The Renaissance

(1350-1650)

I. The Renaissance—a “rebirth” of culture and learning in Western Europe

1. Key features:◊Rediscovery of classical Greek and Roman culture

◊Renewed interest in secular (non-religious — concerned with here and now) and worldly matters

◊Increased emphasis on the uniqueness and worth of the individual

II. Italy—the Renaissance began in Italy AROUND 1350 due to traders and Crusaders returning from the Near East

1. Italy already had a rich history of Greek and Roman culture.

2. Cities were centers of trade of exotic goods from the Byzantine Empire which had preserved Greek and Roman culture for nearly 1,000 years since the fall of Rome.

3. Italian city-states—(Milan and Florence)—cities which ran own affairs ◊ ex. Collected own taxes and maintained own army

3. Patronage—when someone financially supports the arts or a specific artist

3. Patron— someone who financially supports the arts or a specific artist

ex. Ex. Lorenzo di Medici : ruled Florence and was a wealthy and powerful patron who financially supported the arts

-Lorenzo di Medici’stomb by

Michelangelo

4. Humanism—study of Greek and Roman culture led to a new philosophy which focused on humans and the world around them

1. Humanists were concerned with secular and worldly matters

2. Emphasized the achievements and abilities of the individual

Medieval Art

Religious

Jesus

Madon

na

Crucifixion

2-dimensional

Lacking

depth/Flat

Unrealisti

c!

Renaissance Art

Can be religious and secular (non-

religious)

Portrai

ts

Landscap

es

Weddi

ngs

Classical Greek and Roman

Style

3-Dimensional

Appearin

g to have

depth or thicknes

s in addition to height

and widthRealist

ic!

Medieval

or

Renaissance?

1. Medieval or

Renaissance?

2. Medieval or

Renaissance?

3. Medieval or Renaissance?

4. Medieval or

Renaissance?

5. Medieval or

Renaissance?

6. Medieval

or Renaissan

ce?

7. Medieval or Renaissance?

8. Medieval or Renaissance?

9. Medieval or Renaissance?

10. Medieval or

Renaissance?