Origins of the Renaissance

Origins of the Origins of the RenaissanceRenaissance

Origins of the RenaissanceOrigins of the Renaissance

I. Renaissance: What Is It?I. Renaissance: What Is It?

A. DefinitionA. Definition

B. Time Span (April 6, 1327 – February 18, 1564)B. Time Span (April 6, 1327 – February 18, 1564)

Origins of the RenaissanceOrigins of the Renaissance

II. Preconditions and Impetuses for the RenaissanceII. Preconditions and Impetuses for the Renaissance

A. EconomicA. Economic

B. SocialB. Social

C. PoliticalC. Political

D. CulturalD. Cultural

II. Preconditions and Impetuses for II. Preconditions and Impetuses for the Renaissancethe Renaissance

A. EconomicA. Economic

1. Developing Commerce (Venice and Genoa)1. Developing Commerce (Venice and Genoa)

2. Accumulation of Capital in Northern Italy2. Accumulation of Capital in Northern Italy

3. Black Death Results in Lower Demand, Falling Prices3. Black Death Results in Lower Demand, Falling Prices

Renaissance Italy (late Renaissance Italy (late 15ht century)15ht century)

Spread of the Black Death 1347Spread of the Black Death 1347−−13501350

Estimated Population of Europe 1200-Estimated Population of Europe 1200-15501550

II. Preconditions and Impetuses for the II. Preconditions and Impetuses for the RenaissanceRenaissance

B. SocialB. Social

1. Growth of Cities1. Growth of Cities

2. Rise of Universities2. Rise of Universities

3. Patrons of Learning3. Patrons of Learning

a. Medici Family (Florence)a. Medici Family (Florence)

b. Sforza Family (Milan)b. Sforza Family (Milan)

c. Este Lords (Ferrara)c. Este Lords (Ferrara)

d. Alfonso the Magnanimous (Naples)d. Alfonso the Magnanimous (Naples)

e. Popes: Nicholas V, Pius II, Julius II, Leo Xe. Popes: Nicholas V, Pius II, Julius II, Leo X


C. PoliticalC. Political

1. Independent City-States (Milan and Florence)1. Independent City-States (Milan and Florence)

a. Jakob Burckhardt, a. Jakob Burckhardt, The Civilization of the Renaissance in The Civilization of the Renaissance in ItalyItaly (1867)(1867)

b. Hans Baron, b. Hans Baron, The Crisis of the Early Italian RenaissanceThe Crisis of the Early Italian Renaissance (1955, 1966) (1955, 1966)

c. Robert Lopez, c. Robert Lopez, ““Hard Times and Investment in CapitalHard Times and Investment in Capital”” (1957)(1957)

2. Fall of Constantinople (1453)2. Fall of Constantinople (1453)

Siege of Florence (1529−1530), Siege of Florence (1529−1530), painting done in 1558 by Giorgio painting done in 1558 by Giorgio

Vasari (1511−1574)Vasari (1511−1574)



1. Influence of Muslim and Byzantine Civilizations1. Influence of Muslim and Byzantine Civilizations

2. Revival of Interest in Classical Culture and Themes2. Revival of Interest in Classical Culture and Themes

3. Growth of Critical and Skeptical Attitude, “Scientific” 3. Growth of Critical and Skeptical Attitude, “Scientific” InquiryInquiry

4. Perspective in Painting, Architecture, and Town Planning4. Perspective in Painting, Architecture, and Town Planning


1. Influence of Muslim and Byzantine Civilizations1. Influence of Muslim and Byzantine Civilizations

a. Gianfrancesco Pico della Mirandola (1469–1494)a. Gianfrancesco Pico della Mirandola (1469–1494)

b. Manual Chrysoloras (1350–1415)b. Manual Chrysoloras (1350–1415)

c. Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli (1397–1482)c. Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli (1397–1482)

d. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446)d. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446)


2. Revival of Interest in Classical Culture and Themes2. Revival of Interest in Classical Culture and Themes

a. Study of Roman Lawa. Study of Roman Law

b. Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510)b. Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510)

““Three Three Graces” from Graces” from PompeiPompei

Middle Ages Middle Ages “Three “Three Graces”Graces”

““Three Three Graces” by Graces” by BotticelliBotticelli

PrimaveraPrimavera (1482), tempera on wood (1482), tempera on wood by Sandro Botticelli (1445−1510)by Sandro Botticelli (1445−1510)

The Birth of VenusThe Birth of Venus (1483−85), (1483−85), tempera on panel by Sandro Botticelli tempera on panel by Sandro Botticelli

(1445−1510)(1445−1510)


