Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

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Medieval vs. Renaissance Art

Individualism

Stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and full development of one’s ability

Humanism Study of Latin classics, intellectual movement that focused on human

potential and achievements. Medieval scholars – made classical texts agree with Christian teachings Humanists – studied classical texts to understand Greek values History, literature, and philosophy (Humanities)

Secular Spirit Basic spirit of Renaissance society Worldly rather than spiritual and concerned with the here and now Pope fostered the secularism by supporting artist, writers, and they even

beautified cities Popes became patrons – financially supported artists

Distinctive Features of the Renaissance

Began in Italy, spread to the rest of Europe Italy’s 3 advantages: 1. Thriving Cities

Florence was the preeminent Italian Renaissance City City-States

2. Wealthy Merchant Class Developed in each city-state Medici Family (Florence) Powerful banking family

3. Classical heritage of Greece and Rome Drew inspirations from Roman ruins and studied Latin

manuscripts.

Renaissance starts in Italy

Petrarch (1304-1374)

Father of Renaissance. Known for sonnets (14-line poems)

Desiderius Erasmus (1466?-1536) Christian humanist

Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) Christian humanist Wrote Utopia “Perfect Society”

Humanism

Divine Comedy – describes his journey through hell, purgatory, and paradise

Wrote in Vernacular, native language instead of Latin Imp. Because more accessible to everyday people

Boccaccio Decameron, tragic and comic views of life Published in Italian, also vernacular

Chaucer “Father of English Literature” First poet to be buried at “Poet’s Corner” in Westminster

Renaissance Literature

Johann Gutenberg, German invented Printing Press First book printed was the Bible, 1455 Enabled a printer to produce hundreds of copies of a

single book Books were cheap enough that lots of people could

buy them

The Invention of Printing

Machieavelli (1469-1527) “Political Thinker”

The Prince (Political guidebook that examines the imperfect conduct of human beings)

Keen observer of Italian politics Examines how a ruler can gain power and keep it in spite of his

enemies Still popular because people are interested in getting and

keeping power William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Most famous writer of Elizabethan Age Greatest playwright of all time Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer

Night’s Dream, Taming of the Shrew

Renaissance Literary Achievements

Leonardo da Vinci

Painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist Painted Mona Lisa and The Last Supper (shows the

personalities of Jesus’ disciples through facial expressions)

Inventions: Alarm clock Parachute Diving suit Submarine Construction Crane

Renaissance Artistic Achievements

Michelangelo

Sistine Chapel (Last Judgment) David

Raphael

School of Athens – for Pope’s apartments in the Vatican. Scholars of ancient Greece

Perspective: creates the appearance of 3 dimensions. Based on optical illusion. Distant objects are shown as smaller than closer objects.

Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

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