The Renaissance

The Renaissance

The Rise of Humanism in Europe


Renaissance: Main Ideas• Occurred mainly in Italy 1300-1600• Elite movement• Focused mainly on changes in art and

learning• Tendency towards secularism

contrasts religiosity of Middle Ages• 1860- Jacob Burkhardt argues

Renaissance is a distinct break from Medieval life, contemporary historians (Burke) disagree

Major Definitions

• Renaissance French for “rebirth” describes a reawakening or rebirth of interest in the heritage of the classical past

• Classical Past Greece and Rome (500 BC- AD 400)



• Humanism reading and understanding of the writings of the classical past; Rhetoric, poetry, history, politics, and philosophy–Civic humanism (AKA Classical

Humanism or Pagan Humanism) applying humanism to the political life of Italian city-states

–Christian humanism focused on early church writing instead of secular authors


• Individualism in the Renaissance sought great accomplishments and looked for heroes in history

• Virtu the essence of being a person through showing humanist behavior through speech, art, politics, warfare, and seizing opportunity. Virtu is not morality


Renaissance: Causes

• Economic success of Northern Italian city-states from acting as middle men between East and Europe growth of cloth industry and international banking

• Struggles between Papacy and Holy Roman Empire independence of many Italian city-states


• Gov’ts of city-states often competed by supporting artists and scholars who ushered in new ideas

• Northern Italian city-states often built on Roman ruins; Italians felt kinship to the past

• Influx of new ideas from scholars fleeing falling Byzantine Empire

Renaissance Literature

• Dante (1265- 1321) The Divine Comedy describes a journey through hell, purgatory and heaven. Shows that reason will not substitute for faith. Uses strong symbolism. Represents pinnacle of Medieval poetry. Written in Florentine Vernacular.



• Petrarch (1304- 1374) wrote in Latin and Italian; collected and preserved classical texts; helped define classical style; best known for sonnets.–Considered the father of Humanism


• Boccacio (1313-1375) wrote The Decameron a collection of short stories in Italian about young lovers trying to flee the plague. Intended to amuse, not illuminate, the reader


• Castiglione (1478- 1529) The Book of the Courtier defined the qualities necessary for gentlemen; included both intellectual and physical qualities; greatly influenced modern ideas on education and behavior

Renaissance Art

• Broke from the Medieval past in content and technique

• Medieval art was idealized and used for religious purposes

• Though Renaissance art was sometimes religiously themed it focused on secular themes and individuals



Medieval V. Renaissance Art

Medieval Art• Idealized forms used to

educate a population unable to understand concepts

• Utilized pointed arches, flying buttresses, fan vaulting

• Attempted to portray the feeling of God

Renaissance Art• Produced works celebrating

individualistic and non-religious spirit

• Copied classical, esp. Roman forms, arched, domes, columns, and squared angles

• Focused on symmetry, perfection, and balance


New Artistic Techniques

• Linear Perspective• Contrapposto • Chiaroscuro

Giotto

• The Father of Renaissance Painting

• 1266-1336• Used light and shadow to create

depth• 1306 The Pentecost


Donatello

• Father of Renaissance Sculpture• 1386-1466• David was the first full size bronze

sculpture since antiquity• Utilized contrapposto


Masaccio

• 1401-1428• Emphasized naturalism in The

Expulsion of Adam and Eve by depicting realistic human nudes in three dimensions and expressing emotions


Leonardo da Vinci

• 1452- 1519• Numerous works included

paintings and mechanical drawings

• Studied the human body to create anatomically correct figures


Raphael

• 1483- 1520• Master of Renaissance grace and

technique• Applied perspective, pyramidal

composition, chiaroscuro, and contrapposto to works such a The School of Athens


Michelangelo

• 1475- 1564• Considered himself a sculptor

above all else and used pyramidal construction, and emotion in crafting La PietaThe ceiling of the Sistine Chapel highlights his painting talents


Scholars

• Differed from Medieval scholars by seeking practical solutions and results, and not making judgments based on religion

• Examined primary sources rather than relying on traditional interpretations

• Played an active role in civic life


Lorenzo Bruni

• 1370-1444• Civic humanist• Chancellor of Florence• First to write a history of the city• First to use the term humanism


Lorenzo Valla

• 1407-1457• Wrote Elegances of the Latin

Language which created modern rules for Latin Grammar

• Exposed the forgery of The Donation of Constantine which ceded vast lands in Italy to the Papacy


Machiavelli

• 1469- 1527• Analyzed politics from the

standpoint of reason rather than faith or tradition in The Prince

• His approach to politics is amoral • Discusses how to gain power and

keep it



The Renaissance Outside Italy

• Less emphasis on classical antiquity• Greater emphasis and inspiration by and

from religion; Christian humanism

The Low Countries

• Religious themes, but an exacting eye for details–Jan van Eyck (1385-1440)–Pieter Brueghel (1520- 1569)–Rembrandt van Rijn (1606- 1669)



Jan van Eyck

• The Arnoflini Marriage

• Statue of St. Margaret, patron saint of childbirth

• Dog = fidelity• Oranges = fertility• Shoes= sacred rite

• Mirror shows fine attention to detail


Pieter Brueghel

• The Wedding Dance

Appears to be a frivolous party, but has serious undertones. Details show bawdiness of

activity

Rembrandt van Rijn

• The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp


Germany

• 1450- Johannes Gutenberg develops the moveable type printing press

• Hans Holbein• Albrecht Durer


Han Holbein

• 1497-1543• The Ambassadors• Shows off skill with use of

anamorphis


Albrecht Durer

• 1471- 1528• Gave realism and individuality to

the art of woodcutting as seen in The Last Supper


Christian Humanism• Dominant outside of Italy• Looked to original sources of religious

writing in Latin, Greek and Hebrew• Focused on providing guidance on

personal behavior• Criticized the growing worldiness of the

Catholic Church and urged reform from within; emphasized toleration and education


Desiderius Erasmus• 1466- 1536• Dutchman known as the Prince of

Humanists• Known throughout intellectual circles for

tolerance and restraint• Launched criticism against the Church

and clergy he hoped would lead to reform• “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther

hatched.” 16th century aphorism


Thomas More• 1478- 1536• Wrote Utopia (Greek for nowhere)

describing a perfect society on a small coastal society

• Mixed civic humanism with religious ideals

• Portrayed gov’t as very active in economic life, society, education and health


Jacques Lefevre d’Etables

• 1454- 1536• Leading French humanist• Wrote five versions of the Psalms

which challenged the tradition of a single interpretation or religious tradition


Francesco Ximenes de Cisneros

• 1436- 1517• Lead Spanish Church as Grand

Inquisitor• Founded a university to teach Latin,

Greek, and Hebrew• Reformed Catholic clergy preventing

the Protestant Reformation from occurring in Spain later on


The Renaissance

Education

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