FMW 8.2 Terms and Questions

The Italian Renaissance

Make a copy and Share your work when complete

Vocab

1. Perspective - the use of various techniques, such as using a horizon and point, to display the illusion of a three-dimensional scene on a two-dimensional surface
2. Michaelangelo - A artist who was most famous for his painting of the roof on the Sistine Chapel and his sculpting of the Biblical hero David. He was also an influential architect.
3. Leonardo Di Vinci - One of the most famous people in the Renaissance. He could be considered a polymath of the Renaissance. He was an artist of many trades, including painting and sculpting. He was also an inventor, thinking of ideas and machines ahead of his time. His most famous works are the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Questions

1. Does Machiavelli think that a prince should prefer to be loved or feared? Why? Machiavelli thinks, if both were not possible, being feared would be the better option. This is due to the fact that, under the opinion of Machiavelli, people were afraid of consequences due to their cowardice. If a prince was only loved, the people would betray them in the Prince’s hour of need due to their treachery.
2. How is the humanism of the Renaissance reflected in its art? Explain with examples. Humanism is present in the subject of art and how it was portrayed. First, the human and their achievements were emphasized in Humanism, and this includes art. Some characteristics of this, like callbacks to ancient Greek and Roman culture and art, are on display in David, by Micheangelo. While the subject is not of Roman or Greek nature (being Biblical), it resembles the ancient Roman freestanding statues. Humanism also focused less on religion and more on human achievements and abilities, along with the quality listed above. The Humanist influence in art perhaps could not be more perfectly condensed into an image than by the piece known as School of Athens by Raphael (1508). This work incorporates human greatness and ancient culture and thinking, exemplified by the presence of mancy classical Greek philosophers. The work also incorporates other techniques popular during the Renaissance, such as realism, perspective, and complex arrangement.
3. Contrast: How is Machiavelli’s political advice different from the traditional view?

The traditional view of politics was that of honor and nobility, while Machiavelli stayed from these standpoints. He argues that the best thing a politician could know is how to rule the state and recognize its needs, and base their actions accordingly, instead of the traditional advice of nobility, honor, and glory.