Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

Italy’s Advantages• The Renaissance began in Italy– Spread through Europe

• From 1300 – 1600• Means rebirth– The revival of art and learning– Hoped to bring back the culture of

classical Greece and Rome• Led to new styles of art and literature• Importance of the individual

Three Advantages of Italy• Thriving cities–Northern Italy had large cities•Vs rest of Europe which was rural

–Wealthy from overseas trade–After the plague, fewer laborers and less business•Merchants pursued other interests, such as art

Merchants and the Medici• Wealthy merchant class developed –Dominated politics–Did not inherit social rank

• City of Florence controlled by powerful banking family, the Medici• Ruled as dictators

Lorenzo de Medici

(aka Lorenzo the Magnificent)

Looking to Greece and Rome• Renaissance scholars wanted to return

to the learning of Greeks and Romans–Inspired by the Roman ruins in Italy–Western scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts that were preserved in monasteries–Christian scholars fled to Rome with Greek manuscripts after Turks conquered Constantinople

Renaissance scholar

Classical and Worldly Values• A new outlook on life and art• Led to humanism, an intellectual

movement that focused on human potential and achievements–Vs. Medieval scholars, who focused on

Christian teaching• Influenced artists and writers to focus on

classical traditions• Subjects of classical learning – history,

literature and philosophy (the “humanities”)

Worldly Pleasures• Humanists believed a person

could enjoy life without offending God• Although most people were

devout Catholics, Renaissance life was secular – concerned with life here and now rather than the spiritual (religious) world• Wealthy people lived lavishly

Patrons of the Arts• Church leaders and wealthy

merchants spent huge amounts of money for art–Became patrons 0f the arts – someone who financially support artists

• Donated art to cities to show how important they were

The Renaissance Man• The ideal individual strove to master every area of study, including creating art–A man who excelled in many fields is a “Renaissance man”–Should be educated in classics, dance, sing, play music and write poetry

The Renaissance Woman

• Upper-class woman should also know the classics• Were expected to inspire art,

but not create it• Little political influence

The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art

• Artistic styles changed–More realistic style copied from

Greeks and Romans–Used new technique of perspective

– showing three dimensions on a flat surface (objects that are further away are smaller)

Use of perspective in Renaissance painting

Medieval painting lacks perspective

Realistic painting and sculpture

• Emphasis on individuals led to paintings of prominent citizens (rather than only religious subjects)• More realistic depiction of human body–Michelangelo – painter

• Sculpture showed people in natural positions and expressions that reveal personality–Donatello – sculptor (“David”)

Painting by Michelangelo1508

Leonardo da Vinci• A Renaissance man: painter,

sculptor, inventor, and scientist• Painted the “Mona Lisa”• Painted “The Last Supper”

Raphael Advances Realism

• Favorite subjects was Madonna and child• Greatest achievement was “The

School of Athens”, showing some Renaissance figures as classical philosophers and their students

“The School of Athens”

A Few Italian Women Painters

• Anguissola – known for her portraits of her sisters and of famous people

• Gentileschi – painted strong, heroic women

Painting by Artemisia Gentileschi

Renaissance Writers Change Literature

• Wrote in vernacular (native language), rather than Latin

• Wrote for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects

• Petrarch – writer considered father of humanism; wrote poetry

• Boccaccio – wrote the Decameron - series of realistic stories – humorous with tragedy and comedy

• Vittoria Colonna – woman writer• Machiavelli – wrote The Prince, explaining how a ruler

should gain and keep power, by sometimes lying or tricking the people for the good of the state