The Renaissance -

Rebirth of learning and

Culture in Europe

Pre-Renaissance Pre-Renaissance EuropeEurope• The Crusades: 1095 - 1496The Crusades: 1095 - 1496

• Christian knights wage war against Muslims for Christian knights wage war against Muslims for

control of Jerusalem resulting in bitterness, increased control of Jerusalem resulting in bitterness, increased

trade and cultural diffusion in Western Europetrade and cultural diffusion in Western Europe

• The Black Plague: 1300sThe Black Plague: 1300s• Kills 25 million EuropeansKills 25 million Europeans

• Results: (“Results: (“The 3 DThe 3 D’’s”s”))

• DDesire to celebrate life and humanityesire to celebrate life and humanity

• DDoubts about the Churchoubts about the Church

• DDesire for new ways of expressionesire for new ways of expression

Why did the Why did the Renaissance begin Renaissance begin

in Italy?in Italy?• Thriving citiesThriving cities

• Wealthy merchants and bankersWealthy merchants and bankers• Medici family – “Godfathers” of the RenaissanceMedici family – “Godfathers” of the Renaissance

• Renewed interest in classical Rome & Renewed interest in classical Rome &

Greece rootsGreece roots

What new values What new values did people hold? did people hold?

• HUMANISMHUMANISM – emphasizes – emphasizes

individual achievements and individual achievements and

abilitiesabilities

• Focus on secular ideas (concern Focus on secular ideas (concern

with worldly matters)with worldly matters)

• PatronsPatrons encourage beautiful works encourage beautiful works

by financially supporting artists, by financially supporting artists,

writers and musicians (ex. Medici writers and musicians (ex. Medici

family)family)

• Renaissance man Renaissance man – Master of – Master of

many fields of study or work (ex. many fields of study or work (ex.

Leonardo da Vinci – painter, Leonardo da Vinci – painter,

scientist & inventor)scientist & inventor)

Francesco Petrarch, Francesco Petrarch,

Father of HumanismFather of Humanism

Individuals Take Individuals Take ChargeCharge

• ““Man can do all things if Man can do all things if

they will”they will”

- Leon Battista Alberti- Leon Battista Alberti

• People started believing in People started believing in

the ability of humans to do the ability of humans to do

great thingsgreat things

• As a result, new technology As a result, new technology

develops AND people start develops AND people start

to work to create better to work to create better

cities and countriescities and countries

Leonardo da Vinci,Leonardo da Vinci,

““The Renaissance The Renaissance Man”Man”

How did art change How did art change during the during the

Renaissance?Renaissance?• Sculptors made figures more realisticSculptors made figures more realistic

• Painters used perspective to create three-Painters used perspective to create three-dimensional illusiondimensional illusion

• Subjects were no longer mostly religiousSubjects were no longer mostly religious

Your Turn:Your Turn:Create a T-Chart to Compare Create a T-Chart to Compare and Contrast the following and Contrast the following

pieces of art:pieces of art:

Middle Age ArtMiddle Age Art Renaissance Renaissance ArtArt

Renaissance Ideas… Renaissance Ideas… in Actionin Action

• Johann Gutenberg creates the printing Johann Gutenberg creates the printing

press which press which increasesincreases the production of the production of

booksbooks

• As a result, new ideas of the Renaissance As a result, new ideas of the Renaissance

are are spread spread throughout Europethroughout Europe

• Books are written in Books are written in vernacularvernacular - -

Everyday language that all understandEveryday language that all understand

• Authors express own thoughts and Authors express own thoughts and

feelingsfeelings

Ex. Dante – realistic poetryEx. Dante – realistic poetry

Machiavelli – understanding governmentMachiavelli – understanding government

The ReformationThe Reformation

• Begins as a protest to the practices of the Begins as a protest to the practices of the

Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church

• Teaches people that faith in God, not good Teaches people that faith in God, not good

works, leads to eternal lifeworks, leads to eternal life

• Encourages people to read the Bible to Encourages people to read the Bible to

strengthen their faith in God’s wordstrengthen their faith in God’s word

How it BeganHow it Began

• Indulgences – Sold to free Indulgences – Sold to free

people from their sins people from their sins

• Monks (religious men) begin Monks (religious men) begin

to disagree with the sale of to disagree with the sale of

indulgencesindulgences

• Martin Luther writes Martin Luther writes 95 95

Theses Theses about why it’s about why it’s

wrong to sell indulgenceswrong to sell indulgencesMartin Luther,Martin Luther,

Author of the 95 Author of the 95 ThesesTheses

The Church The Church RespondsResponds

• The pope or leader of the

Catholic Church

excommunicates Martin Luther

from the Church

• Luther continues to share his

ideas and gains many followers

who are called Lutherans

What can you learn from art?

You work at a museum that is considering buying this painting by Jan van Eyck. It is a portrait of Chancellor Rolin, a powerful

government official in Burgundy (later part of France). Before deciding, the museum director wants to know what this painting

can teach the public about the Renaissance.

Chancellor RolinJan van Eyck

1. What can you infer about the setting of the painting?

2. What details in the painting give you an idea of the role of religion in society?

1. Classical Art -Renaissance artists admired classical art. The columns show classical style.

2. Perspective – Van Eyck used the technique of perspective which shows distant objects as smaller than close ones. He also used oil paints, a new invention.

3. Religion – This painting portrays the infant Jesus and his mother Mary in 15th-century Europe. Such a depiction shows the continuing importance of religion during the Renaissance.

4. The Individual – Renaissance artists portrayed the importance of individuals. Chancellor Rolin is wearing a fur-trimmed robe that shows his high status.

5. Beauty – Van Eyck included many details simply to add beauty. These include the design on the floor, the folds of Mary’s cloak, and the scenery outside.

• List the similarities and differences for these two works of art.

. Focus on the following: - facial

expressions- Use of color- Amount of detail- Background- Use of light and

shadow

• (Mona Lisa is more realistic, uses shadows, and has darker, more subtle colors. Both artworks are finely detailed, especially the backgrounds.)

• Based on this analysis and information in the text, what can you conclude about Renaissance art? (more realistic than medieval art, especially in use of light, shadow and perspective.)

DavidMichelangelo

School of AthensRaphael