more than a century before the beginning of the Renaissance, but his paintings show real emotion. The faces are more individual and realistic. The bodies look solid( more shading as well), and the background of his paintings shows perspective. The art produced during the Renaissance would build upon Giotto’s style. Giotto was an apprentice to Cimbue Madonna-1310

18. Student beats the Master

20. Gentile Da Fabriario-Adoration of the Maji 1423 3mx 2.8m-Tempra on wood • Painted for the Strozzi family, another merchant family in Florence (textiles) and rivals of Medici. Strozzi was exiled from Florence by Cosimo Meici. • Fabriario lived three years in of the Strozzi’s houses while painting this commission (remember the artists worked for commission, they had little say in the subject manner). • The painting is very vibrant with real gold and silver in a relief form ( this image does not do it justice). Carved plaster would first be placed on the painting, then gold leaved. The painting would happen after.

21. Landscape is painted • Realistic- real animals • Depth- spatial perspective and some lineal perspective • Mary is in blue- shows importance, blue was made from ground Lapis Luzure from Afghanistan-extremely expensive • Commissioned by Strozzi so the Magi are wearing the rich clothes from their company (a very expensive ad- you want to be important enough to meet the Virgin Mary wear Strozzi fabrics) • The artist is looking forward, and the patron is beside him holding a bird

23. Paolo Uccello : Battle of San Romano, c. 1455, tempera on wood, 3.2 x 1.8 m, National Gallery, London. • Where the Florentines beat the Duke of Milan (fighting between city-states) • Use of Perspective and Foreshortening

24. Paolo Uccello : Battle of San Romanoc. 1438, tempera on wood, 2.2 x 1.8 m, Uffizi Gallery, Florence. Commisioned by Cosimo Medici

26. Flippo Lippi (what a character) • Parents died when he was young and he was brought up by his aunt from the ages of 2- 8 years old • She couldn’t handle him so she sent him off to the monastery to become a monk • It is also said that-Early on he was captured by Moors whilst out boating and sold into slavery in Africa, then later freed and returned to Italy • He was not a very good monk- he had many, many, girlfriends • But he was an excellent artist, but he could not stick to it (ADD?). Cosimo (the elder) Medici commissioned a painting by Flippo it took hem 7 years • Once Cosimo locked him in his room for days but he climbed out of the window using sheets to visit his love- Lucrezia Buti (who was also a nun) • It’s said they had two children together

27. Coronation of the Virgin – 1439-47 Filippo Lippi and Assistance John the Baptist-patron saint of Florence and chosen personal saint of the patron (always wears fur) The bored Monk is Flippo, bored of the painting, what else? This was the patron- he died before Flippo finished so he looks dead-it reads in latin- “He finished the work” We’re suppose to be looking att he Virgin Mary above, but we are drawn to the woman looking at us on the bottom right (also many angels are looking at her- that’s Lucrezia Buti, his lover (also wearing the same colours as Mary)

28. Filippo Lippi- Madonna with Child and Two Angels-1465 Belief that the young woman is Lucrezia , the num scandalously loved by the friar/painter, who gave him a daughter and a son (it has been suggested the little boy angel is Filipino who grew up to be a famous painter himself) Notice how they are stepping out from the frame Very delicate composition The background (painting within a painting) seems to anticipate the future expressive landscapes of Leonardo da Vinci

29. Fashionable look in the Renaissance Duke and Duchess of Urbino 1472 (realism of Rome-Humanism) Piero della Francesca • High forehead (plucked or shaved hairline • Blonde hair (dyed hair using________) • Pale skin (the high class did nto work in the field) used white makeup with______ • She was unusually pale because she was already dead and he was using her death mask

30. Andrea Mantega- Dead Christ (c. 1490Tempera on canvas, 68 x 81 cm, Milan • He used extreme foreshortening. (Parts get smaller as the recede in space) • Looking in we see an almost monstrous spectacle: a heavy corpse, seemingly swollen by the exaggerated foreshortening. At the front are two enormous feet with holes in them; as well as the nail holes in the hands; on the left, some tear-stained, staring masks. • Strong realism-the wrinkled face of Christ

31. Sandro Botticelli- Florentine painter neglected for centuries but now probably the best-loved painter of the Early Renaissance. Sandro trained with Filippo Lippi, who was the most important influence on his style. By temperament he belonged to the current of late 15th-century art whose art sometimes bordering on sentimentality, a feminine grace, and an emphasis on the ornamental and evocative capabilities of line.

