Renaissance and Reformation: Cultural Renewal and Religious Revolution

1. RENAISSANCE and REFORMATION 1450-1750

2. Teacher Notes: The Renaissance was a time of cultural, economic, and political renewal from the Middle Ages. The Renaissance began with the emergence of a secular worldview in the wealthy city-states of Italy. The city-states were the dominant force in Italy's economic, social, and political life. It was in this context that the writer Machiavelli developed his famous thesis on political power. Milan, Venice, and Florence were particularly prosperous trading centers. Italy was a largely urban society. However, most people in Europe were peasants, and nobles held considerable power. In the towns and cities, there were clear divisions between the classes, ranging from the wealthy and influential patricians to the miserably poor. The family was an important source of security in Italy's dangerous cities.

3. OBJECTIVE(s): Weeks 4-5: Renaissance: Between 1450 and 1750, Italian intellectuals began to reexamine the culture of the Greeks and Romans which sparked a cultural renewal in Europe. Describe the causes, effects, and impact on society of the Renaissance and Protestant Reformation by researching and creating a newspaper or newscast. Weeks 5-6: Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther’s break with the Catholic Church led to the emergence of the Protestant Reformation and several political challenges in Europe.

4. ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY: • Renaissance – “Rebirth” of Classical Greece & Rome • Secularism– “worldly” viewpoint for material enjoyment. • Urban – living in a city • Aristocrat – a noble or upper class • Patron – a person who supports w/ money, gifts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, institution, special event, or the like: a patron of the arts.

5. ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY 2: • Humanism - Pursuit of individualism • Vernacular - native language of a place • Indulgence - gratification of desire • Thesis - a subject for an essay • Sacrament - something regarded as possessing a sacred or mysterious significance • Denomination - a religious group, often larger than a sect

6. Middle Ages vs Renaissance • During the middle ages • Find God • Prove pre-conceived ideas • During the Renaissance • Find man • Promote learning

7. What was the Renaissance? • Period following the middle ages (1450-1750) • “Rebirth” of classical Greece and Rome • Began in Italy…. Moved to the rest of Europe

8. Italian Background • Major city centers • Venice: Republic ruled by oligarchy, Byzantine origins • Milan: Visconti and Sforza families • Florence (Tuscany): Republic ruled by the Medici • Papal States: Ruled by the Pope • Kingdom of Naples: King of Aragon

9. Why it started in ITALY? • Urban society…powerful city-states (Milan, Venice, and Florence) • Church’s power had decline • People in Italy had a SECULAR or “worldly” viewpoint for material enjoyment.

10. Humanism • Pursuit of individualism • Recognition that humans are creative • Appreciation of art as a product of man • Basic culture needed for all • Life could be enjoyable • Love of the classical past

11. Italian Background • Florence • Medici's—family of physicians • Money in banking • Financed wool trade • Became defacto rulers of Florence

12. Italian Background • Cosimo de Medici • Advanced arts and education • Piero de Medici • Continued father’s artistic support • Lorenzo de Medici • Poet • Friend of Michelangelo • Rebuilt University of Pisa • Continued to invite scholars to Florence

13. Italian Background • Piero de Medici • Forced to make military and commercial concessions to King of France • Medici’s forced out of the city • Savonarola • Friar who decried money, power • Gained power in lower class, but lost pope’s support • Excommunicated and hung

14. Erasmus • The leading humanist of the age • Studied ancient languages • Translated New Testament • Criticized Martin Luther • …Free Will and Hyperaspistes • In Praise of Folly • Major work • Written in classical style • Discoursed on the foolishness and misguided pompousness of the world

15. Early Renaissance Art • What was different in the Renaissance: • Realism…human like • Linear Perspective….depth • Classical (pagan/religious) themes • Geometrical arrangement of figures • Light and shadowing (chiaroscuro) • Softening of edges (sfumato) • Backgrounds • Artist able to live from commissions

16. Causes of the Renaissance • Lessening of feudalism • Church disrespected • Nobility in chaos • Growth of Middle Class through trade • Fall of Constantinople • Greek scholars fled to Italy • Education • Nostalgia among the Italians to recapture the glory of the Roman empire

17. Ghiberti • Sculpture competition with Brunelleschi • Gates of Paradise

18. Gates of Paradise

19. “Sacrifice of Isaac” Panels Brunelleschi Ghiberti

20. David Saint George Donatello Mary Magdalene

21. Filippo Brunelleschi • Founded Renaissance style • Simple lines • Substantial walls • Structural elements not hidden

22. Filippo Brunelleschi • Il Duomo Cathedral’s dome (Florence)

23. Filippo Brunelleschi • Commissioned to build the cathedral dome • Use unique architectural concepts • Studied Pantheon • Used ribs for support • Structural elements have been copied on other buildings

24. Dome Comparison Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US capital (Florence) (Rome) (London)

25. Filippo Brunelleschi • Pazzi Palace Chapel • Compare to Gothic

26. Masaccio • Realism and expression • The Expulsion from Paradise

27. Masaccio • Perspective • Tribute Money • Size of people diminishes with distance • Use of light, shadow and drama

28. Masaccio • Perspective (cont.) • The Holy Trinity with the Virgin and St. John • Geometry • Inscription: “What you are, I once was; what I am, you will become.”

29. Perspective

30. Sandro Botticelli • Pagan themes • La Primavera • The Birth of Venus • Attempt to depict perfect beauty

31. Classical Pose Medici Venus (1st century AD) Birth of Venus

32. Renaissance Man • Broad knowledge about many things in different fields • Deep knowledge of skill in one area • Able to link areas and create new knowledge

33. Escher Perspective

34. High Renaissance

35. Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519

36. Early Life • Madonna of the Rocks • Geometrical arrangement of figures • Chiaroscuro • Sfumato • Foreshortening • Background treatments • Artists live on commissions

37. Milan • Last Supper • Used new fresco method • Built into the room's end • Light from the side with the window • Door cut below • During WWII a bomb hit the monastery • Destroyed by erosion

38. Mona Lisa • The greatness of the Mona Lisa • What do you see?

39. Notebooks • Coded • Read R L with a mirror • Scientific illustration • Used science to support art

40. Aeronautics

41. Anatomy

42. Technology • Machines • Hydraulics • Vehicles on land • Architecture • Scientific method

43. Legacy • Only 17 paintings • Notebooks • Drawings of unfinished works • Diverted rivers to prevent flooding • Principles of turbine • Cartography • Submarine • Flying machine • Parachute • …And much more….

44. Renaissance Man • Renaissance period • Leonardo daVinci • Michelangelo and Raphael • Petrarch, Erasmus, Pico della Mirandola Why were there so many Renaissance men during the Renaissance? • Lack of boundaries between disciplines • Knowledge was just knowledge

45. Leonardo’s Environment and Motivation • Earning a living (profit) • Rivalry with other artists • Scientific curiosity • Civic duty

46. Michelangelo Buonarroti

47. Early Life • Born outside of Florence • Apprenticed as a sculptor • Master recognized his talents

48. Commissions by Medici • Lived in the Medici palace • Studied anatomy • Several pieces for the Medici tombs, etc.

49. Rome • Commissioned to do Pietá

50. Return to Florence • Commissioned to do David