The Renaissance

What is the significance of the Renaissance?

Renaissance

“Rebirth” does not mean that there was a lack of learning during the middle ages that was “reborn” between 1350 and 1550

“Rebirth” does not mean that Renaissance society experienced a rebirth of classical learning and paganism

Renaissance personalities loved classical learning but this love did not replace their Christian beliefs

There was no single Renaissance position on anything

Distinguishing trends of the Renaissance

Rediscovery Works of Roman thinkers such as Livy and Tacitus Recovery of classical Greek literature, especially Plato and Aristotle Mastery of Greek language and Greek literary heritage

Renaissance scholars used classical texts in ways that were new More aware of the conceptual gap between their own world view and

the world view of classical authors Recognized similarities between ancient city-states and Italian city-

statesRenaissance culture was more worldly and overtly

materialistic than medieval culture Importance of urban political arena Importance of living well in this world Increasing weakness of the Church in political arena

Renaissance Humanism

A program of studies intended to replace the 13th and 14th century emphasis on logic and metaphysics with the study of language, literature, rhetoric, history and ethics

Focus on classical Latin and GreekFocus on producing virtuous citizens and able

public officials rather than securing salvation and protecting the Church

Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

Italy was most advanced urban society in Europe

Italian aristocracy lived in urban centers not rural castles More fully involved in urban public affairs Less distinguished from the wealthy merchant class Urban aristocrats engaged in commerce and banking

activities Urban merchants imitated the manners and lifestyles

of the aristocratsDemand for education to further commercial

interests Lay educators rather than clergy Produced learned treatises on politics and ethics

Petrarch: The Father of Renaissance Humanism (1304-1374)

Petrarch & Christian Humanism

Scholasticism is misguided for concentrating on abstract speculation rather than on teaching people who to live virtuously and gain salvation

Cultivate literary eloquence to inspire people to do good

Italian Sonnets Focus on contemplation

Petrarch Sonnet No. 134 (translated by Anthony Mortimer)

I find no peace, yet I am not at warI fear and hope, I burn and freeze;I rise to heaven, and fall to earth’s floorGrasping at nothing, the world I seize

She imprisons me, who neither jails nor freesNor keeps me for herself, nor slips the noose;Love does not kill, nor set me free,Love takes my life, but will not set me loose.

I have not eyes, yet see, no tongue, yet scream;I long to perish, and seek release;I hate myself, and love another.

I feed on grief, and in my laughter week;Both death and life displease me;Lady, because of you, I suffer.

Civic Humanists

Leonardo Bruni(1370-1444)

Leon BatistaAlberti (1404-1472)

Bruni and Alberti

Man’s nature equipped him for action Usefulness to family and society Serving the state

Ambition and quest for glory are noble impulses

Refused to condemn striving for material posessions

Alberti, On the Family Nuclear family instituted by nature for well-being of

humanity Women’s place is to “increase and continue

generations” and nourish children Similar to Greek views on women’s place in society

Neoplatonism

Platonic Academy founded by Cosimo de’ Medici in Florence Byzantine scholars and Italian scholars focused on

works of Plato, ancient mysticism and Christianity Marisilio Ficino (1433-1499)

translated all of Plato’s works to Latin Pico della Miradnola (1463-1494)

Oration on the Dignity of Man: there is “nothing more wonderful than man.”

Man is endowed with the ability to achieve union with God

Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

The Prince

Reflects the unstable political conditions in Italy at the time he wrote it Invasions by France and Spain Internal dissension and competition of Italian city-

states 1498 prominent official in Florentine Republic

established when the French deposed the Medici family Attempt by Cesare Borgia (Son of Pope Alexander VI)

to create his own principality 1512 Medici’s returned to power and Machiavelli is

dismissed

Machiavellian Advice to Rulers

A prince’s actions must be judged by their consequences not by their moral quality

Human beings are “ungrateful, fickle and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers and avid for gain.”

Necessity of preserving the state will often compel a prince to act in ways that are the opposite of “loyalty, charity, humanity and religion.”

