Chapter 1Section 1

The Renaissance in ItalyObjectives:

1.Describe the characteristics of the Renaissance and understand why it began in Italy2.Identify Renaissance artists and explain how new ideas affected the arts of the period3.Understand how writers of the time addressed Renaissance themes

I. What was the Renaissance?• The Renaissance

– A time of creativity and change in – Politics

– Society

– Economics

– Culture

– It will begin in the 1300’s and peak around 1500

• A New World Evolves– Renaissance = Rebirth

• Rebirth from a time that saw disorder and disunity from the medieval world

– Reawaken the interest in the classic learning of Greece and Rome– Use of Latin as the language of the Church and Scholars– New attitudes toward culture and learning

• Medieval times focused on spirituality and religious beliefs

• Renaissance explored the richness and variety of human experiences– Society placed a new emphasis on individual achievement– Renaissance Ideal was a person with a wide variety of talent in different areas

• Spirit of Adventure– Renaissance supported new ideas

• Curiosity led people to explore

– Giovanni Pico del Mirandola• “To [man] it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he

wills”• What does this mean?

• Expressing Humanism– Humanism

• Intellectual movement that focused on education and the classics• The classics were used to increase their understanding of their own

times– Worldly Subjects

» Grammar» History» Rhetoric» Poetry» Philosophy

– Petrach• Early Renaissance humanist• Considered the Father of Italian Renaissance Humanism

II. Italy: Cradle of the Renaissance• The Renaissance begins in Italy and transforms the rest

of the Western World• History and Geography

– Rome• Interest in the Ancient ways

– Architecture and art

• Roman Catholic Church– Based in Rome– Supported many of the artist and architects of the Renaissance

– Mediterranean Sea• Major Trade Route

• Center of trade with Muslim world

• Not just trade of items but ideas

• The City State– Divided Italy

• Controlled by powerful families

– Florence• Controlled by the de Medici Family

• Family of skilled bankers

• Cosimo de’ Medici– Gained control of Florence in 1434

• Lorenzo the Magnificent– Generous patron of the arts

III. Renaissance Art Flowers

• Reflection of Humanism– Portrayed religious themes

• However, set against classic backgrounds

– Revival of Classical forms of art– Donatello

• Greatest sculptor of all time• Gattamelata, Soldier on Horseback

– First giant sculpture since ancient times

• New Techniques– Realistic

• Medieval art was stylized• Return to the classics• Perspective

– Distant objects are smaller than closer objects to the viewer– Painting seem three dimensional

• Shading– Gives the appearance of reflections of light

• Human Anatomy– Use of Live models

• Architecture– Begin adopting the styles of Greece and Rome

• Columns

• Arches

• Domes

– Brunelleschi• The Dome in Florence

– Modeled the dome of the Pantheon

• Leonardo da Vinci– Artist

• Mona Lisa

• Last Supper

– Architect– Inventor

• Flying machines

• Undersea boats

• Tanks

• Weapons

– Scientist• Dissected corpses to learn about the body

• Michelangelo– Melancholy genius

• His work reflects life long spiritual and artistic struggles

– David• Biblical Sheppard that slays the giant Goliath

– Pieta• Captures the sorrow of the Biblical Mary as she cradles her dead

son Jesus

– Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel• Depicted the history of the Bible from Creation to the Flood(Noah’s

Ark)

• Took 4 years to complete

• Left partially cripple

• Raphael– Considered one of the greatest artists of all time– Best known for his Madonnas

• Statues of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus– Viewed as tender portrayals

– School of Athens• Fictitious gathering of all of the greatest thinkers of all time

– Plato– Aristotle– Socrates– Averroes– Also included, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Himself

IV. Writing for a New Society

• Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier– Describes the manners and skills of the members of the court should have

• Men are:– Athletic, but not overactive– Not a gambler– Knows music and history– Not arrogant

• Women are:– Graceful– Kind– Lively, but reserved– Beautiful– The perfect balance of man

• Machiavelli’s The Prince– A guide to obtaining and maintaining power– THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS

• Use whatever methods to achieve your goals