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Renaissance Art:• Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture went through a

“Renaissance,” as did learning.• Renaissance art reflected many of the same cultural trends

as humanism.• Art was produced for patrons, not (usually) the general

public.– Therefore it reflected the interests and objectives of the

patron, in addition to the perspective of the artist.• Themes were still usually religious, but with distinctive

differences from medieval religious art.• Like Humanism, Renaissance art had the city of Florence

as its “epicenter.”• Like Humanism, its influence spread outward from the

Italian city-states.

The Key Question:

How are the values of the merchant classand renaissance humanism reflected inRenaissance art?

Consider:s The shift to a secular focus.

s The new focus on the individual.s The concern for the recovery of

classical greatness.s The concern for “real world”

knowledge.

From Pico’s Oration:

• Read Paragraphs 1-10 (ending with “…inferior tothem in nothing.”

• Consider:• What does it mean to be human for Pico?• How does Pico demonstrate that he is a humanist?• How does Pico’s view of human identity differ

from that of Dante?• What type of sources does Pico use to support his

points? (and how does he use them?)

In Machiavelli:

• Read:• The Dedication, and chapters:• 1; 3; 8; 9; 16; and 17.• Consider:• Machiavelli’s view of human nature -- how is it unlike

Pico’s?• How does Machiavelli wield historical examples to make

his points?• How does he treat the Christian values of compassion,

charity, and putting others first?