Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

1. Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance By. Janine Hepler

2. Setting the Stage • During the late Middle Ages, Europeans suffered from war & plague • Survivors wanted to enjoy life • Began to question structures of medieval society • Looked to the classical past for ideas

3. The Renaissance • Renaissance= rebirth • Focused on art & learning • Began in Northern Italy in 1300—later spread north

4. Why Italy?—3 Advantages

5. Classical & Worldly Values • Scholars studied ancient Greek works • Became increasingly influenced by classical ideas • Developed new outlook on life

6. Classics Lead to Humanism • Humanism: focused on human potential & achievements • Humanists influenced artists & architecture • Carried on Classical traditions • Popularized subjects of history, literature, & philosophy humanities

7. Enjoyment of Worldly Pleasures • Humanists suggested that people could enjoy life w/o offending God • Enjoyed material luxuries, fine music, & tasty foods • Secular: worldly & concerned w/ the here & now

8. Patrons of the Arts • Renaissance popes sought pleasure & beautified Rome • Renaissance merchants became generous patrons of the arts—demonstrated their own importance • Patron: someone who provides financial support

9. The Renaissance Man • All educated people were expected to create art • The ideal individual sought to master all areas of study— “universal man” • Charming, witty, & well-educated in the Classics—should have self-control

10. The Renaissance Woman • Upper-class women should also know the classics & be charming • Expected to inspire art rather than create it • Had less influence than Medieval women had • Few exercised power

11. Renaissance Revolutionizes Art • Artistic styles changed during the Renaissance • Began to paint prominent citizens rather than strictly religious subjects • Sculptors glorified the human body

12. New Artistic Techniques • Donatello made sculpture more realistic • Carved natural postures • Statue of David • Masaccio rediscovered the technique of perspective • Indicates 3 dimensions

13. Leonardo, Renaissance Man • Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, inventor, & scientist • Deeply interested in how things worked—incorporated his findings into artistic sketches • Painted the Mona Lisa & The Last Supper

15. Raphael Advances Realism • Learned from studying the works of Michelangelo & Leonardo • Portrayed expressions as gentle & calm • Painted the School of Athens

17. Renaissance Writers Change Literature • Vernacular: native language • Dante wrote in Italian rather than Latin • Wrote for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects • Started trends that we still follow

18. Petrarch & Boccaccio Francesco Petrarch Boccaccio Italian writer Best known for the Decameron—series of realistic, off-color stories Presented humans & their follies w/sarcasm • Early & influential humanist • Great poet—wrote in both Italian & Latin • Wrote sonnets about a woman named Laura

19. Machiavelli Advises Rulers • Wrote The Prince—examined the imperfect conduct of humans • Believed people are selfish, fickle, & corrupt • Wasn’t concerned with what was morally right, but what was politically effective

20. Renaissance in review

24. The Northern Renaissance

25. Setting the Stage • In the 1400s, northern Europeans began to adopt the ideas of the Renaissance • Ideas traveled to England, France, Germany, & Flanders • Scholars, students, merchants

26. The Northern Renaissance Begins • 1450: European population begins to recover from the bubonic plague • 1453: Hundred Years’ War b/t France & England ends • Cities grew rapidly • Wealthy urban merchants began to sponsor artists

27. Monarchy & the N. Renaissance • Rulers often sponsored the arts • Purchased paintings, hired Italian artists & architects • Played a major role in bringing styles to N. Europe Francis I of France

28. Character of the N. Renaissance • Italian Renaissance ideas mixed with northern traditions • Humanists were more interested in religious ideas than in secular themes • Developed plans for social reform based on Christian values

29. Invasion of Northern Italy • 1494: French king claimed the throne of Naples in southern Italy • Italian writers & artists left for a safer life in northern Europe

30. German Painters Albrecht Dürer • Studied in Italy • Produced influential woodcuts & engravings • Portrayed religious subjects, classical myths, & realistic landscapes Hans Holbein the Younger • Inspired by Dürer’s realism • Specialized in lifelike portraits • Painted King Henry VIII of England & the royal family

31. Self portrait Albrecht Dürer

32. Work of Hans Holbein

33. Flemish Painters • Flanders= artistic center of N. Europe • Home to wealthy merchant families Jan van Eyck • Carried on tradition of realism • Popularized oil-based paintings Peter Bruegel the Elder • Realist, very detailed • Portrayed proverbs, everyday peasant life, & larger groups of people

35. Northern Writers • Writers adopted the ideal of humanism • Gave humanism a more religious slant • Northern humanists are called Christian humanists

36. Desiderius Erasmus • Received honors from princes, kings, & cardinals • The Praise of Folly= most famous work • Believed that to improve society, all people should study the Bible

37. Thomas More • Close friend of Erasmus • Concerned with society’s flaws • Utopia= most famous work • Served as a model for an ideal society

38. Francois Rabelais • French humanist • Differed from Erasmus & More • Wrote in the vernacular • More secular • Believed people were basically good • Gargantua & Pantaruel= most famous work

39. William Shakespeare • English writer • Considered greatest playwright of all time • Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet • Examined human flaws drew from the classics

40. The Elizabethan Age • AKA Renaissance in England Queen Elizabeth I • Well-educated (French, Italian, Latin, & Greek) • Wrote poetry • Patronized artists & writers

41. Printing Spreads Renaissance Ideas • 1045: Movable type invented in China • 1440: Johann Gutenberg reinvents movable type in Germany • Later Gutenberg invented the printing press Gutenberg Bible= 1st full-size book printed w/ movable type

42. Printing Spreads Learning • The printing press revolutionized European society • Books were cheap enough that many people could buy them • New ideas spread more quickly • Writing in the vernacular increased • People began to read & interpret the Bible—became more critical

44. The Reformation

45. Important Terms • Predestination: One of the doctrines of Calvinism • Calvinism: Religion based on Calvin’s teachings, adopted by reformers in France & other parts of Europe • Catholic Reformation: Movement within the Catholic Church to reform itself, helped Catholics remain loyal during the 1500s • Jesuits: Members of the Society of Jesus who began their work during the Reformation • Council of Trent: Meeting of leaders of the Catholic Church that reached an agreement on several important doctrines as part of the Catholic Reformation

46. Calvinism • People are sinful by nature • Only the elect are saved • Doctrine of Predestination: God has always known who the elect are • Government should be in the hands of religious leaders • Morality should be rigidly regulated

47. Presbyterianism • Based on Calvinist ideas • Each community church was governed by Presbyters

48. Anabaptism • Only adults could decide to be baptized • Church & state should be separate • Anabaptists refused to fight in wars • Anabaptists shared their possessions

49. Major Activities of the Jesuits • Founded & staffed schools throughout Europe • Sent out missionaries to convert non-Christians to Catholicism • Sought to stop Protestantism from spreading

50. Why were the effects of thee work of Jesuit missionaries so long lasting? • They sent out missionaries to all the continents • They founded schools, colleges, & universities worldwide