The Renaissance:bridge from old to new

The Renaissance:bridge from old to new

• Middle (Dark) Ages– Middle Age begins with the fall of Rome (476 AD) and

continues until start of the Renaissance (approx. 1450 AD)– Called the Dark Ages because of the lack of new thought and

invention. Many parts of the world (China, India, Northern Africa, Middle East) were blossoming

– Society splinters due to several issues:• Literacy• Money• Feudal hierarchy• Land ownership• Religion

Would people in alive during the Dark Ages be aware of the atmosphere of the time?

The Renaissance:bridge from old to new

• Provided the start to what we now consider the modern world

• Provoked new interest in old stuff (Greeks and Romans)

• Changed thoughts about art• Began in Italy and then spread north to

Germany and England

Why would art during the Renaissance have much more importance that it does to us today?

The Italian v. The Northern Renaissance

• Italian– Focus on human

achievement– Saw perfection in

the human form

• Northern– Interest in early

Christianity– Sought realism in

art

Interest in the Greeks and RomansUse of Perspective

Humanism as driving force

Renaissance ArtThe human form is real and beautiful

Monumental size (images were typically 12-15 ft. tall)Distortion of the hands, feet, and head

What are the differences between Renaissance and Medieval sculpture?

Renaissance ArtPerspective and Grounding

Unlike Medieval sculpture where figures were two-dimensional and almost floated in air, Renaissance sculpture was three-dimensional and

had weight.

Renaissance ArtMathematical Design

Renaissance ArtHumanism

What do you think is meant by the term “humanism”?

How does each of these paintings depict humanism?

Renaissance Art-Questions for Reflection-

1. How do the elements of Renaissance art discussed in this PowerPoint reflect the overall shift in thinking from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance?

2. Describe how each of the first three elements is clearly present in the final element, humanism.

3. How can humanism celebrate both the individual and the divine? Knowing what you do of St. Ignatius, would you consider him a humanist? Explain.