The Renaissance

1300-1600

After the Black Death

• Population of N. Europe begins to recover

• Cities are growing

• Urban merchants become wealthy and sponsor artists.

Renaissance Beginning

Everyone used to be VERY religious, but too many were suffering and dying! Started to pull away from the church

Looking to SECULAR (worldly) ideals of the here and now vs. life after death

Begin studying HUMANISM: study of human potential & achievement

The Renaissance Begins in Italy

• Explosion of creativity in Europe Renaissance or “rebirth” of art & learning

• Italy had 3 Advantages:

o Thriving citieso Rich merchant class (like the Medici

family in Florence)o Classical heritage of Greece and Rome

New Values

•Humanism- focus on human potential and achievement instead of Christian teachings

• Enjoyment of Life including good food, nice clothes

•Patrons of the arts- the wealthy spend money on the arts

What is a Renaissance Man?

•A person who mastered many fields of study

• Sculptor• Painter• Philosopher• Educator

New Techniques in Art - Painting

• Realistic portraits and sculptures- very human like

• Perspective- 3 dimensions, Distant objects are smaller

New Techniques in Art-Sculptures

• Study of human anatomy to paint and sculpt better

• More natural postures and expressions

The Artists of the Renaissance

Donatello• DONATELLO: sculptor and painter;

Revealed personality in his artOne of the first to do a nude statueFirst bronze statue of St. Louis of Toulouse

The Artists of the Renaissance

LeonardoLEONARDO DA VINCI: painter, sculptor,

inventor, & scientist a true “Renaissance Man”

• Mona Lisa

• The Last Supper

The Artists of the Renaissance

MICHELANGELO• MICHELANGELO: sculptor and painter

• Sistine Chapel

• Statue of David

The Artists of the Renaissance

Raphael• RAPHAEL studied from Michelangelo • and Leonardo; painter

• Madonna and Child

• School of Athens

The Renaissance Moves North

Why?• Italian artists flee Italy and move

north because Italy gets invaded•Wealthy merchants in the north

begin to be patrons of the arts

How was the art different?• Northern artists focused on religion

and social reform

Northern Renaissance Artists

•Albrecht Durer- German artist- woodcuts and engravings

•Hans Holbein- German artist- portrait painter

•Jan van Eyck- Flemish painter who used oil-based paints

Printing Spreads Renaissance Ideas

• JOHANN GUTENBERG: reinvents moveable type & comes up with printing press

• Gutenberg Bible: first full size book printed

• Can produce hundreds of copies

• Encouraged people to learn to read!

• RISE IN LITERACY & IDEAS SPREAD FASTER

The Writers of the Renaissance

• They use vernacular- native or local language

ERASMUS:

The Praise of Folly – said to improve society, all should study Bible

THOMAS MORE:

Utopia – imaginary land inhabited by peaceful people; no use for money

The Writers of the Renaissance

WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREGreatest playwright of all time: sonnets, plays, essaysRomeo and JulietHamletOthelloMacbethMidsummer Night’s DreamJulius CaesarKing Lear

Videos

William Shakespeare song horrible histories

The Renaissance: Was it a Thing? - Crash Course World History