RENAISSANCE REVIEW (School of Athens, Raphael, 1508)

The Italian and Northern Renaissance!

What was the Renaissance? Renaissance comes from the French word for “rebirth”

It was a restoration of classical arts and learning of Rome and Greece, which had almost been extinct during the Middle Ages

A time of creativity and change in Europe, began in the mid-14th century

A time of rebirth after the disorder and disunity of the medieval world

Why Italy? LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Trade = Money Also cities were prosperous

centers of trade and manufacturing

Wealthy merchant class there promoted the cultural rebirth by stressing education, individual achievement, and spending money to support the arts

City States grow wealthy, spend money on art.

** Also, Italy was center of Roman history

Renaissance Moves North The Renaissance moved north to France, Belgium, Germany,

Spain, and England 100 years after it began in Italy. Why?

The plague reduced the population in Europe and recovery was delayed in the north, recovering from the Hundred Years’ War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh8mNjeuyV4

Only after 1450 did the north enjoy economic growth to support the Renaissance

How? Cities like Flanders grew rapidly, supporting wealthy patrons Monarchs hired Italian artists and architects

Middle Ages v. Renaissance Middle Ages:

people only think about what happens when you die. Everything you do has a consequence in the afterlife. People do not want to try or learn new things because they are

afraid of the Church and not making it into heaven.

Renaissance: people begin thinking about here and now. Want to live an eventful,

exciting, and meaningful life. Stop living their life in fear of the Church or not going to heaven.

Renaissance: More focus on achievement of the individual

HUMANISM Humanism- intellectual movement at the heart of the Italian

Renaissance that focused on worldly subjects like human potential and achievement rather than on religious issues

Petrarch – Father of Renaissance Humanism

Thought it was more important to learn about history, literature, and philosophy rather than religious beliefs and traditions. Thus, we have the humanities!

Renaissance Man Renaissance thinkers were eager to explore richness and variety in human experience

The Renaissance ideal was the person with talent in many

fields A Renaissance man is a well-

rounded person with many talents and interests

Examples: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Lorenzo de

Medici

Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael

Leonardo da Vinci: Painted Mona Lisa, sketched nature/models, inventor, anatomy, engineering, music, etc.

Michelangelo: Sculpture of David, Also painted Sistine Chapel ceiling and altar wall

Donatello: His statue of David was the first large free-standing nude since ancient times

•Raphael: Paintings blending Christian and Classical ideals, School of Athens was a painting of a gathering of famous thinkers, also painted tender pictures of the madonna

AKA: the Ninja Painters

Renaissance Art v. Medieval Art Reflected humanist concerns Did portray religious figures, but with a Greek or

Roman background Pictures of well-known figures Tried to make art look more realistic with use of

perspective Perspective– artistic technique used to give

drawings and paintings a 3-D effect on a flat surface

Oil Painting– allowed painters to build layers on their work and also had more vibrant colors

Human body portrayed more accurately than before

5 Characteristics of Italian Renaissance Art

1. Realism & Expression

� Expulsion fromthe Garden

� Masaccio� 1427� First nudes since

classical times.

2. Perspective

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!

First use of linear

perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!

� The Trinity� Masaccio� 1427

What you are, I once was; what I am, you will

become.

1st artist credited with using perspective Giotto di Bondone

3. Emphasis on Individualism� Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre:

The Duke & Dutchess of Urbino� Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.

4. Geometrical Arrangement of Figures

� The Dreyfus Madonna with the Pomegranate

� Leonardo da Vinci

� 1469� The figure as

architecture!

5. Artists as Personalities/Celebrities

� Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, andArchitects

� Giorgio Vasari

� 1550

Medieval or Renaissance and why?•Medieval Italy, 1300s•Religious, no use of perspective•Lack of accuracy in human form

•Renaissance Italy, 1450•Religious, but with a Greek background•Use of perspective

Which came first?

This one!Berlinghiero, Italy, 1230s

Botticelli, Italy, c. 1500

Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter: Fresco in Sistine Chapel…PERSPECTIVE AT WORK!