RenaissanceRenaissance

1400 - 1600

Life in the Renaissance-The Bad

Life in the Renaissance-The Bad

• In many respects, life was similar to Medieval

• Life expectancy was 35 w/50% infant mortality rate

• Wars in some areas made life very dangerous

• In many respects, life was similar to Medieval

• Life expectancy was 35 w/50% infant mortality rate

• Wars in some areas made life very dangerous

Life in the Renaissance-The Good

Life in the Renaissance-The Good

• This was a time of economic growth & relative prosperity

• Particularly in Italy & the Netherlands

• This was true in Florence & Rome where art, wealth & education flourished

• This was a time of economic growth & relative prosperity

• Particularly in Italy & the Netherlands

• This was true in Florence & Rome where art, wealth & education flourished

The Humanistic MovementThe Humanistic Movement• This was a reaction to

the Medieval idea of education

• The study of man became more important than the study of religion

• Took learning away from the church

• This was a reaction to the Medieval idea of education

• The study of man became more important than the study of religion

• Took learning away from the church

What This MeansWhat This Means• This caused a “rebirth” of

the ideals of the Greeks and Romans

• Study and Art became more human

• Start of scientific exploration• People ask “how” & “why” to

gain understanding

• This caused a “rebirth” of the ideals of the Greeks and Romans

• Study and Art became more human

• Start of scientific exploration• People ask “how” & “why” to

gain understanding

The Renaissance PhilosophyThe Renaissance Philosophy• The Arts reflect a new

freedom of thought and expression

• Promotes the Greek & Roman thoughts & practices

• Art reconciles faith & reason

• The Arts reflect a new freedom of thought and expression

• Promotes the Greek & Roman thoughts & practices

• Art reconciles faith & reason

Visual ArtVisual Art• Moves toward the

refinement of artistic techniques

• Produces images that appear realistic

• Subject matter is religious but believable

• Form replaces Shape

• Moves toward the refinement of artistic techniques

• Produces images that appear realistic

• Subject matter is religious but believable

• Form replaces Shape

More Visual ArtMore Visual Art• Artists used perspective• Gave images a 3-D look• Oil paint invented• Allowed better blending with

slower drying time• Viewed the human body as a

thing of beauty• Pushed limits of society & church

• Artists used perspective• Gave images a 3-D look• Oil paint invented• Allowed better blending with

slower drying time• Viewed the human body as a

thing of beauty• Pushed limits of society & church

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci• One of the greatest

geniuses of all time• Studied in many fields:

art, math, science, invention

• Used art to add to science studies

• Kept 120 notebooks

• One of the greatest geniuses of all time

• Studied in many fields: art, math, science, invention

• Used art to add to science studies

• Kept 120 notebooks

More LeonardoMore Leonardo• Wrote backwards to

code his work• Could be considered

sedition by the church• Dissected cadavers

in a time when it was outlawed punishable by death

• Wrote backwards to code his work

• Could be considered sedition by the church

• Dissected cadavers in a time when it was outlawed punishable by death

Even More LeonardoEven More Leonardo• Inventor of many

things• Employed as a

weapons designer• Gentle vegetarian who

kept himself clean• Bought birds to set

them free

• Inventor of many things

• Employed as a weapons designer

• Gentle vegetarian who kept himself clean

• Bought birds to set them free

Famous WorksFamous Works

Michelangelo BuonarrtiMichelangelo Buonarrti• One of the greatest artists

of all time• Gifted in sculpture and

painting• Ill tempered, ego centric

and did not bathe• Worked for Pope Julius-

Highest position of the time

• One of the greatest artists of all time

• Gifted in sculpture and painting

• Ill tempered, ego centric and did not bathe

• Worked for Pope Julius-Highest position of the time

Michelangelo’s SculptureMichelangelo’s Sculpture• Said the stone told him

what it wanted to be• Sculptures are life like

and perfect• Every detail is evident

and in proportion• “Pieta” carved in his early

20’s

• Said the stone told him what it wanted to be

• Sculptures are life like and perfect

• Every detail is evident and in proportion

• “Pieta” carved in his early 20’s

Fresco PaintingFresco Painting• Wet plaster is applied• Charcoal etching next• Paints are last• Only small sections

can be done at a time• Like putting together

a large jigsaw puzzle

• Wet plaster is applied• Charcoal etching next• Paints are last• Only small sections

can be done at a time• Like putting together

a large jigsaw puzzle

The Sistine Chapel CeilingThe Sistine Chapel Ceiling• 60 ft. above the floor• Curved & 40x130 ft.• Done in Fresco style• Tells the story of the

creation• Took 4 years to finish• Michelangelo saw it

as impossible

• 60 ft. above the floor• Curved & 40x130 ft.• Done in Fresco style• Tells the story of the

creation• Took 4 years to finish• Michelangelo saw it

as impossible

Music: CounterpointMusic: Counterpoint• The art of combining two

simultaneous lines of music

• “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is an example

• Melodies were combined and Harmony resulted

• The art of combining two simultaneous lines of music

• “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is an example

• Melodies were combined and Harmony resulted

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina• Commonly known as

Palestrina• Set up the classic model

of polyphony of the time• Composed for the Pope so

music is mostly sacred in nature

• 1st Famous Musician

• Commonly known as Palestrina

• Set up the classic model of polyphony of the time

• Composed for the Pope so music is mostly sacred in nature

• 1st Famous Musician

Drama: Commedia dell’arte

Drama: Commedia dell’arte

• Most stories comic (funny now)

• Troupes travel and perform in town squares and roadsides

• Pass the hat to get paid• Wore masks• Made up actions as they went

along

• Most stories comic (funny now)

• Troupes travel and perform in town squares and roadsides

• Pass the hat to get paid• Wore masks• Made up actions as they went

along

Masks:Masks:

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare• Called the greatest dramatist

of all time• 3 types of plays: tragedies,

comedies & histories• Writing not only tells a good

story, it also tells actors how to act & vocal inflections

• Words are poetic and may have multiple meanings

• Called the greatest dramatist of all time

• 3 types of plays: tragedies, comedies & histories

• Writing not only tells a good story, it also tells actors how to act & vocal inflections

• Words are poetic and may have multiple meanings

More on ShakespeareMore on Shakespeare• His plays are required study

for all modern actors and playwrights

• Each of his 36 plays is considered a gem

• He could be extremely funny, sad or insightful depending on the mood

• His plays are required study for all modern actors and playwrights

• Each of his 36 plays is considered a gem

• He could be extremely funny, sad or insightful depending on the mood

Dance: Court DancesDance: Court Dances• Nobility put on spectacular

pageants to show wealth & power to competitors

• These became Court Dances

• Many princes emptied their treasuries to try to show up one another

• Nobility put on spectacular pageants to show wealth & power to competitors

• These became Court Dances

• Many princes emptied their treasuries to try to show up one another

More Court DancesMore Court Dances• Movements were organized,

regal & measured• Participants would only

dance with their hosts permission

• The larger the gathering, the more power the noble displayed

• Movements were organized, regal & measured

• Participants would only dance with their hosts permission

• The larger the gathering, the more power the noble displayed