Renaissance

The Renaissance- Rebirth of Antiquity-A period in European history spanning the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries and a cultural movement based on the principles of humanism with a growing appreciation for the arts and an increase in innovation and intellectual aspects

1351-1527 is Briski’s interpretation- End of the Black Death until the Sack of Rome

Centered in ITALY- because of trade routes, urban centers, geographically on top of Ancient Rome (antiquity), home of the papacy. Italy= stable, but fragmented in city-states

Gutenberg’s printing press-tech in mid 1400s (15th century) led to print culture and spread of knowledge, with works printed in vernacular languages, knowledge was more accessible

HUMANISM-Renaissance-era movement highlighting secular and ecclesiastical aspects due to a resurgence in antiquity ideas

Famous humanists

Petrarch “Father of Humanism”- Rules for Rulers

Dante-The Divine Comedy (hell yeah!) for vernacular literature (italian)

Boccacio- Decameron

Erasmus- “Prince of the Humanists”- christian humanist

Individualism- belief in independent thought/action that stresses the individual versus the collective interests of society as a whole

Art terms

Giotto: Painter and architect from Florence, Italy during the late Middle Ages, whose work shaped the Renaissance style

Fresco: A method of painting, usually for murals, in which pigments are applied with water to a plaster surface.

Florence (during the Renaissance): City-state in Italy, often known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, due to the early development of humanism that was rooted there.

Franciscan Monks: Members of a Roman Catholic Order who serviced the church by creating art and manuscripts, educated people, or worked as missionaries.

Chapel: Places of Christian worship, during the Renaissance they often had frescoes painted on their walls/ceilings.

Monastery: A community of monks, during the Renaissance they were patrons to art

Realism: A style of art in which an artist replicates an accurate depiction of a subject as it would be viewed in life.

Social History of Renaissance

Castiglione- Book of Courtier- proper manners and behaviors, popular for nobility

children= extension of familial reputation

Position in society is marked by titles and wealth

Church was the social center, both religion but also for festivals and such

Primogeniture- oldest male inherits everything

Higher standing female children are seen as a business transaction… but peasants can marry for love

Poor- urban/rural: very difficult existence, communal farming for a lord, all day spent laboring, diet=bread

Medici family- wealthy powerful banker family in Florence

Cosimo Medici “the elder” and “godfather of the Renaissance”- solidified Medici reign in Florence- patron of arts

Brunelleschi’s dome- Duomo, demonstrated the perspective architecture of the era

Lorenzo “the magnificent”

Giovanni= Pope Leo X (indulgences!!!!!)

Catherin de Medici- Henry VII’s wife- French Wars of religion

Patron of the arts

Donatello- ecclesiastical and secular symbolism in his bronze statue of “David” and other works. Realism from antiquity

Raphael- School of Athens- linear perspective with vantage point- both societal and personal ideas, but he had a dilemma because he did not agree with the values in his art

Botticelli- Birth of Venus- paganist- not ecclesiastical but Antiquity and mythological, I LOVE THIS PAINTING

Da Vinci- true Renaissance man- engineer, artist, etc, The Last Supper, Mona Lisa

Michelangelo- Marble David, and frescoes in the Sistine Chapel

Machiavelli’s The Prince- better to be “feared than loved”- use Cesare Borgia as an example

Northern vs Southern

Northern Renaissance- more secular, such as portraits, but also had christian humanists with ecclesiastical matters

Pieter Bruegel- paintings of peasant life

Jan Van Eyck- Arnolfini Portrait

Albrecht Durer- Self Portrait