The Renaissance in Italy

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: • 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— • 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 VinciThe 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.

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-religiousRenaissance 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