Italy – Birthplace of the Renaissance

1. Italy – Birthplace of the Renaissance Chapter 17 Section 1

2. 3. Renaissance Men and women Characteristics • Educated / A hunger for learning. • A master of many subjects – A Ren Man needed to write poetry and sword fight – to be well rounded (one reason why you have so many school subjects today like Math, Science, & History! Women were supposed to be more humble a source of inspiration for art but not to create it! Women had a long road to go before equality. • Humanism – human potential – The idea that human beings can solve anything / achieve anything they work at.

3. 4. How did Italian Cities help? • They were small city-states, many were republics, which encouraged participation in government and rewarded people on their merit and skill. • Remember Leonardo “I am from Common Stock” – but he had talent!

4. 5. Attitudes of Church & wealthy toward art? • The church and wealthy were patrons – they supported the arts because it enhanced their own image, beatified (made beautiful) their communities, and showed their own importance.

5. 6. Influence of the classics (Greece & Rome)? • Change in attitude from one which emphasized your fate (born into position) to one which focused on human potential like the ancient Greek Meritocracy (direct democracy in Athens & the Olympics) – • Key Point: you can improve your “lot in life” without offending God – your destiny is not predetermined!.

6. 7. Humanism in Art? • Renaissance Art such as the Statue of David by Michelangelo emphasizes the achievements of the low born David in defeating the Giant Goliathand rising to become King of the Ancient Israelites. (achievement based on merit not birth).

7. Leonardo Lady with an Ermine (above) The Virgin of the Rocks (right)

8. Leonardo da vinci • One of the most famous artists of the Renaissance. • He lived from 1452 to 1519. • Painted The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. • Inventor – filled 3,500 pages full of ideas and notes – all written backwards (maybe to hide their secrets).

10. Donatello • Gattamelate at Padua & St. George

11. Michelangelo

12. Michelangelo • The Last Judgement

13. Raphael

14. Renaissance • A period of Rebirth, re-awakening especially in learning and the arts. The European Renaissance: ~1350 - 1600. Key Characteristics: Humanism, Classical ideals, new fine art and scientific discoveries

15. Humanism • A philosophy that believes in the power of human potential to overcome life’s challenges.

16. Secular • Non-religious – “worldly” – Not connected to religion. • The Middle Ages were dominated by the Catholic Church and deep devotion to religion was normal, so a new word was needed to describe things/people/ideas that were not connected to religion, or “worldly.”

17. Patron (of the Arts) • Someone who supports your business / buys your art / your customer. • A Patron of the Arts “buys art” so the artist can make a living & produce more art! • Artists in the Renaissance often had a “sponsor” who paid the bills so they could create art. (Think of the Duke of Milan and Leonardo da Vinci).

18. Perspective A Renaissance artistic technique for 3D effects - displaying 3 dimensions in art. Masolino da Panicale – 1423 – Miracles of Peter

19. Cosimo de Medici • An Italian Merchant who dominated Florentinepolitics from “behind the scenes” with his money. • He was virtual dictator of Florence 1434-1464. He controlled the “winner of elections with his money – why run for an election when you could lose! $$ = Power. • Believed power came from Merit & hard work and therefore power should be awarded accordingly..

20. Classical Influence= Greece & Rome! • Classical virtues included values like idealism in art and sculpture (the ideal = perfection). • In government it focuses on Democracy. (Direct Democracy in Athens, Greece & Republic in Rome). • Meritocracy: focus on reward through ability and achievement.

21. A Renaissance MAn & WomEn TOO • A person who has many talents and abilities. • All educated people needed to create Art and master as many subjects as possible. • Ex: Leonardo da Vinci, Isabella D’Este

22. Isabella D’Este • An aristocrat and “Renaissance woman” • Patron of the Arts – she bought art and created a studiolo – a quiet “study” room for reading & art. • Woman of Power: She ruled the city-state of Mantua (in Northern Italy) with her husband and when he was captured in war, she successfully defended the city.

23. The Courtier • A book about how to become a Renaissance Man. • Written by Baldassare Castiglione.

24. Donatello • A Renaissance Artist / Sculptor: made sculpture more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions that helped to reveal personality. • Famous Work: Bronze Statue of David (the Biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath). First Free standing bronze statue of the Renaissance.

25. Raphael • Renaissance Artist, younger than Leonardo and Michaelangelo, learned by studying their works. • Painted The School of Athens – shows off Ren. Art breakthroughs like Perspective and Vanishing point • Imp b/c it shows the influence of the classics – Socrates, Plato. Aristotle.

26. Michelangelo • Famous Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, and poet. • Famous works: Statue of David (in Marble), painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (in Rome).

27. Petrarch • The “Father of Renaissance Humanism” • One of the first scholars to unlock the classics and begin the Philosophy of Humanism during the Renaissance.

28. Niccolo Machiavelli • Author of The Prince – a “how to” book about how rulers of the Renaissance should rule their countries. • Famous for the expression the end justifies the means. (If the end is good, then it is ok to do a little bad to get there! A Philosophy many follow today!)