Highlights of the RenaissanceHighlights of the Renaissance

Refer to 259-277Refer to 259-277

Course of the RenaissanceCourse of the Renaissance

Began in ItalyDirectly related to trade-interaction

Bankers and merchants became patrons to artists

Medici familyPromoted learning and the artsLorenzo de Medici the Magnificent

Primarily an Italian movement until 1600, traveled to Germany, England, France and Netherlands

Thought and Literature

Italian Humanist WritersFlorence, Italy

Center of culture, arts

Writers, painters, sculptors, architects

Northern Humanist WritersGreater interest in religious matters

Church reform, gave interest to Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament

Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374)

Son of a Florentine merchantWent to law school, but was interested in classical literatureFound ancient manuscripts in church librariesComposed his own Latin poemsExpressive of emotion and interestWrote about nature, pride in his homeland, and love for LauraKnown as “Father of Humanism”

He for celestial charms may look in vain

Who has not seen my fair one’s radiant eyes,

And feel their glances pleasingly beguile.

How can Love heal his wounds, then would again,

He only knows who knows how sweet her sighs,

How sweet her conversation, and how sweet her smile

Baldassare Castiglione (1478-1529)

Wrote on etiquette (social manners)

The CourtierDescribes the ideal Renaissance gentleman

Strong character, well

educated, courageous,

courteous

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

Diplomat for Florentine Republic

The PrinceReflection on the political atmosphere of the day

Advocated leadership that was

practical over moral

“Might makes right”

Promoted the concept of the

secular state

Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536)

Advocate for reform of the Church

Critic of monasticism, the ignorance and worldliness of clergy, and empty ritualism

Wanted the Scripture to be available for everyone

Erasmus’s Greek New Testament

Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)

Close friend of Erasmus

Very devout and pious

Utopia (means “nowhere”)Story of an imaginary state built upon Christian principles and Plato’s philosophy

Beliefs on proper governance—community and love

Miguel de Cervantes (1549-1616)

Spanish

Don Quixote» Satire on chivalry and Spanish

custom

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

English; considered best playwright of all time

154 sonnets and 38 plays

Incredible effect on culture

and national pride

The Visual ArtsThe Visual Arts

Drew their inspiration from the Classical world

Renaissance art was different than Medieval art in the following ways:

1. Symbolized present physical world

2. Secular patronage

3. Artists pursued personal fame

4. Realism

5. Secular subject matter

6. Painting and sculpture were most popular media

Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337)

“Father of Renaissance Painting”

First to make paintings more natural feeling

Made frescos

Masaccio (1401-1428)

Added new technique

to painting: Shading

Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510)

Added movement to his art by means of bold lines and wispy garments, flowing hair, etc.

Pagan themes of classical mythology

Was converted to Christianity

High Renaissance Painters

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)“Renaissance Man”

Raphael (1483-1520)Painted peaceful and joyous scenes

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)Most famous painter in history

Leonardo da Vinci

Proficient sculptor, architect, painter, musician, poet, and scientist

Trained in Florence

Moved to Milan

The Last SupperShows his love for perspective

The Last Supper (1498) – Da VinciThe Last Supper (1498) – Da Vinci

The Mona Lisa (1506) – Da VinciThe Mona Lisa (1506) – Da Vinci

Raphael (1483-1520)Raphael (1483-1520)

Learned to paint from his father (a court painter) at a young age

Idealized, sweet-faced Madonnas

Expressed the peace and joys of life

School of Athens – displays balance, harmony, perspective

The School of Athens (1510) - RaphaelThe School of Athens (1510) - Raphael

Michelangelo

Had unusual skill even as a young boy

Lorenzo de Medici took him in as his own son

Commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - 1512Commissioned by Pope Julius II

Four years of work on scaffolding

Depicts the story of humanity’s creation, fall, the Flood, and redemption

The Last Judgment (1541)Depicts judgment of wicked and righteous by Jesus

Expresses Michelangelo’s resentment for the Pope

Flayed skin of Bartholomew

Oarsmen to hell

Venetian PaintersVenetian Painters

Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) 1477-1576

Leader of the Venetian School of Painting

One of the foremost painters of the Renaissance

Rich user of color, known for portraits

Captured personality of subjects

Salome – Titian

Tintoretto (1518-1594)

“Little dyer”

Sought to combine bright colors of Titian and the masterful drawing of Michelangelo.

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1575

Northern European Artists

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)“Leonardo of the North” – German

Accomplished in writing, designing, engraving, painting

First “notherner” to travel to Italy to study Renaissance art

Interest in nature, classical, and religious themes

Melancholia I (1514)

Self-Portrait (1500)

Hans Holbein the Younger (1479-1543

German

Traveling portraitist

Jan van Eyck (1370-1440)Flemish (from Belgium)

Very detail-oriented, progression in realism

The Arnolfini Portrait (1534)

Pieter Brueghel (1525-1569)Distinct style of art known for its realism, landscapes, and scenes of everyday life

Biblical events set in Flanders

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (1558)

Netherlandish Proverbs - 1559