Renaissance and Humanism

Flashcards about the Renaissance and Humanism

Renaissance

A cultural movement that began in Italy during the 15th century and spread throughout Europe in the first half of the 16th century.

Humanism

A new way of thinking that placed humans at the center of the universe, developed in Italy during the 15th century.

Characteristics of Humanism #1

Rejection of the medieval mentality centered on God, exaltation of human beings as the only ones endowed with reason and freedom.

Characteristics of Humanism #2

Inspiration in Greco-Latin culture. The study of the Greek language allowed the translation of the great classical authors, especially Plato and Aristotle.

Characteristics of Humanism #3

Interest in science and technological progress, which led to the diffusion of a new scientific spirit based on observation and experimentation.

Characteristics of Humanism #4

The use of vernacular languages (French, Italian, Spanish…) as vehicles of cultural transmission in substitution of Latin and Greek.

Academies

Educational centers alternative to Universities, independent of the Church where classic Greek and Latin authors could be taught.

The Printing Press

Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century. Allowed a lot of copies of the same book to be made quickly and without the approval of the Church.

Incunables

Books printed before the year 1500.

Literary and Philosophical Figures of the Renaissance

Focused on translating and commenting on classical writings, using the original texts. Prominent figures: Pico della Mirandola and Nicolás Maquiavelo.

Religious Figures of the Renaissance

Sought to combine admiration for ancient thinkers with the message of the Gospel. Notable figures: Erasmus of Rotterdam and Thomas More.

Scientific Figures of the Renaissance

Attempted to explain natural phenomena using reason, observation, and experimentation. Key figure: Nicolás Copernicus.

Renaissance Art Characteristics #1

The artistic model was classical antiquity. Artists based themselves on the materials and forms of Greek and Roman authors.

Renaissance Art Characteristics #2

Antropocentrism was recovered. Buildings were made on a human scale, and the human being was the protagonist of sculptures and paintings in which ideal beauty was sought

Renaissance Art Characteristics #3

Art was inspired by nature and sought to faithfully represent reality. It sometimes resorted to mathematical methods to calculate proportions and linear perspective to represent depth.

Renaissance Art Characteristics #4

Many excelled in various disciplines, signed their works, and were supported by rich patrons, such as the Medici in Florence and the popes in Rome.

Quattrocento

Period of the Renaissance that took place in Florence during the 15th century. Power was in the hands of the Medici banking family.

Brunelleschi

An architect. Designed the dome of the Florence Cathedral. He overcame the challenge of covering a huge space of 41.7 m. He used a system of a double dome.

Alberti

Divide la fachada en dos, perfectamente armónicas entre si, utiliza el color como elemento armónico

Ghiberti

The North Gate of the Baptistery follows the works of Andrea Pisano. The iconography is taken from the New Testament. The Gates of Paradise he was given freedom to build the third and final doors of the Baptistery

Cinquecento

Period of the Renaissance that took place in Rome during the 16th century. The Popes performed architectural and sculptural works in order to embellish the city.

Templete de San Pietro in Montorio

A work by Bramante and is considered the first 100% Renaissance temple. Commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs.

Basílica de San Pedro

Designed with a Greek cross shape (with four equal arms), which gave a sensation of balance and perfection. Later, other architects such as Michelangelo followed that design, but with some important changes. Finally, the floor plan ended with a Latin cross shape.

La Piedad

A sculpture by Michelangelo that represents the Virgin Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus after the crucifixion. It transmits a great serenity and sadness. It is the only sculpture that the artist signed

Escuela de Atenas

A painting by Rafael Sanzio in the Vatican. Rafael represented the great philosophers and thinkers of ancient Greece, as if they were gathered in a school or debate. The painting shows how knowledge, philosophy and ancient art were valued in the Renaissance.

La Gioconda

A painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It is famous for the sfumato technique, which consists of blurring the contours and colors so that no hard lines are seen, creating a soft and realistic effect.