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Renaissance

A period roughly between 1350 and 1550 in Italy, meaning "rebirth," characterized by a revival of Greco-Roman culture in Europe.

Jacob Burckhardt

Historian who popularized the modern concept of the Renaissance as the "birthplace of the modern world," highlighting individuality, secularism, and worldliness in Italy (1860).

Difference btwn northern and Italian renaissance art

Both emphasized realism, Northern: religion detailed domestic scenes and symbolism in their art. Italian: classical such as ancient mythology,(Greek or Latin) symmetry and harmony and accurate 3-d anatomy

Jan van Eyck

Norther renaissance painter who was known for oil painting and hyper realism. Famous work: the arnolfini portrait.

Albrecht Durer

Northern Renaissance artist who was famous for making woodcuts. Famous work: the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse

Hans Holbein

Northern renaissance artist who was known for precise details and symbolism. Famous work: the ambassadors w the skull

Pieter Brugel

Northern renaissance artist known for vivid landscapes and symbolism. Famous work: the peasant wedding

L'uomo universale

The ideal of a well-rounded, universally capable person, tied to a cultivated education and the ability to excel in multiple fields, mainly among the wealthy elite.

Petrarch

Often called the father of Italian Renaissance humanism (1304–1374); he reframed the Middle Ages as a period of darkness and sought to revive classical Latin.

Italian City-States

Northern Italian urban centers like Milan, Florence, and Venice that drove political, economic, social, and cultural life during the Renaissance.

Peace of Lodi (1454)

An agreement that established a forty-year balance of power among Milan, Florence, Naples, Venice, and the Papacy.

Humanism (Italian Renaissance)

A program of study focusing on ancient literature, rhetoric, history, and ethics, aiming to understand the human experience through classical models and cultivate virtue and eloquence.

Patronage (Renaissance Art)

The system by which wealthy individuals (merchants, bankers, popes, princes) commissioned artworks to display wealth, civic pride, and to glorify themselves and their families.

Donatello's David

A freestanding nude sculpture (c. 1440s) that symbolized republican Florence and embodied humanist ideals.

Filippo Brunelleschi's Dome

An architectural innovation (1420–1436) for the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), exemplifying architectural prowess and classical inspiration.

High Renaissance

The peak period of Renaissance art, centered in Rome by the late 15th century, with major artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

Linear Perspective

A mathematical approach developed during the Renaissance to create depth and convincing space in painting.

Northern Renaissance

A cultural movement in northern Europe characterized by emerging centralized monarchies, Hanseatic trade, and distinct religious reform movements.

Henry VII of England

King who established a strong, centralized monarchy (1485–1509) after the Wars of the Roses.

Hanseatic League

A powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe, dominating northern European trade.

Christian Humanism

A Northern Renaissance intellectual movement that combined classical learning with a focus on Christian piety and reform, exemplified by Erasmus.

Erasmus

The most influential Christian humanist, advocated for accessible scripture, critical editions of the Bible, and reform within the church; authored Praise of Folly.

Thomas More

Author of Utopia (1516), which proposed an ideal society organized around cooperation and critiqued European politics.

Medici Family

Powerful Florentine banking family who rose to oligarchic rule and were significant patrons of arts and culture during the Renaissance.

Leonardo Bruni

A civic humanist (1370–1444) who linked humanist learning with active public life and state service.

Lorenzo Valla

A philologist (1407–1457) who used linguistic analysis to expose the Donation of Constantine as a forgery, distinguishing classical from medieval Latin.

Pico della Mirandola

Author of Oration on the Dignity of Man (1486), arguing for human freedom and the capacity to shape one’s own nature.

Baldassare Castiglione

Author of The Book of the Courtier (1528), which defined the aristocratic ideal of a well-rounded courtier.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Author of The Prince, a pragmatic political treatise that separated politics from ideal morality and emphasized realpolitik to maintain power.

Sfumato

An art technique used in Renaissance painting that involves subtle gradations of light and shade to create a soft, hazy appearance, blending colors or tones so subtly that they melt into one another without perceptible transitions.

Chiaroscuro

An art technique in Renaissance painting characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition to create a sense of volume in figures and dramatic tension.

Foreshortening

An art technique used during the Renaissance to create the illusion of an object receding strongly into the distance or background by shortening lines in a drawing or painting in accordance with perspective.

Florence

Ruled by Medici family gained independence only to be taken control of by medicis again famous for Medici bank and pardoning art

Milan

Ruled by sforza family economically strong due to industry esp silk

Venice

Wealthy through trade and naval strength ruled by 200 families and a council of ten

France and Spain conflict over Italy

Italian wars 1494-1559 won by Spain (the hasburgs) in the sack of Rome 1527

3 estates

3 social classes of renaissance nobility, clergy (political and spiritual power) and peasants

Conciliarism

Belief that church council had authority over pope during great schism. Papacy regained power w council of Trent

Diplomacy in renaissance

Balance of power theory developed, used diplomats and embassies and treaties

Medieval scholasticism

Focused on theology and faith with reason using Aristotle famous ppl: Aquinas

Civic humanism

Education should prepare ppl to contribute to the gov and politics: Leonardo bruni

Medieval art

Religious subjects, flat and symbolic lack of depth no perspective

Naturalism

Painting as they truly appear. realism and perspective very natural

Political social and economic context of Italy

City states grew rich; funded the arts. Promoted individuals and humanism. Trade and learning increased mainly due to printing press

Centralization of England

Under Henry the 7th monarchy grew stronger esp after war of roses created kings counicl made of trusted friends. Strengthened nobility

Decentralization of hre

Emperor had limited power, power divided among princes

John Wycliffe

Criticized corruption of papacy and translated bible into English to make it accessible to everyone

Jan hus

Fought for church reform and criticized church wealth and authority started Hussite movement

Sandro Botticelli

Italian renaissance artist known for religious or mythological paintings patroned by Medici famous for the birth of Venus