FADA 1-2 WEEK

The Renaissance (14th–17th Century)

The word “Renaissance” means “Rebirth.”
It was a huge comeback for art, science, and learning after a long, dark time in Europe called the “Dark Ages.”
During those “dark” centuries, people mostly focused on survival, religion, and war — not much time for creativity or studying.

🌍 Where it started

It all began in Italy, especially in the beautiful cities of Florence, Rome, and Venice.
Italy was full of old Roman ruins and memories of the ancient world, which inspired people to bring back that old knowledge and beauty.

💥 What started it all

A long time ago, the Western Roman Empire fell, and Europe became poor and less educated.
But people didn’t want to stay that way forever — they wanted to learn, build, and create again.
So, the Renaissance became a “re-awakening” of human imagination and intelligence

📜 How it got a boost (The Catalyst)

In 1453, a big event happened — the Fall of Constantinople.
When the city was taken over, many Greek scholars ran away to Italy, bringing old books and ideas from Ancient Greece and Rome.
Those texts opened people’s minds and inspired artists and scientists to rediscover ancient wisdom.

💰🎭 The Medici Family — The Sponsors of Greatness

Now meet the heroes behind the scenes — The Medici Family!
They were super rich bankers from Florence, and they loved art.
Instead of buying fancy gold, they spent their money helping artists, architects, and thinkers.

They supported legends like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Botticelli.
Thanks to the Medici family, the Renaissance exploded with beautiful paintings, sculptures, and inventions.

The Renaissance was the time when Europe woke up again — people started to think, paint, and dream big!
It was the beginning of modern creativity, science, and art that still inspire us today.

Art Features:

• Realism, human emotion, anatomy studies (Da Vinci).

• Shift from purely religious to mythological and human subjects.

• Use of perspective, proportion, and depth.

Key Artists and Works:

• Leonardo da Vinci — Mona Lisa (1503–1506)

• Sandro Botticelli — The Birth of Venus (1485)

• Michelangelo — The Creation of Adam (1508–1512), David (1501–1504)

• St. Peter’s Basilica (1506–1626) — Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Maderno, Bernini

• Leonardo da Vinci

• Sandro Botticelli

• Michelangelo

• St. Peter’s Basilica

Transition After the Renaissance (16th Century Onward)

Art evolved through Mannerism → Baroque → Rococo → Neoclassicism → Romanticism, reflecting shifts in religion, politics, and society.

Mannerism

(1520–1600)

Reaction to: Renaissance perfection.
Style: Exaggerated proportions, tension, artificial elegance.
Key Artists: El Greco, Pontormo, Parmigianino.
Example: Madonna with the Long Neck (1535–1540) — symbolizes instability after the 1527 Sack of Rome.

Baroque

(1600–1750)

Origin: Rome; spread across Europe.
Style: Drama, movement, strong contrasts of light and shadow (chiaroscuro).
Tied to: Catholic Counter-Reformation.
Key Artists: Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Velázquez.
Example: The Calling of Saint Matthew (1599–1600) — dramatic realism.
Architecture: Palace of Versailles (1661–1715) — under Louis XIV, symbol of royal power.

Rococo

(1700–1780s)

Developed in: France, continuation of Baroque.
Style: Light, pastel, curvy, decorative, focused on love and leisure.
Key Artists: François Boucher, Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
Example: The Swing (1767) — flirtatious and playful

Neoclassicism

(Mid 18th – Early 19th Century)

Reaction to: Rococo’s excess.
Inspired by: Ancient Greece and Rome.
Ideals: Order, simplicity, rationality, democracy.
Key Artists: Jacques-Louis David (Oath of the Horatii), Ingres.
Architecture: Symmetry, columns, and classical influence.

Romanticism

(Late 18th – Mid 19th Century)

Reaction to: Neoclassicism’s reason and the Enlightenment.
Themes: Emotion, imagination, nature, nationalism, the sublime.
Key Artists: Goya, Delacroix, Turner.
Example: The Third of May 1808 (Goya) — horror of war, break from idealized heroism.
Architecture: Palace of Westminster (1837–1860) — Gothic Revival, romantic nationalism.