3. Growth of Critical and Skeptical Attitude, “Scientific” Inquiry3. Growth of Critical and Skeptical Attitude, “Scientific” Inquiry

a. Dante (1265–1321)a. Dante (1265–1321)

b. Roger Bacon (1220–1292)b. Roger Bacon (1220–1292)

c. Lorenzo Valla (1407–1457)c. Lorenzo Valla (1407–1457)

d. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)d. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)


4.4. Perspective in Painting, Architecture, and Town PlanningPerspective in Painting, Architecture, and Town Planning

a. Brunelleschi’s paintings of Baptistry and Palazzo Vecchioa. Brunelleschi’s paintings of Baptistry and Palazzo Vecchio

– – Church of S. Lorenzo, FlorenceChurch of S. Lorenzo, Florence

– – cloisters of Pazzi Chapel, Florencecloisters of Pazzi Chapel, Florence

b. Masaccio (1401–c.1428), b. Masaccio (1401–c.1428), TrinityTrinity (1425) (1425)

c. Leon Batttista Alberti (1404–1472) — c. Leon Batttista Alberti (1404–1472) — Della pitturaDella pittura

St. Giovanii St. Giovanii Baptistry in Baptistry in FlorenceFlorence

Christ Christ Pantocrator Pantocrator in the in the Baptistry, Baptistry, FlorenceFlorence

Theotokos Theotokos of Vladimir of Vladimir (12(12thth CenturyCentury

Ognissanti Ognissanti Madonna Madonna (ca. 1310)(ca. 1310)

Tempura on wood, by Tempura on wood, by Giotto (1266/7−1337)Giotto (1266/7−1337)

The The AnnunciationAnnunciation (1344)(1344)

Painting by Ambrogio Painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti Lorenzetti (1285−1348)(1285−1348)

The The AnnunciationAnnunciation (1489−90)(1489−90)

Sandro BotticelliSandro Botticelli

(1445−1510)(1445−1510)

The Annunciation (1472−75), painting The Annunciation (1472−75), painting by Leonardo da Vinci (1452−1519)by Leonardo da Vinci (1452−1519)

Lamentation Lamentation over the over the Dead Christ Dead Christ (ca. 1490(ca. 1490

Tempera on canvas by Tempera on canvas by Andrea Mantegna Andrea Mantegna (1431−1506)(1431−1506)


5. Petrarch (1304–1374)5. Petrarch (1304–1374)

a. Mt. Ventoux (April 26, 1336 – “birthday of Alpinisn”)a. Mt. Ventoux (April 26, 1336 – “birthday of Alpinisn”)

b. Laura de Noves (d. 1348)b. Laura de Noves (d. 1348)

c. c. Canzoniere (Song Book)Canzoniere (Song Book)

Mt. VentouxMt. Ventoux

Petrarch, Sonnet 246 (English)Petrarch, Sonnet 246 (English)

The breeze that with its gentle sighing movesThe breeze that with its gentle sighing movesthe green laurel and the curling gold,the green laurel and the curling gold,makes the spirit wander from the bodymakes the spirit wander from the bodyat seeing her fresh and pretty looks.at seeing her fresh and pretty looks.

This white rose born among sharp thorns,This white rose born among sharp thorns,when shall we see its equal in this world,when shall we see its equal in this world,this glory of our age? O living Jove,this glory of our age? O living Jove,command that I die before her, I pray:command that I die before her, I pray:

so I may not see that great earthly harm,so I may not see that great earthly harm,the world left here without its sun,the world left here without its sun,and my eyes, that have no other light:and my eyes, that have no other light:

and my soul without thought of any other,and my soul without thought of any other,and my ears that cannot hear any other,and my ears that cannot hear any other,lacking her sweet virtuous words. lacking her sweet virtuous words.

Petrarch, Sonnet 246Petrarch, Sonnet 246

L’aura che’l verde lauro et l’aureo crineL’aura che’l verde lauro et l’aureo crinesoavemente sospirando move,soavemente sospirando move,fa con sue viste leggiadrette et novefa con sue viste leggiadrette et novel’anime da’ lor corpi pellegrine.l’anime da’ lor corpi pellegrine.

