Notes on Renaissance

Notes: “Renaissance”SocialPoliticalReligious IntellectualTechnologicalEconomic

Renaissance in a Nutshell

Rebirth of Classical Antiquity The world of the Greeks and Romans

Urbanization of society Cities the center of Renaissance Europe

Individualism The glory of God is reflected through human potential and

achievement Man becomes more of the center and measure of all things A well-rounded individual is the ideal

Secularism Decreased singular importance of religion

Social

Urbanization fueled major social changes

Growth of the merchants/bourgeoisie

Importance of Guilds in Renaissance

Persecution of Jews

Urbanization

Europe remained predominantly rural, but cities rapidly Strong relationship between trade, manufacturing

and urbanzation Northern Italian cities and Flanders

Growth in Bourgeoisie and Petit Bourgeoisie Bourgeoisie- Owners of capitalistic enterprises

Served as patrons of culture Petit Bourgeoisie- Shopkeepers, artisans,

guildmaster who provided goods and services for local consumption

Guilds

Trade associations that regulated the practice and access to tradesServed to limit competition and perpetuate

male dominance in trade/businessResulted in continued inequalitiesDiscriminated against Jews

Persecution of Jews

Most Jews resided in Europe’s citiesUrban-oriented because of focus on trade and business (money-lending) Jews often excluded from other

professions

Persecuted Jews in times of crisisExpelled from Spain in 1492 after many years of persecution

Political

End of Papal Supremacy

Rise of the “New Monarchies” (France, England, Spain)

Political Fragmentation in Italy and Holy Roman Empire

Varying Power of Nobility

Advent of “Machiavellian” Politics

End of Papal Supremacy

End of papal supremacy epitomized by Pope Bonaface VIII (Pope is superior to every living creature)Pope arrested by King Phillip of FranceEstablishment of “alternative” papal seat in Avignon, FranceMonarchical power over popes increased

Rise of New Monarchies

France- Enmity towards England during Hundred Years War (1337-1453) increased nationalistic feelings

England- First Tudor King (Henry VII) established strong monarchy and reduced power of nobles by taking away armies

Spain- Isabela (Castile) and Ferdinand (Aragon) marriage unified Spain

Political Fragmentation

Holy Roman Empire (A Confederation of independent states in present-day Germany)

Italy- Lack of centralized political authority with many city-states (Florence, Siena, Venice)Ensuing competition between France and

Spain for control of Italy

Varying Power of Nobility

England- Nobility secured guarantee of hereditary rights through Magna Carta

Other Locations- Weakened by new military technology that made reduced impenetrability of fortesses

Advent of Machiavellian Politics

Machiavelli (1469-1527)

Focus on how leaders could acquire, maintain, and expand political powerContrasted with ruling according to

Christian-based moral principles

“Ends justify the means”

Morality NOT a part of political activity

Religious

End of Church’s supremacy in “national affairs”

Rise of Skepticism (Impact of Black Death)

Advent of Christian Humanism and Scholasticism

Increased Corruption of Papacy

Fusion of Official Christianity and “Nationalism” in Spain

End of Church Supremacy in Nat’l Affairs

Major challenges to Church supremacy by France (political)

Cultural supremacy challenged by Renaissance patrons of the arts (Medici)

Scientific advancements directly contradicted Church doctrine

Forces for Change

Rise of Skepticism Result of the Black Death

A major questioning of religion and even the existence of God

Worldly, Corrupt Nature of Renaissance Popes Series of corruption scandals Involvement in worldly affairs

Julius II (1503-1513) led armies personally against Venice

Advent of Christian Humanism and Scholasticism

Christian Humanism (Erasmus- 1466-1536): Believed that Christianity should be a guiding philosophy for the direction of daily life rather than a system of dogmatic beliefs

Scholasticism- Effort to synthesize faith and reason with AristotleThomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)