32. Adoration of the Maji- 1475 1.11m x 1.34 m

33. Who’s who- If you’re a Medici your’re good enough to meet the Holy Family (remember the Strozzi’s commissioned artwork on the same theme) 1.  Lorenzo the Magnificent 2.  Poliziano 3.  Pico della Mirandola 4.  Gaspare Lami (a broker who footed the bill) 5.  Cosimo the Elder 6.  Piero the Gouty (Lorenzo's Dad) 7.  Guiliano de' Medici  (Lorenzo's younger brother, later murdered in the Pazzi Conspiracy) 8.  Giovanni de' Medici (younger brother of Piero the Gouty) 9.  Filippo Strozzi 10.  Joannis Argiropulos 11.  Sandro Botticelli 12.  Lorenzo Tornabuoni

34. Botticelli-PrimeveraUffizi Gallery Florence(1481-82)- Tempra on wood 2.0 m x 3.1 m

35. Mercury- herald of Jove- symbol of knowledge-wisking away the clouds of winter Cupid- blidfolded god of Love Winged Zephyrus who chased and possessed the nymph Chloris and them married her giving her the gift of germinating flowers Smiling figure – transformation of Chloris into Flora, the Roman goddess of Spring Venus as a symbol of spring, being adorned with the flowers of the three Graces Three Graces- may be a symbol of Liberality • Example of the Roman/Greek culture on the Renaissance- not a Christian related theme • It’s seen as the return to a golden age in Florence

37. Botticelli- Birth of Venus (1482)- Tempra on canvas 1.8 m x 2.8 m • Scene based on traditional mythology. The god of the winds, Zephyr, and the breeze Aura are in a tight embrace, and are gently driving Venus towards the shore with their breath. She is standing naked on a golden shining shell, which reaches the shore floating on rippling waves. There, a Hora of Spring is approaching on the tips of her toes, in a graceful dancing motion, spreading out a magnificent cloak for her. More creative than realistic, she looks more like a statue. • Pastel colours (added white alabaster to paint) SERENE and GRACEFUl

38. Sculpture- Donatello (the first of our Ninja Turtles) • Donatello’s bronze "David" is believed to be the first free-standing nude statue since Greco-Roman times. • Almost Life size (1.6 m) • "David's" stance suggests a new self-awareness of his physical form a combination of classic style and renaissance expression (pride, dignity) • Symbolizes the victory of the small and self sufficient against the brute force of the larger opponents • Sculpted in the Greek’s contraposta style (the weight of the on one leg, the shoulders and the hips counterbalanced each other in a natural way so the figure does not fall over). • David (1430-1432)- Bronze

39. Architecture- (or Mrs. Amor’s trip to Florence) The Cathedral or Duomo of Florence as we see it today is the end result of years of work that covered over six centuries of history..

40. Its basic architectural project was designed and constructed at the end of the 13th century; the cupola that has made it a symbol for the whole of Florence was created by that genius of the Renaissance, Filippo Brunelleschi, while the facade that completed it was carried out as late as the late 19th century

45. The Baptistery The origins of the temple dedicated to St. John the Baptist, later patron saint of the city, are still uncertain. According to tradition, it was founded in Roman times and dedicated to the god Mars. The Bell Tower

46. Gates of Paradise (on the Baptistery door) • Lorenzo Ghiberti- (1425-52) • All panels depict stories of the Christian Old testament or Jewish Bible (Torah) (some are in the Koran as well) • gilded cast bronze, each panel of the doors is about 79.4 cm square • This sculpture employs linear perspective, differences in figure size, overlapping, and varying depths of relief, to create the illusion of great space. • The panels show clearly the brilliant modeling technique and perfect perspective, so that the figures stand out against the architectural background and the work seems almost a painting in bronze.

47. Issac

48. What you should note • Why the Renaissance happened • Emergence of the patron and the artist • How you recognise Renaissance art- realism, rediscovery of beauty, etc. • Subject matter- religious, mythology, bit of historical, portraits • New Techniques- perspective, foreshortening, depth • Old techniques rediscovered- free standing sculpture, contraposta • Artists- Botticelli, Donatello (but I love Flippo Lippi- what a guy)