Stick to the path of good as far as a prince is able but know how to follow evil

Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy

Praised the constitutional form of governmentEquality among citizensPolitical independence for city-statesSubordination of religion to the service of the

stateSome view this as contradicting views

expressed in The Prince Are these views contradictory? Can these views be reconciled?

3 perspectives on Machiavelli

Machiavelli endorsed princely tyranny for its own sake, amoral, interested in power only

Italian patriot who saw tyranny as the only way to liberate Italy from its foreign conquerors

Follower of St. Augustine who understood that in a fallen world a ruler’s good intentions do not guarantee that his policies will have good results

The Ideal of the Courtier

Baldassare Castiglione(1478-1529)

The Book of the Courtier

The qualities of a Renaissance Man Master all skills of medieval warrior Physical proficiency of a champion athlete Possess the refinements of a humanistic education

Latin and Greek, vernacular Familiar with the classics Speak and write well Compose verse Draw Play musical instrument

Sprezzatura – air of nonchalance

Principal Characteristics of Italian Renaissance Art

Chicaroscuro Effects of light and shade

Anatomy and proportions of human bodyLinear perspectiveOpened art to non-religious themes and

subjects Reveal hidden mysteries of the soul Appeal primarily to intellect Delight the eye

Introduction of oil painting

Masaccio (1401-1428)

Masaccio, Trinity, 1425-1428,Fresco, Santa Maria Novella,Florence, Italy

The Tribute Money

Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

The Birth of Venus

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper

Virgin of the Rocks

High Renaissance

Venetian School Reflected pleasure-loving life of merchants in Venice Appealed to senses by painting idyllic landscapes Portraits of the rich and powerful Subordinated form and meaning to color and elegance

Rome Center of High Renaissance in 1st half of 16th century

Raphael (1483-1520) Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Michelangelo, Jacopino del Conte

Renaissance Sculpture

Free-standing statues in the round 1st time since antiquity Established sculpture as a separate and potentially

secular art formDonatello, DavidMichelangelo, David

The Pieta, Descent from the Cross Experimented with mannerisms for communicating mood

Two Davids

The Pieta

Descent from the Cross

High Renaissance (1490-1520)

Center shifted from Florence to RomePapal undertaking to restore the ancient city

Use of indulgences to do so sparked the Protestant Reformation

Pope Julius II commissioned Donato Bramante to rebuild Saint Peter’s Cathedral

Harmonious design Tempietto San Pietro Andrea Palladio Villa Rontunda

Tempietto San Pietro

Villa Rotunda

The Waning of the Italian Renaissance

French invasion of 1494Constant warfare1527 Charles V of Spain invaded and sacked

RomeGradual shifting of trade routes from

Mediterranean to the Atlantic Region cost Italy its supremacy in trade

Counter-Reformation 1542 Roman Inquisition 1564 Roman Index of Prohibited Books

Northern Renaissance

Christian Humanism Sought ethical guidance from Biblical and religious

precepts Challenged Roman Catholic Church traditions &

hypocrisy Desiderius Erasmus Sir Thomas Moore

Both men wanted to challenge and reform the Roman Catholic Church, not leave it

Desiderius Erasmus & Christian Humanism

Criticized wealth, “worldliness” and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church

Learn Latin, Greek and Hebrew Bible teachings of the early church

fathers Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam

(1466-1536) Return to basic teachings of

Christ Criticized dogma and ritual Translated New Testament

from Greek Erasmus’s New Testament

was the source for vernacular editions of the New Testament

Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)

Appointed Lord Chancellor of England in 1529

Utopia (1516)Ideal communityCritique of excesses

Refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church of England

Executed in 1535

Decline of Christian Humanism

Supplanted by the ReformationSupplanted by the Rise of Lutheran, Calvinist

and Anglican Churches

Alfred Durer (1471-1528)

Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance

Italian Renaissance More secular More urban Still fervent Christianity Conclusions reached

by greatest minds of antiquity are compatible with Christianity

Northern Renaissance Focused on reforming

Roman Catholic Church Christian Humanism Less urban Still fervent Christianity Conclusions reached

by greatest minds of antiquity and Church fathers are compatible with each other and Christianity