Intellectual

Development of secular, individualist literature

Stunning development “naturalist” painting with focus on the human form (Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo)

Popularization of the intellectual literary realm

Development of secular, individualist literature

Written in vernacular to reach broad audiences

Focus on the individual and individual attitudes

Often quite secularDante: Divine ComedyChaucer: Canterbury Tales

Artistic (Big Three)

Focused on persuading audiences of the reality of the event/person they were painting/sculptingDa Vinci- Focused on realism

Mona Lisa and Last SupperRaphael- Best known for frescoesMichelangelo- Focused on ideal human

with perfect proportionsSistine Chapel and the David

Art and PatronageItalians were willing to spend a lot of money on art.Art communicated social, political, and spiritual

values. Italian banking & international trade interests

had the money.

Public art in Florence was organized and supported by guilds.

Therefore, the consumption of art was used as a form of competition for social & political status!

1. Realism & 1. Realism & ExpressionExpression

� Expulsion Expulsion fromfromthe Gardenthe Garden

� MasaccioMasaccio

� 14271427

� First nudes First nudes sincesinceclassical classical timestimes..

2. Perspective2. Perspective

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

First use First use of linear of linear

perspective!perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

� The The TrinityTrinity

� MasaccioMasaccio

� 14271427

What you What you are, I once are, I once was; what I was; what I am, you will am, you will

become.become.

PerspectivePerspective

3. Classicism3. Classicism

� Greco-Roman influence.

� Secularism.

� Humanism.

� Individualism free standing figures.

� Symmetry/BalanceThe The “Classical Pose”“Classical Pose”

Medici “Venus” (1c)Medici “Venus” (1c)

4. Emphasis on 4. Emphasis on IndividualismIndividualism� Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre: Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre:

The Duke & Dutchess of UrbinoThe Duke & Dutchess of Urbino

� Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.

Isabella d’Este –Isabella d’Este – da Vinci, da Vinci, 14991499� 1474-1539

� “First Lady of the Italian Renaissance.”

� Great patroness of the arts.

� Known during her time as “First Lady of the World!”

5. Geometrical 5. Geometrical Arrangement of Arrangement of

FiguresFigures� The Dreyfus The Dreyfus Madonna Madonna with the with the PomegranatPomegranatee

� Leonardo da Leonardo da VinciVinci

� 14691469

� The figure as The figure as architecture!architecture!

6. Light & 6. Light & Shadowing/Softening Shadowing/Softening

EdgesEdges

ChiaroscuroChiaroscuro

SfumatoSfumato

7. Artists as 7. Artists as Personalities/CelebritiesPersonalities/Celebrities

� Lives of the Lives of the Most Most Excellent Excellent Painters, Painters, Sculptors, andSculptors, andArchitectsArchitects

� Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari

� 15501550

Renaissance Renaissance FlorenceFlorence

The Wool FactoryThe Wool Factoryby Mirabello Cavalori, 1570by Mirabello Cavalori, 1570 1252 – first gold 1252 – first gold

florinsflorins minted minted

Florentine lion:Florentine lion:symbol of St. symbol of St.

MarkMark

Lorenzo Lorenzo the Magnificentthe Magnificent

1478 - 15211478 - 1521

Cosimo de Cosimo de MediciMedici

1517 - 15741517 - 1574

Florence Under the Florence Under the MediciMedici

Medici ChapelMedici Chapel

The Medici PalaceThe Medici Palace

� Filippo Filippo BrunelleschiBrunelleschi1377 - 14361377 - 1436

� ArchitectArchitect

� Cuppolo of St. Cuppolo of St. MariaMariadel Fioredel Fiore

Filippo Brunelleschi

Commissioned to build the cathedral dome. Used unique

architectural concepts.

He studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome.

Used ribs for support.

