The Art of the Italian Renaissance

1. The Art of the Italian Renaissance

2. Renaissance Means “rebirth,” specifically the revival of art and learning where educated men and women in Italy hoped to bring back the culture and life of classical Greece and Rome.

3. Renaissance • 1300s-1600s • “rebirth” of art and learning • “rebirth” of Greek/Roman ideas • Impact of the Renaissance still seen today

4. Life Before the Renaissance • Uncertain life: war, plague, economic insecurity • Christian Church dominant force • Most life centered on rural areas • Art had mainly religious themes, very flat and dull • After the plague/wars people wanted more free life guided by Carpe Diem

5. Birth of the Renaissance • Started in Italy: Why? • Trade increased after the crusades. • Italians dominated trade. • Thriving city-states • Wealthy merchant class emerged. • Many became patrons: supporters of the arts • Medici family • Powerful merchant family in Florence (controlled politics) • Strong supporters of the arts. • Collected art, ancient manuscripts, opened libraries • Inspired by Roman ruins, art, literature. • Greek ideas reintroduced through trade routes

6. Why did the Renaissance Begin in Italy? Thriving Cities (City-States) • Overseas trade had led to the growth of large city-states in northern Italy • Cities are often places where people exchange ideas – ideal breeding ground for an intellectual revolution • 1300’s – bubonic plague hit these cities hard, bringing economic changes (with fewer available laborers, the survivors could demand higher wages) • Merchants do not have as much opportunities to expand business, so they pursue other interests (i.e. art)

7. Why did the Renaissance Begin in Italy? A Wealthy Merchant Class • Wealthy merchant class in each city-state controlled politics • Merchants did NOT inherit their social rank • they worked toward their status by succeeding in business by using their wits • many believed the deserved the power and wealth because they had worked for it Belief in individual achievement became important during the Renaissance!!

8. Why did the Renaissance Begin in Italy? The Classical Heritage of Greece and Rome • Scholars shunned art and literature from the Middle Ages, and wanted to return to the learning of the Greeks and Romans

9. Niccolò Machiavelli • The Prince (1513) – examines the imperfect conduct of human beings (a political guidebook) • Examines how a ruler can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies • People are selfish, fickle, and corrupt • “The end justifies the means.” (not concerned with what is morally right, but what is politically effective) • Leaders had to trick and mislead people and lie to opponents sometimes – must be crafty enough to overcome the suspicions and to gain the trust of others How could the changes that led to the rise of Florence help influence Machiavelli’s ideas? Who are examples of “Machiavellian” politicians that you know of? How “Machiavellian” are you?

10. Rise of Humanism IMPORTANT VOCABULARY ALERT!! Humanism:intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements • The Classics Lead to Humanism • Inspired by the study of classical texts in order to understand ancient Greek values • Popularized the study of subjects common to classical education (i.e. history, literature, and philosophy – the “HUMANITIES”)

11. Renaissance Ideas • Humanism: Focus on Human potential • Worldliness (secular)- people focused on the materialism of the time, instead of a primarily religious life. • Learning: development of universities • Antiquity (Classicism): authority of ancient world respected: Greece/Rome • Reform: Humans can change for the better.

12. Petrarch • An Italian scholar, poet, and one of the earliest Renaissance humanists ("father of humanism") • Believed one must turn from the outer world of nature to the inner world of 'soul' • Famous Lines – “nothing is wonderful but the soul”; “we look about us for what is to be found only within”

13. Dante • Italian poet from Florence • Central Work –Divina Commedia • "Father of the Italian language" • Embraced individuality and happiness • Man's duty is to attempt to achieve earthly happiness and everlasting life • Worked in the vernacular instead of the formal Latin language • Mark a transition to a new way of thinking about humanity

