• 1300-15001300-1500

• Characterized by creativity, interest Characterized by creativity, interest in learning, and a desired to explore in learning, and a desired to explore the human experience the human experience

• Renaissance (Ren) means “rebirth” Renaissance (Ren) means “rebirth”

• A rebirth of “poetry, rhetoric, A rebirth of “poetry, rhetoric, painting, sculpture, architecture, painting, sculpture, architecture, music…music…

• Italian City-States: birthplace of the Italian City-States: birthplace of the RenaissanceRenaissance

• Reasons:Reasons:•Contact with the Arab world – Islamic Contact with the Arab world – Islamic

EmpiresEmpires

•New interest in the culture of RomeNew interest in the culture of Rome

•Cities of Italy survived the Middle AgesCities of Italy survived the Middle Ages– Florence, Milan, Venice, Genoa, etcFlorence, Milan, Venice, Genoa, etc

•Wealthy and powerful merchantWealthy and powerful merchant– Trade and manufacturingTrade and manufacturing– Contributed to politics and economicsContributed to politics and economics– LeadershipLeadership– Stressed education and individual achievementsStressed education and individual achievements

• Florence and the Medici’sFlorence and the Medici’s– Symbolize Italian RenaissanceSymbolize Italian Renaissance– 1400s- Medici family organized 1400s- Medici family organized

successful banking business expandedsuccessful banking business expanded– Controlled city governmentControlled city government

•Cosimo de MediciCosimo de Medici

•Lorenzo “the Magnificent”Lorenzo “the Magnificent”

What was the Renaissance?What was the Renaissance?

• Time of creativity and change in:Time of creativity and change in:•Political, social, economic and culturalPolitical, social, economic and cultural

• WorldviewWorldview•Renewed interest in classical times (Greece, Renewed interest in classical times (Greece,

Rome)Rome)

•Saw disorder and disunity of middle agesSaw disorder and disunity of middle ages

•Emphasis on individual achievement instead Emphasis on individual achievement instead of groupof group

• HumanismHumanism– Focused on worldly subjects rather than Focused on worldly subjects rather than

on the religious issues that had occupied on the religious issues that had occupied medieval thinkersmedieval thinkers

– Pious Christians hoped to use Wisdoms Pious Christians hoped to use Wisdoms of ancients to increase understanding of of ancients to increase understanding of their own timestheir own times

– Return to classical education- HumanistsReturn to classical education- Humanists•Francesco PetrarchFrancesco Petrarch

– Wrote sonnetsWrote sonnets– Leading Renaissance writersLeading Renaissance writers

• Golden AgeGolden Age– Painting, sculpture and architecturePainting, sculpture and architecture

• Humanist concernsHumanist concerns•Portrayed religious figures Portrayed religious figures

– Jesus and MaryJesus and Mary•Set figures against Greek or Roman Set figures against Greek or Roman

backgroundsbackgrounds•Portraits of well known patronsPortraits of well known patrons

• ArtArt– period in art history started in Italy in the late period in art history started in Italy in the late

13th century13th century– represented a revival of the artsrepresented a revival of the arts– complete change in how artists would depict complete change in how artists would depict

the visible world around them.the visible world around them.– spread throughout Western Europe spread throughout Western Europe – last until the late 1500’s.last until the late 1500’s.

• Some notable aspects of this art movement were:Some notable aspects of this art movement were:• Oil paint was first used to replace egg tempera as the Oil paint was first used to replace egg tempera as the

major art medium of the time.major art medium of the time.• Ideas of Ancient Rome were adapted into many art works in Ideas of Ancient Rome were adapted into many art works in

Italy.Italy.• More daily life activities were depicted in Dutch paintings.More daily life activities were depicted in Dutch paintings.

• A partial list of artists involved during this period A partial list of artists involved during this period includes:includes:

• Hieronymous BoschHieronymous Bosch• Sandro BotticelliSandro Botticelli• Leonardo Da VinciLeonardo Da Vinci• Donatello Donatello • Albrecht DurerAlbrecht Durer• El GrecoEl Greco• MichelangeloMichelangelo• Van EyckVan Eyck• RaphaelRaphael