1

Study Tour to ItalyPresentation #1

A Focus on Florence & Michelangelo

We will be sightseeing in Florence all day Saturday June 25We will spend four nights in Florence (taking day trips on the other days)

2

FlorenceHeart of the Early Renaissance

cathedral begun 1296completed 1436 with dome by Brunelleschi

3

Italy after 1000 city-states free themselves from

nobilityEstablish as free republics

or communes

New rich middle class Tuscany—region in central

Italy

Where Renaissance began to emerge

4

BRUNELLESCHI, Sacrifice of Isaac, competition panel for east doors, baptistery of Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, 1401–1402.

Florence BapisteryHas three sets of Bronze doors from the early Renaissance

5

Ghiberti (winner) BRUNELLESCHI

6

LORENZO GHIBERTI, east doors (“Gates of Paradise”), baptistery, Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, 1425–1452.

7

After loosing the competition, Brunelleschi went to Rome with Donatello to study classical art & architecture

Became famous architect—put the dome on the Florence CathedralSaid to have invented the system of linear perspective

Brunelleschi’s “peepshow”

ANCIENT ROMEPantheon, Rome, Italy, 118 – 125 CE Marcus Aurelius, Rome, Italy, ca. 175 CE

8

all’ antica

Brunelleschi, Pazzi Chapel, c. 1440

9

The Pantheon, Rome

ALL’ ANTICA Marcus Aurelius DONATELLO, Gattamelata , Padua, ca. 1445–1450

10

11

Both in the Bargello Museum (we probably

won’t see)

1408-09---For the Cathedral/City:“To those who fight bravely for the fatherland the gods lend aid even against the most terrible foes”

1450s-60s—for the Medici Family

Donatello’s David originally stood in the courtyard of the Medici Palace in Florence

13

The Medici were not noble, but wealthy bankersTheir wealth began with the textile industry & the wool guild

MICHELOZZO DI BARTOLOMMEO, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Florence, begun 1445

The Medici would rise to great power, eventually becoming royalty through marriage alliancesIn 1547 the family became hereditary Dukes of Florence

two Medici Queens of France:Catherine de’ Medici (regent, 1547-1559)

Marie de’ Medici (regent, 1600-1610)

the Medici “coat of arms”Four popes: Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV, Leo XI

the first three were patrons of Michelangelo (Leo XI after his death)

* built the Medici palace* patron of Fra Angelico& Fra Filippo Lippi* patron of Donatello* patron of Brunelleschi & the completion of the Duomo

Under the leadership of Cosimo de’Medici beginning in 1434, the Medici became the unofficial governors

of the Republic of Florence

Cosimo the Elder, Patron of Art

Cosimo’s son Piero “the Gouty” only stayed in power for five years and had little interest in art

…but Cosimo’s grandson Lorenzo “the Magnificent” was one of the greatest patrons of the Renaissance

Lorenzo de' Medici (1449-92)

Painted terracotta, probably after a model by Andrea del Verrocchio and Orsino Benintendi

• Continued to rule Florence unofficially

• Maintained a fragile peace among Italian city states

• Great patron of the arts

17

Botticelli, Primavera, c. 1482probably for the marriage of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’Medici

18

19

KEY WORK!SANDRO BOTTICELLI, Birth of Venus, ca. 1482. Tempera on canvas, approx. 5’ 8” x 9’ 1”. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

20

(L) Hellenistic Period, Venus de Medici, 4th century BCE(R) Botticelli, The Birth of Venus, 1484-86

Portrait of a much older Michelangelo—he wore a turban while sculpting to

protect his hair

Giuliano Bugiardini (?), Portrait of Michelangelo, 16th century

IN 1492 the teenage Michelangelo joined the Medici Household

Giovanni Mannozzi, Lorenzo de' Medici surrounded by artists, admiring Michelangelo's 'Faun,' 17th century fresco

IN 1492 the teenage Michelangelo joined the Medici HouseholdLorenzo de’Medici supposedly first noticed Michelangelo when he was carving the

head of a faun in the Medici sculpture garden. He subsequently invited M to live in the Medici Palace, where he was treated “like

a son.”

Michelangelo born March 6, 1475 The Buonarroti family were part of the patrician upper class of Florence.

Born in “the Shadow of the Dome”--in Caprese (90 miles east of Florence)his father Lodovico Buonarroti was the resident governor (6 month

appointment).