Brunelleschi’s Brunelleschi’s “Secret”“Secret”

Brunelleschi’s Brunelleschi’s DomeDome

Comparing DomesComparing Domes

Other Famous Other Famous DomesDomes

Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US capital (Florence) (Rome) (London) (Washington)

The Ideal CityThe Ideal City Piero della Piero della

Francesca, 1470Francesca, 1470

A Contest to Decorate the A Contest to Decorate the Cathedral: Cathedral: Sacrifice of IsaacSacrifice of Isaac

PanelsPanelsBrunelleschi Ghiberti

Ghiberti – Ghiberti – Gates of ParadiseGates of ParadiseBaptistry Door, Florence – 1425 - Baptistry Door, Florence – 1425 -

14521452The Winner!The Winner!

� David by David by DonatelloDonatello

� 14301430

� First free-form bronze First free-form bronze since Roman times!since Roman times!

The Liberation The Liberation of Sculptureof Sculpture

DavidDavid

VerrocchioVerrocchio

1473 - 1473 - 14751475

The Baptism of ChristThe Baptism of Christ Verrocchio, 1472 - 1475Verrocchio, 1472 - 1475

Leonardo Leonardo da Vincida Vinci

� Vitruvian Vitruvian Man Man

� Leonardo daLeonardo daVinciVinci

� 14921492

TheTheL’uomoL’uomo

universauniversalele

The Renaissance “Man”The Renaissance “Man”

� Broad knowledge about many things in different fields.

� Deep knowledge/skill in one area.� Able to link information from

different areas/disciplines and create new knowledge.

� The Greek ideal of the “well-rounded man” was at the heart of Renaissance education.

1.1. Self-Portrait Self-Portrait -- da -- da Vinci, 1512Vinci, 1512

1452 - 15191452 - 1519

� Artist

� Sculptor

� Architect

� Scientist

� Engineer

� Inventor

Leonardo, Leonardo, the Artistthe Artist

� The Virgin The Virgin of the Rocks of the Rocks

� Leonardo daLeonardo daVinciVinci

� 1483-14861483-1486

Leonardo, the Artist:Leonardo, the Artist:From hisFrom hisNotebooks of over Notebooks of over 5000 5000

pages (1508-1519)pages (1508-1519)

Mona LisaMona Lisa – da Vinci, – da Vinci, 1503-41503-4

A Macaroni MonaA Macaroni Mona

ParodyParodyThe Best Form of Flattery?The Best Form of Flattery?

A Picasso MonaA Picasso Mona

An Andy Warhol MonaAn Andy Warhol Mona

A “Mona”ca A “Mona”ca LewinskyLewinsky

Mona LisaMona Lisa OROR da da Vinci??Vinci??

The Last Supper The Last Supper - da - da Vinci, 1498Vinci, 1498& Geometry& Geometry

RefractorRefractoryy

Convent Convent of Santa of Santa

Maria Maria delle delle

GrazieGrazie

MilanMilan

horizontal

vert

ical

PerspectivPerspective!e!

The Last Supper The Last Supper - da - da Vinci, 1498Vinci, 1498

� Detail of Detail of JesusJesus

� The Last The Last SupperSupper

� Leonardo Leonardo da Vincida Vinci

� 14981498

DeterioratioDeteriorationn

A Da Vinci “Code”:A Da Vinci “Code”:St. John St. John oror Mary Magdalene? Mary Magdalene?

Leonardo, the SculptorLeonardo, the Sculptor

� An An Equestrian Equestrian StatueStatue

� 1516-15181516-1518

Leonardo, the Architect:Leonardo, the Architect:Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

� Study of a Study of a central central church.church.

� 14881488

Leonardo, the Architect:Leonardo, the Architect:Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

� Plan of the city of Imola, 1502.Plan of the city of Imola, 1502.

Leonardo, the Scientist Leonardo, the Scientist (Biology):(Biology):Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

� An An example of example of the the humanist humanist desire to desire to unlock the unlock the secrets of secrets of nature.nature.

