The Italian The Italian RenaissanceRenaissance

Section 2.6Section 2.6

Definition & Characteristics• French for Rebirth

– Rebirth of what?

• A period of commercial, financial, political, and cultural achievement

• Secular, individualistic, materialistic, humanism, vernacular, civic

• Not anti-religious (especially Northern Renaissance)

• Centered in Florence, Italy

Differences b/t Medieval and Renaissance

1. Glorify God2. Local/Feudal3. Church is

center4. Focus of life5. Run by

Church, Bible oriented

6. Deprived, innately bad

7. Jesus, Saints

1. Glorify man, the individual

2. Monarchs centralize power

3. Secular/material important

4. Important but not center

5. Run by Humanists , secular oriented

6. The paragon of animals

7. Aristotle, Cicero

1.Purpose of Art

2.Politics3.Society4.Religion5.Education6.Man7. Heroes

Medieval Renaissance

City-States• Centrally located

– Gained foothold on desired goods from east during Crusades

– Trade, banking, independence allowed them to prosper

– Merchants used wealth as stepping stone for political power/civic beautification

• Florence– Full of talented citizens– Center of Italian Renaissance– Led by merchant family (The

Medicis) Prelude to Brunellechi’s Dome

Humanism• Literary movement • Rejected medieval traditions for

secular • Leaders of Renaissance• Saw Quattrocento (14th Century)

as golden age• conceptualized idea of ancient,

middle, modern• Wanted to imitate the Ancients• Rejected quiet, contemplative life

for active one• Saw man as paragon, the

measure of all things• Studied grammar, poetry, pagan

history, mathematics, astronomy, music

• Sought to breed well-rounded individual (Renaissance Man)

Art• Commissioned by merchant

class, the church, wealthy• Purpose was

religious>>self-glorification>>urban beautification

• Gradually became more secular

• Naturalism and realism hallmarks

• Human body and individual glorified

• Linear perspective, oil-based paint, developed

• Artists emerge as celebrities

Medieval Weltanschauung

Giotto (1267-1337)

St. Francis Preaching

to the Birds

Donatello (1386-1466)David

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

MichelangeloPieta

Sandro Botticelli 1445-1510Primavera

1482

Raphael (1438-1520)The School of Athens

Discussion Question: How do the works of The Ninja Turtle artists of the Renaissance

as well as Machiavelli’s The Prince and Castiglione’s The

Courtier reflect the zeitgeist of the Renaissance.

Education and Etiquette• Purpose of education was to foster

moral, ethical individuals (especially rulers)– Stressed history, rhetoric, ethics– Foster civic individuals

• Developed secondary education• Castiglione, The Courtier

– A How to be a Gentleman for Dummies book

– Clothes should be neat, movements graceful, be poised, affable, familiar with literature, effortless

– Women should be polite and pleasing to men

Politics• No centralization existed in Italy

– Condottieri= mercenaries who fought for highest paying city-state

– Lack of civic duty, patriotism• Machiavelli- The Prince

– A How to Rule for Dummies book– Rejected what rulers “ought” to do in

favor of what works• The ends justify the means

– Anticipates scientific objectivity– Rulers should keep/break promises, be

merciful/cruel as the situation calls for– Politicians can’t be chained to moral

considerations– Dreamed of an Italy like that of Rome

(citizenry of virtuous, patriotic, citizen-soldiers)