Italy and the rebirth of learning Italy and the rebirth of learning and the artsand the arts

The The RenaissanRenaissan

cece

Madonna and Child in Glory By Jacopa di

Cione(1360/65) A very early example of Renaissance

painting, containing many of the characteristics of paintings from

the Middle Ages.

• Notice the halos around the heads of the figures in the paintings.

• Notice that the pairs of saints and angels around the upper border of the painting are smaller than the Madonna and child in the center. This is called hieratic scale, which means making the most important figures in a work of art larger than less important figures.

QUESTION

1. How does this painting reflect the values of the Middle Ages?

The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin by Jan van Eyck (1434)by Jan van Eyck (1434)

This painting shows Jesus and his mother, Mary, in 15th

Century Europe.

• Notice the recreation of distance and the appearance of three dimensions. This technique, called “perspective,” existed in the Classical period of Greece and Rome, but had not been used during the Middle Ages.

QUESTIONS:

2. What differences do you notice between this depiction of Mary and Jesus and the previous one?

3. What does showing Mary and Jesus in “present day” tell us about the role of religion in Renaissance society?

DavidDavidby Michelangeloby Michelangelo

(1504)(1504)Michelangelo was influenced by the classical statues of Greece and Rome. David shows the

Biblical hero in the moments just before his battle with Goliath.

• Notice that his posture is graceful, yet he also displays strength.

QUESTION:

4. David is also an example of Renaissance art that borrows ideals from the Classical age of Greece and Rome. What values of those earlier cultures does this statue display?

Madonna and Child Madonna and Child withwith

St. JohnSt. JohnBy Guiliano BugiardiniBy Guiliano Bugiardini

(1523/1525)(1523/1525)

Yet another painting of Mary and Jesus, this time also with

St. John.

• Notice the landscape and use of perspective.

QUESTIONS:

5. Do these religious figures wear halos? If so, how do they differ from the ones in the first painting?

6. Is the landscape Heavenly or Earthly? What does this tell us about religion in the Renaissance?

The Bean Eater The Bean Eater By Annibale Carracci By Annibale Carracci (1582/83)(1582/83)

This painting was made later in the Renaissance than any of the others

we’ve shown.

QUESTIONS:

7. What is the main difference you see between this painting and the other works we’ve looked at?

8. This painting reflects the value of “humanism.” What do you think that means?

Renaissance = RebirthRenaissance = Rebirth If you were one of the lucky ones to If you were one of the lucky ones to

survive the bloodshed of The Crusades survive the bloodshed of The Crusades and the suffering of The Plague, and the suffering of The Plague, wouldn’t you want to live it up? wouldn’t you want to live it up?

The Renaissance was a period in Europe The Renaissance was a period in Europe when people questioned the Church and when people questioned the Church and the structures of Medieval society that the structures of Medieval society that blocked social advancement. Why?blocked social advancement. Why?

Out of this came an explosion of Out of this came an explosion of creativity, which began in Italy in the creativity, which began in Italy in the early 1300s. early 1300s.

Renaissance/ Change over Renaissance/ Change over TimeTimeHow does this painting reflect

the values of the Middle Ages?

Is the landscape heavenly or earthy, what does this reveal about religion during the Renaissance?

What is the major difference between this painting and the other two?

1.Give one example of hieratic scale from these paintings {Cornell notes}

2. Give one example of perspective from these paintings {Cornell notes}

3. Which painting would best symbolize humanism? Figure it out!

Why Italy?Why Italy?

Why, Why, really?really? Northern Italy had many large city-states Northern Italy had many large city-states

as the result of overseas trade, and also as the result of overseas trade, and also many large towns. Cities are breeding many large towns. Cities are breeding grounds for new ideas. grounds for new ideas.

The Plague hit these cities hard, killing up The Plague hit these cities hard, killing up to 60% of their populations. Business to 60% of their populations. Business suffered, so many wealthy merchants suffered, so many wealthy merchants turned to art. Also, because there were turned to art. Also, because there were fewer laborers, those left could demand fewer laborers, those left could demand higher wages. higher wages.

Italians also drew inspiration from the Italians also drew inspiration from the ruins of Rome that surrounded them. ruins of Rome that surrounded them.

City-StatesCity-States. . . Where have we . . . Where have we heard that term before?heard that term before?

Just as in ancient Greece, the city-states Just as in ancient Greece, the city-states in Italy (Milan, Florence, etc.) were very in Italy (Milan, Florence, etc.) were very independent and ran their own affairs. independent and ran their own affairs. Because they were relatively small, a Because they were relatively small, a high percentage of citizens could high percentage of citizens could participate in political life.participate in political life.

Merchants became the wealthiest, most Merchants became the wealthiest, most powerful class. Unlike nobles, powerful class. Unlike nobles, merchants did not inherit their power. merchants did not inherit their power. Individual achievement was to become Individual achievement was to become an important Renaissance theme.an important Renaissance theme.

A return to the classicsA return to the classics Renaissance scholars looked down on Renaissance scholars looked down on

the art and literature of the Middle Ages. the art and literature of the Middle Ages. They instead looked to the Classical era They instead looked to the Classical era of Greece and Rome. of Greece and Rome.

Scholars studied ancient Latin Scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts that had been preserved in manuscripts that had been preserved in monasteries. monasteries.

And Byzantine scholars preserved Greek And Byzantine scholars preserved Greek manuscripts before Constantinople fell manuscripts before Constantinople fell to the Muslim Turks. to the Muslim Turks.

In their shoes: Write It In their shoes: Write It UpUp

Analyze the words on the previous Analyze the words on the previous slide and explain how the attitudes of slide and explain how the attitudes of the poor in the Middle Ages changed the poor in the Middle Ages changed during the period know as the during the period know as the Renaissance, particularly those who Renaissance, particularly those who survived the Black Death.survived the Black Death.

Printing PressPrinting Press

Allowed for fast Allowed for fast reproduction of reproduction of Humanist ideas during Humanist ideas during the Renaissance periodthe Renaissance period

Allowed for materials to Allowed for materials to be produced in be produced in numerous languages at numerous languages at a fast ratea fast rate

Machiavelli: Machiavelli:

1.1. According to According to The PrinceThe Prince, , what is the best way for what is the best way for political leaders to obtain and political leaders to obtain and hold power?hold power?

2.2. Based on his own words, Based on his own words, what was Machiavelli’s view what was Machiavelli’s view of human nature?of human nature?