Family then returned to its home in Settignano, just outside Florencerelatively poor town –many stone carvers

Buonorroti house still survives—it was the second largest property in the town

wetnurse—family of stone-carvers story

The family also purchased a home in the citynow the Casa Buonaroti, a museum

Michelangelo’s mother died in 1481 when he was six years old

With each large payment for his art, Michelangelo would purchase additional pieces of property in and around

Florence. A safe and lucrative investment.

c. 1485 age 10--attends grammar school of the humanist Francesco di Urbino. Father remarries.

Studia humanitatis: grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, moral philosophy (Latin & Greek)Michelangelo had only two years of such education at the most.

By 1487 Michelangelo is documented in workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio. Remains there until c. 1490.

Age 12-15

Supposed self-portrait of Ghirlandaio, from Adoration of the Magi, 1488

How did Michelangelo get such a great job?

Family connections to Medici?

Domenico Ghirlandaioleading Florentine painter noted

for fresco

Michelangelo seems to have not been an ordinary apprentice

The Sassetti Chapel, Santa Trinita, Florence, c. 1480

Stories of St. Francis

Michelangelo’s first known paintingc. 1487-1488

purchased in 2008 for 2 million as “Workshop of Ghirlandaio”Cleaned & reattributed to

Michelangelo at Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2009 & purchased by the Kimbell Art Museum for 6 million

1490 -1492Two of the happiest years of his life

member of the Medici household under Lorenzo de’ Mediciage 15-17 years

Courtyard, Palazzo Medici, Florence

The humanist philosophers of Lorenzo’s courtprovided Michelangelo access to the greatest minds of his age

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Marsilio Ficino, Cristoforo Landino, Angelo Poliziano, Gentile de’ Becchi, 1485-90

Michelangelo was educated alongside two Medici princesOne was the future Pope Leo X and one was the future Clement VII

the Medici provided Michelangelo with over 50 years of patronage

Raphael, Portrait of Pope Leo X and Two Cardinals, 1518On left: Guilio de’ Medici (Clement VII)

Lorenzo de’ Medici died in 1492Michelangelo returned to his father’s house

Began working on a life-size Hercules (lost)

Death mask of Lorenzo de’ Medici

35

1490s Florence in upheavalDominican friar Savonarola

Denounced humanism & the Medici (fled 1494)repent sins--“bonfire of the vanities”

36

Botticelli became a follower of Savonarolaalmost completely stopped painting

Botticelli, Mystical Nativity, c. 1500

In late autumn of 1494 King Charles VIII crossed the Alps with an army of 25,000, throwing Italy into political chaos.

Beginning of Italian War 1494-98Out of fear, the Florentines expelled the Medici and established a republic

French army enters Florence, 1494

Savonarola welcomed the “purification” of the French—this contributed to his downfall to come

In 1496 Michelangelo journeyed to Rome for the first timeA neglected, derelict city

Much of Rome dishabitatoIn contrast Florence wealthy, thriving

Map of Rome, 1472

Walls of Leo IV, c. 1000 still surrounding St. Peters

Jacopo Galli secures a major commission for MichelangeloFrench Cardinal & ambassador for Charles VIII

Jean de Bilheresmonument for his tomb in Santa Petronilla (Chapel of the French kings)

an ancient rotunda attached to Old Saint Peter’s (now destroyed)

40

Pietatraditionally a northern

subject (Cardinal from France)

Virgin with the Dead Christ, from Germany,

ca. 1300–1325.

In August 1498 the block of marble arrived in Rome—contract then signedJacopo Galli promised that the work would be

“the most beautiful marble statue in Rome, one no living artist could better”

Michelangelo Buonarroti, Pieta, 1498-99

Beautiful & idealizedChrist appears sleeping, not dead

Mary appears youngtimeless

highly polished and finished

43

Execution of Savonarola, Florence, 1498

44

MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI, David, 1501–1504. Marble, 13’ 5” high. Florence.

“David with his sling and I with my bow” – Michelangelo.”

45

“It is necessary to keep one's compass in one's eyes and not in the hand, for the hands execute, but the eye judges.”

46

MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI, Bound Slave, 1513–1516. Marble, approx. 6’ 10 1/2” high. Louvre, Paris.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

47

Raphael, Portrait of Julius II, 1511-12“the Warrior Pope” r. 1503-13

most important patron of the High Renaissance

Demolishes old St Peter’s—begins

rebuilding

Michelangelo to design his tomb

Michelangelo to fresco Sistine ceiling

48

49

Michelangelo, ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, fresco, Vatican, Rome, 1508-1512

Last Judgment, 1537-41

50

51

Next meeting:STUDENT PRESENTATIONS ON SISTINE CHAPEL

• 15th century frescos (not by Michelangelo)• Ancestors of Christ• Prophets & Sibyls• Ignudi• Central Scenes from Genesis (three sets of

three)• Last Judgment