The European Renaissance Chapter 17 Section 1 1350- mid 16 th century
Causes of the Renaissance During the Late middle ages, Europe suffered from both war and plague. Those who survived need something to live for, to make them happy again. They wanted to celebrate the life and the human spirit Also following the crusades, trade opened back up through the Mediterranean Sea
European Renaissance (1300-1600s): Renaissance means rebirth, rebirth of ideas and culture reminiscent of Greece & Rome Started in Italy
Why Italy? 1. Thriving cities 2. A wealthy merchant class 3. Classical heritage of Greece and Rome
Florence, Italy main Italian city-state where Renaissance began (think Hollywood, CA) Became wealthiest city-state due to wool production in the 1300 s Had a republic form of government Renaissance ideas spread from Italy to other European locations Crusades re-opened up trade in the Mediterranean Sea
Renaissance Political Importance: Florence was an independent city-state with a republican form of government. The republic was controlled by wealthy merchants and artisans making it an ideal place to do business. -ex: The Medici Family-The development of the financial institutions of Florence was orchestrated by the Medici family who established a bank in Florence with branches in Flanders, London and other cities of Italy. The Medici bank made major advances in financial services including checking accounts and lending. Economic Importance: Guilds regulated trade and manufacturing to ensure economic benefit and limited risk for members. -The vast wealth held by the residents of Florence funded major cultural developments in art and architecture. -traded w/ Byzantine & Islamic Empires, England & the Netherlands
Social Importance: time of recovery from Black Plague & political instability Italian thinkers emphasized humanism Humanism: focus on importance of the individual & positive human qualities The Renaissance put more emphasis on the work and worth of the individual Renaissance
Renaissance Man During this period Renaissance writers introduced the idea that all educated people were expected to create art. In fact, the individual should strive to excel in almost every area of study. Someone who excels in multiple fields/ has many talents is considered a Renaissance Man He should be charming, witty, and well educated in the classics. He should dance, sing, play music, and write poetry. In addition he should be a skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman! Modern Day examples Will Smith Justin Timberlake Who else can you think of?
To Sum it Up: The Renaissance Started for these reasons Increased trade with Asia and other regions Growth of large, wealthy city-states in Italy Renewed interest in the classical learning of ancient Greece and Rome Rise of rich and powerful merchants, who became patrons of the arts Increased desire for scientific and technical knowledge Desire to beautify cities
What helped spread these A German blacksmith by the name of Johannes Gutenburg introduced movable-type printing to Europe. ideas? Effects: It played a key role in the expansion of written works during the age of the Renaissance increased an interest in learning to read. Made books more affordable
Heroes in a Half Shell When you think Renaissance artists think of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because they were named after them. Michelangelo Donatello Leonardo Raphael They were sculptors, poets, architects and painters
Most of the work was commissioned by the church and was limited to the depiction of scenes from the bible. Most was considered elementary and simple. Medieval art During the Medieval period sculpture and painting were considered the work of tradesman.
Renaissance Art School of Athens painted by Raphael
Madonna in a Meadow- Raphael St. John the Baptist- da Vinci
Focuses of Renaissance Art Classical- found inspiration in the Greek and Roman use of realism Religion- images of infant Jesus with mother Maryknown as Madonna (medieval Italian for My Lady ); shows importance of religion during the Renaissance The individual- time of selfies portrayed the importance of individuals not just kings and Jesus and conveyed the beauty of human emotions Beauty- detailed designs, scenery, shading, use of light and shadows
Donatello Raphael Made sculptor more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions that reveal personality. Younger than Michelangelo and Leonardo Considered the greatest sculptor before Michelangelo Famous for his use of perspective-shows 3 dimensions on a flat surface
Original Renaissance Man Expert in painting, sculpting, engineering, physics, anatomy, etc. Interested in how things worked He studied the human body and how it works and then incorporated his findings into his art. Thought of many inventions that couldn t actually be built until the 20 th century Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci Most famous works of art: Mona Lisa The Last Supper The Vitruvian Man
Michelangelo The Sistine Chapel David Renaissance artist Best known for idealized paintings & sculptures of the human form Created human images to reflect the divine beauty of God
Sistine Chapel Official residence of the Pope in Vatican City Michelangelo painted 12,000 sq. feet of the chapel ceiling from 1508-1512 Originally the ceiling was painted blue with gold stars Michelangelo was originally intimidated by the whole thing and preferred to decline- he considered himself more of a sculptor than a painter
It took Michelangelo 4 years to complete the Sistine Chapel
I've already grown a goiter (swelling in the neck) from this torture, hunched up here like a cat in Lombardy (or anywhere else where the stagnant water's poison). My stomach's squashed under my chin, my beard's pointing at heaven, my brain's crushed in a casket, my breast twists like a harpy's. My brush,above me all the time, dribbles paint so my face makes a fine floor for droppings! My haunches are grinding into my guts, my poor ass strains to work as a counterweight, every gesture I make is blind and aimless. My skin hangs loose below me, my spine's all knotted from folding over itself. I'm bent taut as a Syrian bow. Because I'm stuck like this, my thoughts are crazy, perfidious tripe: anyone shoots badly through a crooked blowpipe. My painting is dead. Defend it for me, Giovanni, protect my honor. I am not in the right place I am not a painter. -Michelangelo to a friend 1509
Some theorists think the scene also contains the unmistakable outline of a human brain, formed by the angels and robes surrounding God. They believe that Michelangelo meant to evoke God s bestowal of intelligence on the first human.
review
Review Time 1. How did Italy s cities help make it the birthplace of the Renaissance? 2. What does it mean to be a Renaissance man? 3. What are the main characteristics of Humanism? 4. Give me one cause of the Renaissance.