The Renaissance

Renaissance in Italy• Renaissance a. Rebirth b. A time of creativity and change in many areas – political, social, economic, and cultural c. Reawakened interest in classical learning, especially the culture of ancient Rome

Why Italy?• Location Renaissance was associated with an interest in

the culture of ancient Rome – Rome’s architectural remains such as statues are located in Italy

• Wealthy and Powerful Merchant Class Patrons of the arts – pay the artists for their work

The Medici Family• Florence – symbolized the

Renaissance• Medici a. Banking and business

family b. Family controlled city

of Florence for many years c. Great patrons of the arts

Humanism

• Study of classical culture• Focused on worldly

subjects rather than on religious issues (differed from Middle Ages – focus was on salvation and the church)

• Stimulate the individual’s creative powers

Here and

Now!

Humanism

Belief in human

potential

Ended when Roman Empire

Collapsed c. 500 AD

People to be the best they can be

Classical idea: Ancient Greece

and Rome

Renaissance Art

• Lifelike: looked realistic

• Perspective: had depth, 3D

• Emotion- revealed artist feelings

• Sometimes Secular- non-religious

Leonardo da Vinci• Leonardo da Vinci a. Artist, sculptor,

inventor, etc… b. Mona Lisa c. Last Supper

Michelangelo• Michelangelo a. Sculptor, engineer,

painter, architect, etc… b. Sistine Chapel &

Statue of David

• 1501-1504 sculpted the Statue of David• 1508-1512 Painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Raphael• Raphael a. Painter b. School of Athens c. Paintings of the

Virgin Mary• Renaissance Man –

someone who is multi-talented in many areas

Raphael

Spreads to Northern Italy• Why Later – Black Death

delayed the birth of the Renaissance in Northern Europe

• Italian Renaissance – stressed education and revival of classical themes

• Northern Renaissance – stressed education and the revival of classical themes + religious and moral reform

Erasmus• Erasmus a. Humanist b. Praise of Folly –

used humor to expose the ignorant and

immoral behavior of people (especially

the Catholic Church)

Thomas More• Sir Thomas More a. Utopia – perfect

society

Williams Shakespeare• Shakespeare a. Playwright b. Romeo and Juliet c. Hamlet

Printing Press• Invented by Guttenberg• Increased production of

books books became cheaper more people learned to read people had a greater understanding of the world around them

• First Printed: The Bible