Chapter 17: The European

Renaissance and Reformation,

1300-1600

“Living, I despise what melancholy fate

has brought us wretches in these evil years.

Long before my birth time smiled and may again,

for once there was, and yet will be, more joyful days.

But in this middle age time's dregs sweep 'round us, and we bend

beneath a heavy load of vice.

Genius, virtue, glory now have gone, leaving chance and sloth to rule.

Shameful vision this! We must awake or die. “

--- Petrarch

(1304-1374)

The European Renaissance

"Renaissance," French for

"rebirth," describes the

intellectual, artistic, and

economic changes that

occurred in Europe from

1300-1600.

Where did the Renaissance

begin? The European Renaissance

began in northern Italy, and

was based in three

independent cities;

Florence, Venice, and

Milan.

The Renaissance ideas

would eventually spread

into northern Europe as

England and France fought

the 100 years war.

So what caused the Renaissance?

Recovery from the Black Death led to new commercial ventures & economic opportunity

Contact with Muslims in Spain & the Middle East led to revival of classical texts

Increased wealth led to patronage of the arts and learning

The spirit of Renaissance society was secular-worldly, concerned with here and now

HUMANISM Humanism was the intellectual movement based on the

study of classical Greek and Roman art and literature.

Focused on human potential and achievement

Petrarch, the “Father of Humanism”

collected Latin manuscripts and taught

that scholars should analyze the world

around them and not rely solely on faith.

Medieval Art

* Focused on religion

* No nude forms

* No human emotion

* Heavy use of dull colors

* No backgrounds

* No true depth perspective

Here are some examples of art

from the Middle Ages…

Byzantine depiction of Christ

What colors are predominant?What expression does Christ show?

St. Francis of Assisi

Note the expression on the face of

St. Francis.

Medieval Madonna and Child

Another Medieval Madonna and Child

Characteristics of Renaissance Art

►More sophisticated display of the human form (proportion, emotion, appreciation of the body, natural poses, beauty)

► Masaccio – 1427

► “Expulsion from the Garden”

► First nudes since classical times

Characteristics of Renaissance Art

► Use of linear perspective –indicates three dimensions

► Masaccio – “The Trinity”

What you are, I once was; what I am,

you will become.

Artemesia

Gentileschi-

trained with her

father and helped

with his work-

painted pictures

of strong heroic

women.

“Judith Slaying

Holofernes”

Sofonisba

Anguissola-

first woman

artist to gain

an

international

reputation.

“Self-Portrait”

Famous Renaissance Artists:“The Ninja Turtles”

►Donatello c.1386-1466

►Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

►Michelangelo 1475-1564

►Raphael 1483-1520

►Botticelli 1445-1510

Donatello’s David

Leonardo da Vinci Sketches

The Last Supper

► The Mona Lisa – by Leonardo Da Vinci

► Very small painting, only about 12” x 18”.

► The mystery of this woman still exists today.

Michelangelo The Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Michelangelo’s David

Michelangelo’s

Pieta

Located in St. Peter’s Basilica – The Vatican

St. Peter’s Basilica

Raphael’s Self-Portrait

The School of Athens

Plato and Aristotle

Eratosthenes

Two Madonnas by Raphael

La Primavera by Botticelli

“The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli

Northern Renaissance Artists

►Jan Van Eyck c.1390-1441

►Albrecht Durer 1471-1528

►Hans Holbein 1497-1543

►Pieter Brueghel 1525-1569

Jan Van Eyck

c.1390-1441

Wedding Portrait by Van

Eyck

Albrecht Durer “Portrait at 28”

Knight, Death, and Devil

Bunny Rabbit

Hans Holbein

King Henry VIII

Jane Seymour

Anne of Cleves

Catherine Howard

Three of Henry’s wives

Peasant’s Dance by Pieter Brueghel

Peasant’s Wedding

Renaissance Literature

• Previously, writing was done in Latin. Advantage: it was the scholarly language that scholars knew even when their respective local languages were different.

• Disadvantage: the commoners didn’t know it.

• So, authors started writing in the vernacular of their regions.