Leonardo, the Scientist Leonardo, the Scientist (Anatomy): (Anatomy):

Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

Leonardo, the Leonardo, the Inventor:Inventor:

Pages from his Pages from his NotebookNotebook

Man Can Fly?Man Can Fly?

A study of siege A study of siege defenses.defenses.

Studies of water-lifting Studies of water-lifting devices.devices.

Leonardo, the Engineer: Leonardo, the Engineer: Pages from his Pages from his

NotebookNotebook

Leonardo da Vinci….Leonardo da Vinci….

O investigator, do not O investigator, do not flatter yourself that you flatter yourself that you know the things nature know the things nature performs for herself, but performs for herself, but rejoice in knowing that rejoice in knowing that purpose of those things purpose of those things designed by your own designed by your own mind.mind.

2.2. Michelangelo Michelangelo BuonorratiBuonorrati

� 1475 – 15641475 – 1564

� He He represented represented the body in the body in three three dimensions dimensions of sculpture.of sculpture.

� DavidDavid

� MichelangelMichelangelooBuonarottiBuonarotti

� 15041504

� MarbleMarble

15c15c

16c 16c

WhatWhat

aa

differencedifference

aa

centurycentury

makes!makes!

� The PietaThe Pieta

� MichelangeMichelangeloloBuonarrotiBuonarroti

� 14991499

� marblemarble

The Popes as Patrons The Popes as Patrons of the Artsof the Arts

The Sistine The Sistine ChapelChapel

MichelangelMichelangelo Buonarrotio Buonarroti

1508 - 15121508 - 1512

The Sistine Chapel’s The Sistine Chapel’s CeilingCeiling

Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo Buonarroti1508 - 15121508 - 1512

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

The The Creation Creation

of the of the HeavensHeavens

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

Creation of ManCreation of Man

A Modern A Modern “Adaptation”“Adaptation”

Joe Gallo in the New York Daily News, 2004

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

The Fall The Fall from from GraceGrace

The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel DetailsDetails

The Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment

3.3. Raffaello Sanzio (1483- Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)1520)

Self-PortraitSelf-Portrait, 1506, 1506 Portrait of the Artist Portrait of the Artist with a Friendwith a Friend, 1518, 1518

Baldassare CastiglioneBaldassare Castiglione by by Raphael,Raphael,

1514-15151514-1515� Castiglione Castiglione

represented represented the humanist the humanist “gentleman” “gentleman” as a man of as a man of refinement refinement and self-and self-control.control.

PerspectivPerspective!e!

PerspectivPerspective!e!

BetrothBetrothal al

of the of the Virgin Virgin

RaphaelRaphael

15041504

Raphael’sRaphael’s Canagiani Canagiani Madonna, Madonna, 15071507

Raphael’sRaphael’s Madonnas Madonnas (1)(1)

Sistine MadonnaSistine Madonna Cowpepper MadonnaCowpepper Madonna

Madonna della SediaMadonna della Sedia Alba MadonnaAlba Madonna

Raphael’sRaphael’s Madonnas Madonnas (2)(2)

The School of Athens The School of Athens – – Raphael, 1510 -11Raphael, 1510 -11

� One point perspective.� All of the important Greek

philosophers and thinkers are included all of the great personalities of the Seven Liberal Arts!

� A great variety of poses.� Located in the papal apartments

library.� Raphael worked on this commission

simultaneously as Michelangelo was doing the Sistine Chapel.

� No Christian themes here.

The School of Athens The School of Athens – – Raphael, 1510 -11Raphael, 1510 -11

Raphael

Da Vinci

Michelangelo

AristotleAristotle::looks to thislooks to thisearth [theearth [thehere andhere and

now].now].

PlatoPlato::looks to thelooks to theheavens [or heavens [or

the IDEALthe IDEALrealm].realm].