Candida rosa nata in dure spine,Candida rosa nata in dure spine,quando fia chi sua pari al mondo trove,quando fia chi sua pari al mondo trove,gloria di nostra etate? O vivo Giove,gloria di nostra etate? O vivo Giove,manda, prego, il mio in prima che’l suo fine:manda, prego, il mio in prima che’l suo fine:

sí ch’io non veggia il gran publico danno,sí ch’io non veggia il gran publico danno,e ‘l mondo remaner senz’il suo sole,e ‘l mondo remaner senz’il suo sole,né gl’occhi miei, che luce altra non ànno;né gl’occhi miei, che luce altra non ànno;

né l’alma, che pensar d’altro non vòle,né l’alma, che pensar d’altro non vòle,né l’orecchie, ch’udir d’altro non sanno,né l’orecchie, ch’udir d’altro non sanno,senza l’oneste sue dolci parole. senza l’oneste sue dolci parole.

Petrach, Sonnet 1 (English)Petrach, Sonnet 1 (English)

You who hear the sound, in scattered rhymes, You who hear the sound, in scattered rhymes, of those sighs on which I fed my heart,of those sighs on which I fed my heart,in my first vagrant youthfulness,in my first vagrant youthfulness,when I was partly other than I am,when I was partly other than I am,

I hope to find pity, and forgiveness,I hope to find pity, and forgiveness,for all the modes in which I talk and weep,for all the modes in which I talk and weep,between vain hope and vain sadness,between vain hope and vain sadness,in those who understand love through its trials. in those who understand love through its trials.

Yet I see clearly now I have becomeYet I see clearly now I have becomean old tale amongst all these people, so thatan old tale amongst all these people, so thatit often makes me ashamed of myself;it often makes me ashamed of myself;

and shame is the fruit of my vanities,and shame is the fruit of my vanities,and remorse, and the clearest knowledgeand remorse, and the clearest knowledgeof how the world's delight is a brief dream.of how the world's delight is a brief dream.

Petrarch, Sonnet 1Petrarch, Sonnet 1

Voi ch'ascoltate in rime sparse il suonoVoi ch'ascoltate in rime sparse il suonodi quei sospiri ond'io nudriva'l coredi quei sospiri ond'io nudriva'l corein sul mio primo giovenile errorein sul mio primo giovenile errorequand'era in parte altr'uom da quel ch'i' sono,quand'era in parte altr'uom da quel ch'i' sono,

del vario stile in ch'io piango et ragionodel vario stile in ch'io piango et ragionofra le vane speranze e'l van dolore,fra le vane speranze e'l van dolore,ove sia chi per prova intenda amore,ove sia chi per prova intenda amore,spero trovar pietà, nonché perdono.spero trovar pietà, nonché perdono.

Ma ben veggio or sí come al popol tuttoMa ben veggio or sí come al popol tuttofavola fui gran tempo, onde soventefavola fui gran tempo, onde soventedi me mesdesmo meco mi vergogno;di me mesdesmo meco mi vergogno;

et del mio vaneggiar vergogna è 'l frutto,et del mio vaneggiar vergogna è 'l frutto,e'l pentersi, e'l conoscer chiaramentee'l pentersi, e'l conoscer chiaramenteche quanto piace al mondo è breve sogno.che quanto piace al mondo è breve sogno.

III. Renaissance IdealsIII. Renaissance Ideals

A. Concept of Whole ManA. Concept of Whole Man

B. HumanismB. Humanism

C. C. virtùvirtù


A. Concept of Whole ManA. Concept of Whole Man

1. Leonardi Bruni (1370–1444)1. Leonardi Bruni (1370–1444)

2. Coluccio Salutati (1331–1406)2. Coluccio Salutati (1331–1406)

3. Federigo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino (1422–3. Federigo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino (1422–1482)1482)

B. HumanismB. Humanism

Federico da Federico da Montefeltro Montefeltro and His Son and His Son Guidobaldo Guidobaldo (ca. 1475)(ca. 1475)

Painting by Pedro Berruguete Painting by Pedro Berruguete (ca. 1450−1504)(ca. 1450−1504)


C. C. virtùvirtù

1. Donatello’s 1. Donatello’s DavidDavid compared with Michelangelo’s compared with Michelangelo’s DavidDavid

2. Alberti: “a man can do all things if he will”2. Alberti: “a man can do all things if he will”

3. Della Mirandola:3. Della Mirandola:

“ “God said to man: ‘We have made you a creature.... you may, God said to man: ‘We have made you a creature.... you may, as as the free and proud shaper of your own being, fashion the free and proud shaper of your own being, fashion yourself yourself in the form you may prefer.’” in the form you may prefer.’”

Donatello’s Donatello’s DavidDavid (1430) / Michaelangelo’s (1430) / Michaelangelo’s David David (1501−4)(1501−4)

Spread of the Black DeathSpread of the Black Death

The Monastic OrdersThe Monastic Orders

Documents

Origins of the Renaissance