RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION1350 - 1600Section 2

Ideas and Art of Renaissance

Background

During the Renaissance, humanism revived interest in the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome in classical Latin. Humanism became an educational curriculum, and at the core of humanist schools were the liberal studies of art, sculpture, and architecture of the Renaissance.

Humanism• Study of the Humanities – grammar, poetry, moral

philosophy, and history• Early humanist took an interest in the civic life and to

serve the state

Literature• Widespread use of Latin in writings of scholars, lawyers,

theologians.• Also used the vernacular – language spoken in own

regions, such as Italian, French, and German

Famous Authors• Dante:

• Italian author who wrote Divine Comedy • About a soul’s journey to salvation.

• Chaucer: • English author who wrote Canterbury Tales • About 29 pilgrims who exchanged stories on their journey to the

tomb of Thomas Becket at Canterbury, England.

• Christine de Pizan: • French author who wrote The Book of the City of Ladies • Women would learn as well as men if they could attend same

schools.

Canterbury Tales consists of a collection of stories told by a group of 29 pilgrims journeying to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket

Christine de Pizan

The Book of the Cities of Ladies, written in 1404 denounced the many male writers who said that “women, by their very nature, are unable to learn”.

Education• Humanist schools based upon liberal studies or what is

called liberal arts today.• Included: History, moral philosophy, astronomy, music,

and physical education• Practical preparation for life• Mostly men, very few women

Renaissance Art• Painting

• Artist sought to imitate nature• Fresco – painting done on fresh wet plaster using water based

paints• Perspective – As objects are farther away, they are painted

smaller.

• Sculpture/Architecture• Inspired by statues and buildings of the Greeks and Romans.

• High Renaissance• Final stage of Italian Renaissance art• 1490-1520• Associated with Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo

Last Supper – Da Vinci

Michelangelo

Da Vinci

Michelangelo

Raphael

Summary QuestionsDirections: Draw a line under the last of your notes and answer the following questions. Refer to your notes if you need to.

1.What subjects are included in the humanities?

2.What does the word “vernacular” refer to? If you were from Italy, what would your vernacular be? France?

3.The High Renaissance period is mostly associated with what 3 artist?