Post on 18-Jan-2016
Renaissance 1300-Renaissance 1300-16501650The Birth of Venus, 1486, Botticelli
Renaissance in Italy• Renaissance means “rebirth” from
the disorder & disunity of the medieval world
• Began in Italy & lasted approx. from 1300 to 1650
• Interest in Greek/Roman culture
• Why Italy?
• Center of the Roman Empire
• Center of European/Asian trade
• Wealthy, powerful merchant class promoted cultural rebirth -the Medici & Borgia families
Changes in how people viewed themselves:
New worldview – Focus on human experience/achievement instead of life after death
Spirit of Adventure – Curiosity to explore new worlds; Christopher Columbus and Nicholas Copernicus
Humanism – Study of worldly subjects and the classics instead of only religious issues; (grammar, rhetoric, poetry & history) most famous – Francesco Petrarch
The Arts New Expressions
Artwork portrayed religious figures but backdrops were Greek & Roman
Artwork depicted well-known figures of the time - reflected individual achievement
New Styles Perspective, shading, study of anatomy and live
models
Architecture Abandoned Gothic style – too cluttered New styles used columns, arches & domes (like
the Roman built Pantheon)
Renaissance Artists
Raphael St. Peter’s Cathedral (unfinished) Architect & painter
Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa, The Last Supper Studied botany, anatomy, optics,
music architecture & engineering
Michelangelo Sistine Chapel, Statue of David, St.
Peters Basilica Sculptor, engineer, painter, architect
& poet
Leonardo da Vinci
Michelangelo
Raphael
Italian Renaissance Writers Baldassare Castiglione – The Book of the Courtier
“How to” handbook for aspiring & ambitious men & women on skills, manners & virtues a member of the Court should have
Men – athletic, musical, knows literature & history Women – graceful, kind, lively yet reserved
Niccolo Machiavelli – The Prince “How to” book on
leadership The end justifies the
means Do whatever necessary
to achieve goals