The School of Athens The School of Athens – – Raphael, Raphael,

Averroes

Hypatia

Pythagoras

Zoroaster

Ptolemy

Euclid

The Liberation of St. The Liberation of St. PeterPeter by Raphael, 1514 by Raphael, 1514

Portrait of Pope Julius IIPortrait of Pope Julius II by Raphael, 1511-1512by Raphael, 1511-1512

� More concerned More concerned with politics than with politics than with theology.with theology.

� The “Warrior The “Warrior Pope.”Pope.”

� Great patron of Great patron of Renaissance Renaissance artists, especially artists, especially Raphael & Raphael & Michelangelo.Michelangelo.

� Died in 1513Died in 1513

Pope Leo X with Cardinal Pope Leo X with Cardinal Giulio deMedici and Luigi De Giulio deMedici and Luigi De Rossi Rossi by Raphael, by Raphael, 1518-15191518-1519� A Medici Pope.A Medici Pope.

� He went through He went through the Vatican the Vatican treasury in a treasury in a year!year!

� His extravagances His extravagances offended even offended even some cardinals some cardinals [[as well as Martin as well as Martin LutherLuther!].!].

� Started selling Started selling indulgencesindulgences. .

Birth of VenusBirth of Venus – – Botticelli, 1485Botticelli, 1485

An attempt to depict perfect beauty.An attempt to depict perfect beauty.

Botticelli’s Venus Motif.Botticelli’s Venus Motif.

10¢ Italian Euro coin.10¢ Italian Euro coin.

2002 Euro Coin2002 Euro Coin

PrimaveraPrimavera – Botticelli, – Botticelli, 14821482

Depicted classical gods as Depicted classical gods as almost naked and life-size.almost naked and life-size.

A Portrait of SavonarolaA Portrait of Savonarola� By Fra Bartolomeo, By Fra Bartolomeo,

1498.1498.

� Dominican friar who Dominican friar who decried money and decried money and power.power.

� Anti-humanistAnti-humanist he saw he saw humanism as too humanism as too secular, hedonistic, and secular, hedonistic, and corrupting.corrupting.

� The The “Bonfire of the “Bonfire of the Vanities,”Vanities,” 1497. 1497.

/ Burned books, artwork, Burned books, artwork, jewelry, and other jewelry, and other luxury goods in public.luxury goods in public.

/ Even Botticelli put Even Botticelli put some of his paintings some of his paintings on the fire!!on the fire!!

The Execution of The Execution of Savonarola, 1452Savonarola, 1452

The Doge, Leonardo LoredonThe Doge, Leonardo LoredonBerlini, 1501Berlini, 1501

Venus of Urbino Venus of Urbino – Titian, – Titian, 15581558

The Penitent Mary The Penitent Mary Magdalene Magdalene by Titian, 1533by Titian, 1533

� By the mid-16c, By the mid-16c, High High Renaissance Renaissance art was art was declining.declining.

� Mannerism Mannerism became more became more popular.popular.

� This painting is This painting is a good example a good example of this new of this new artistic style.artistic style.

Popularization of the Intellectual

Printing press led to the popularization of literary works1500- 10 million books printed in 238

towns in W. Europe

Led to greater focus on secular literature

Technological

Advent of Water WheelsMajor changes in military technologyInvention of the movable metal-type printing pressSignificant architectural achievements (Gothic churches)Key maritime invention and improvements

Technological Advancements

Water Wheels>>>>>> Advances in iron-related industriesImproved Crossbow (NOT “humble arrow”)>>>>> Reduced power of knights and manorismFirearm and Gunpowder>>> Could penetrate fortesses. Led to reduced power of manorism

Technological Advancements

Great improvements on Chinese carved wood blocks: movable pieces of type, new ink, printing press

Johann Gutenberg (1394-1468)

Led to tremendous proliferation of books in EuropeExpansion of unorthodox ideas

Economic

Tremendous economic improvement in Europe during Renaissance

Rapid development of trade (Venice, Genoa, Flanders and Hanseatic League)

Increased European self-sufficiency