european renaissance

Art, architecture, and poetry

Vitruvian man by Leonardo da Vinci

The Renaissance

• French for “rebirth”

• The Renaissance emerged in 14th century in Florence. Its time span covers 14th-17th centuries, and eventually the movement spread from Florence to all Europe.

• Traditionally, we refer to the Renaissance as a bridge from Middle Ages to Modern Era.

The Renaissance featured intellectual pursuits, social and political upheavals, but mainly it is known for the efflorescence of culture.

Renaissance figures turned to Classic ages, and works of Greek scholars in their pursuits. David, by Michelangelo

Spread of Renaissance

Early spread(through Italy)

Later spread

Florence

As the movement spread, it unveiled distinct characteristics in every region.

Now it is classified as the Southern (Italy, Spain, Portugal) and Northern (France, England, Germany) Renaissance.

Essential aspects of the cultural component of the movement were literature, architecture, art, music, politics, science, and religion.

Architecture Renaissance

architects took inspiration from buildings of classic antiquity. The emphasis is placed upon symmetry, proportion, and regularity of parts.

Basilica of St Peter, VaticanRebuild during Renaissance

Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, ItalyBy Filippo Brunelleschi

Wollaton Hall, near Nottingham, Englandby Robert Smythson, 1580–88;

Comparison

Art

Essential characteristic of the renaissance art, is that it develops highly realistic linear perspective.

Creation of Adam, fresco fragment in Sistine Chapel, Vatican

By Michelangelo

Comparison

Mona LisaBy Leonardo da Vinci

Henry Prince of Wales on the Hunting FieldBy Robert Peake

Paintings

ComparisonSculptures

Pietá, Basilica di san Pietro, Romeby Michelangelo

The head of St. Anne, Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

by Tilman Riemenschneider

SonnetsIn England, no other form

of the Renaissance art was as accepted as literature.

Spencer and Shakespeare, inspired by sonnets of Italian author Petrarch, created a hundred years earlier, worked out their own forms of sonnet.William Shakespeare,

English author of Elizabethan era

Francesco Petrarch,Italian Renaissance author

Petrarchan SonnetSonnet 169

Rapt in the one fond thought that makes me stray

From other men and walk this world aloneSometimes I have escaped myself and

flownTo seek the very one that I should flee;

So fair and fell I see her passing byThat the soul trembles to take flight

again,So many armed sighs are in her train

This lovely foe to Love himself and me!

And yet, upon that high and clouded browI seem to see a ray of pity and shine,

Shedding some light across the grieving heart:

So I call back my soul, and when I vowAt last to tell her of my hidden pain,

I have so much to say I dare not start.

ComparisonShakespearean Sonnet

Sonnet 116Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed markThat looks on tempests and is never

shaken;It is the star to every wandering bark,Whose worth's unknown, although his

height be taken.Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips

and cheeksWithin his bending sickle's compass

come:Love alters not with his brief hours and

weeks,But bears it out even to the edge of

doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Petrarchan SonnetSonnet 169

Rapt in the one fond thought that makes me stray

From other men and walk this world alone

Sometimes I have escaped myself and flown

To seek the very one that I should flee;

So fair and fell I see her passing byThat the soul trembles to take flight

again,So many armed sighs are in her train

This lovely foe to Love himself and me!

And yet, upon that high and clouded brow

I seem to see a ray of pity and shine,Shedding some light across the

grieving heart:

So I call back my soul, and when I vowAt last to tell her of my hidden pain,

I have so much to say I dare not start.

Shakespearean SonnetSonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed markThat looks on tempests and is never

shaken;It is the star to every wandering bark,Whose worth's unknown, although his

height be taken.Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips

and cheeksWithin his bending sickle's compass

come:Love alters not with his brief hours and

weeks,But bears it out even to the edge of

doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/, Renaissance related articles

• www.romaviva.com• www.paintinghere.com