Renaissance

Renaissance

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo shenanigans

The Renaissance, Reformation and Scientific Revolution

Renaissance Beginnings:

  • Began in Italy, because of:

    • Nostalgia for Ancient Rome

    • The new availability of Ancient Greek and Roman writings (aided by fall of Constantinople)

    • Italian Merchants had money because of the increased of trade from the Crusades

    • Florence, Italy!!!

  • Medici Family:

    • Rich banking family in Florence.

    • Cosimo de’ Medici gained control of the city-state government and the Medici family controlled it for years.

    • Patrons- Financial supporters of the arts

  • Humanism:

    • An intellectual movement during th Renaissance

    • Focused on worldly subjects rather than on religious issues.

      • Life can be better in the here and now.

      • A recognition of the abilities that man possess and cultivation of those abilities. (Individualism)

      • A love of classic literature.

Renaissance Art:

  • Considered the height of renaissance were the paintings, sculptures and architecture of the time.

  • Architecture:

    • Rejection of the Gothic style as cluttered and disorganized.

    • Adopted the columns, arches, and domes of the Greeks and Romans.

  • Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)

    • Commissioned by the Medici’s to create a church in Florence (Il Duomo Cathedral)

    • Studied the Parthenon in Rome and used a ribbed design to internally support the dome of the cathedral

  • Donatello (1386-1466):

    • Known for his use of 3 dimensions and realism in his sculptures

    • Bronze Sculpture of David

  • Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)

    • Only 17 paintings

      • Mona Lisa

      • Last Supper

      • Madonna of the Rocks

    • Notebooks:

      • Drawings of unfinished works

      • Used science to support art

      • Code and Read R-L with a mirror

  • Raphael (1843-1520)

    • Studied the works of Michelangelo and Da Vinci.

    • Chosen as an Architect for St. Peter’s Basilica.

    • Works include paintings of the Madonna and The School of Athens which included himself, Michelangelo with Socrates and Plato

Renaissance Literature:

  • Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)

    • Florence

    • The Prince

      • Less concerned about high ideals.

      • Written from a secular standpoint.

      • How to get power and hold on to that power.

      • Appearances are sometimes more important than actuality.

      • “Machiavellian Politics”

  • Erasmus (1466-1536)

    • Dutch Humanist

    • Attacked corruption in the church using satire. (The Praise of Folly)

    • Pushed for translations of the Bible into everyday vernacular.

  • Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)

    • English Humanist

    • Utopia

      • An ideal society where everyone’s needs are met.

      • Elimination of private property.

      • Everyone works, is equal, and educated.

      • Justice is used to end crime.

  • William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

    • The most famous writer of this time period.

    • 37 Plays

      • Tragedies

        • Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, McBeth

      • Comedies

        • Midsummer Nights Dream, Twelfth Night

      • History

        • Julius Caesar, Richard III

    • Added 1000’s of words to the English language.

    • Poems

  • Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)

    • Don Quixote

      • A foolish but idealistic knight.

      • Mocked the romantic notions of chivalry.

Scientific Revolution:

  • Johann Gutenberg

    • Printing Press originated in China

    • Perfected by Gutenberg

    • Replaced wood with metal for letters

    • Moveable type

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