14. Desiderius Erasmus“The Prince of the Humanists” • Christian Humanist (Holland) • Advocated reform within the Church through his satirical works • Believed in… • Christianity of the heart • All human evils were rooted in ignorance and infatuation and therefore education of humanity was the essential task of his life • Christianity was not only as a religion and doctrine of salvation, but also as a guide to moral life

15. The Move to Worldly Values • Worldly Pleasures • While most people remained devout Catholics, the basic spirit of the Renaissance society was SECULAR (concerned with the HERE and NOW!!) • Even church leaders became worldly, living in elaborate houses and mansions, throwing lavish banquets, and wearing expensive clothes

16. The Move to Worldly Values • Patron of the Arts • PATRONS – financial supporters • Church leaders – Funded the beautification of Rome by spending a lot of money for art • Wealthy merchants – paid to have their portraits made or donated art to the city to place in public squares (demonstrating their own importance)

17. The Move to Worldly Values • The Renaissance Man • A man who excelled in many fields praised as a universal man” – later to be called “Renaissance man” • Characteristics According to Castiglione (The Courtier) • Witty, charming, and well educated in the classics • Should dance, sing, play music, and write poetry • Skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman

18. The Renaissance 'Individual'

19. 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.

20. Leonardo da Vinci • Michelangelo • Donatello • Raphael

21. Charateristics of Renaissance Art

22. 1. Realism & Expression • Expulsion fromthe Garden • Masaccio • 1427 • First nudes sinceclassical times.

23. 2. Perspective • The Trinity • Masaccio • 1427 Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! First use of linear perspective! What you are, I once was; what I am, you will become.

24. 3. Classicism • Greco-Roman influence. • Secularism. • Humanism. • Individualism  free standing figures. • Symmetry/Balance The “Classical Pose”Medici “Venus” (1c)

25. 4. Empasis on Individualism • Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre: The Duke & Dutchess of Urbino • Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.

26. Isabella d’Este – da Vinci, 1499 • 1474-1539 • “First Lady of the Italian Renaissance.” • Great patroness of the arts in Mantua. • Known during her time as “First Lady of the World!”

27. 5. Geometrical Arrangement of Figures • The Dreyfus Madonna with the Pomegranate • Leonardo da Vinci • 1469 • The figure as architecture!

28. 6. Light & Shadowing/Softening Edges Sfumato Chiaroscuro

29. 7. Artists as Personalities/Celebrities • Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, andArchitects • Giorgio Vasari • 1550

30. The Liberation of Sculpture • David by Donatello • 1430 • First free-form bronze since Roman times!

31. DavidVerrocchio1473 - 1475

32. Leonardo da Vinci“Renaissance Man” His work was so realistic, that people have tried to explain thoughts and personalities through the facial expressions

33. Leonardo da Vinci“Renaissance Man” He was also known for his work in anatomy, engineering, and mathematics. Anatomical study of the arm, (c. 1510) A design for a flying machine, (c. 1488)

34. Vitruvian Man • Leonardo daVinci • 1492 TheL’uomouniversale

35. 1. Self-Portrait -- da Vinci, 1512 • Artist • Sculptor • Architect • Scientist • Engineer • Inventor 1452 - 1519

36. Leonardo, the Artist • The Virgin of the Rocks • Leonardo daVinci • 1483-1486

37. Leonardo, the Artist:From hisNotebooks of over 5000 pages (1508-1519)

38. Mona Lisa – da Vinci, 1503-4 ?

39. A Macaroni Mona

40. A Picasso Mona

41. An Andy Warhol Mona

42. A “Mona”ca Lewinsky

43. Mona LisaOR da Vinci??

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

45. Refractory Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie Milan

46. The Last Supper - da Vinci, 1498 vertical horizontal Perspective!

47. Deterioration • Detail of Jesus • The Last Supper • Leonardo da Vinci • 1498

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

49. Leonardo, the Sculptor • An Equestrian Statue • 1516-1518

50. Leonardo, the Architect:Pages from his Notebook • Study of a central church. • 1488