The Renaissance -
Rebirth of learning and
Culture in Europe
Pre-Renaissance Pre-Renaissance EuropeEurope• The Crusades: 1095 - 1496The Crusades: 1095 - 1496
• Christian knights wage war against Muslims for Christian knights wage war against Muslims for
control of Jerusalem resulting in bitterness, increased control of Jerusalem resulting in bitterness, increased
trade and cultural diffusion in Western Europetrade and cultural diffusion in Western Europe
• The Black Plague: 1300sThe Black Plague: 1300s• Kills 25 million EuropeansKills 25 million Europeans
• Results: (“Results: (“The 3 DThe 3 D’’s”s”))
• DDesire to celebrate life and humanityesire to celebrate life and humanity
• DDoubts about the Churchoubts about the Church
• DDesire for new ways of expressionesire for new ways of expression
Why did the Why did the Renaissance begin Renaissance begin
in Italy?in Italy?• Thriving citiesThriving cities
• Wealthy merchants and bankersWealthy merchants and bankers• Medici family – “Godfathers” of the RenaissanceMedici family – “Godfathers” of the Renaissance
• Renewed interest in classical Rome & Renewed interest in classical Rome &
Greece rootsGreece roots
What new values What new values did people hold? did people hold?
• HUMANISMHUMANISM – emphasizes – emphasizes
individual achievements and individual achievements and
abilitiesabilities
• Focus on secular ideas (concern Focus on secular ideas (concern
with worldly matters)with worldly matters)
• PatronsPatrons encourage beautiful works encourage beautiful works
by financially supporting artists, by financially supporting artists,
writers and musicians (ex. Medici writers and musicians (ex. Medici
family)family)
• Renaissance man Renaissance man – Master of – Master of
many fields of study or work (ex. many fields of study or work (ex.
Leonardo da Vinci – painter, Leonardo da Vinci – painter,
scientist & inventor)scientist & inventor)
Francesco Petrarch, Francesco Petrarch,
Father of HumanismFather of Humanism
Individuals Take Individuals Take ChargeCharge
• ““Man can do all things if Man can do all things if
they will”they will”
- Leon Battista Alberti- Leon Battista Alberti
• People started believing in People started believing in
the ability of humans to do the ability of humans to do
great thingsgreat things
• As a result, new technology As a result, new technology
develops AND people start develops AND people start
to work to create better to work to create better
cities and countriescities and countries
Leonardo da Vinci,Leonardo da Vinci,
““The Renaissance The Renaissance Man”Man”
How did art change How did art change during the during the
Renaissance?Renaissance?• Sculptors made figures more realisticSculptors made figures more realistic
• Painters used perspective to create three-Painters used perspective to create three-dimensional illusiondimensional illusion
• Subjects were no longer mostly religiousSubjects were no longer mostly religious
Your Turn:Your Turn:Create a T-Chart to Compare Create a T-Chart to Compare and Contrast the following and Contrast the following
pieces of art:pieces of art:
Middle Age ArtMiddle Age Art Renaissance Renaissance ArtArt
Renaissance Ideas… Renaissance Ideas… in Actionin Action
• Johann Gutenberg creates the printing Johann Gutenberg creates the printing
press which press which increasesincreases the production of the production of
booksbooks
• As a result, new ideas of the Renaissance As a result, new ideas of the Renaissance
are are spread spread throughout Europethroughout Europe
• Books are written in Books are written in vernacularvernacular - -
Everyday language that all understandEveryday language that all understand
• Authors express own thoughts and Authors express own thoughts and
feelingsfeelings
Ex. Dante – realistic poetryEx. Dante – realistic poetry
Machiavelli – understanding governmentMachiavelli – understanding government
The ReformationThe Reformation
• Begins as a protest to the practices of the Begins as a protest to the practices of the
Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
• Teaches people that faith in God, not good Teaches people that faith in God, not good
works, leads to eternal lifeworks, leads to eternal life
• Encourages people to read the Bible to Encourages people to read the Bible to
strengthen their faith in God’s wordstrengthen their faith in God’s word
How it BeganHow it Began
• Indulgences – Sold to free Indulgences – Sold to free
people from their sins people from their sins
• Monks (religious men) begin Monks (religious men) begin
to disagree with the sale of to disagree with the sale of
indulgencesindulgences
• Martin Luther writes Martin Luther writes 95 95
Theses Theses about why it’s about why it’s
wrong to sell indulgenceswrong to sell indulgencesMartin Luther,Martin Luther,
Author of the 95 Author of the 95 ThesesTheses
The Church The Church RespondsResponds
• The pope or leader of the
Catholic Church
excommunicates Martin Luther
from the Church
• Luther continues to share his
ideas and gains many followers
who are called Lutherans
What can you learn from art?
You work at a museum that is considering buying this painting by Jan van Eyck. It is a portrait of Chancellor Rolin, a powerful
government official in Burgundy (later part of France). Before deciding, the museum director wants to know what this painting
can teach the public about the Renaissance.
Chancellor RolinJan van Eyck
1. What can you infer about the setting of the painting?
2. What details in the painting give you an idea of the role of religion in society?
1. Classical Art -Renaissance artists admired classical art. The columns show classical style.
2. Perspective – Van Eyck used the technique of perspective which shows distant objects as smaller than close ones. He also used oil paints, a new invention.
3. Religion – This painting portrays the infant Jesus and his mother Mary in 15th-century Europe. Such a depiction shows the continuing importance of religion during the Renaissance.
4. The Individual – Renaissance artists portrayed the importance of individuals. Chancellor Rolin is wearing a fur-trimmed robe that shows his high status.
5. Beauty – Van Eyck included many details simply to add beauty. These include the design on the floor, the folds of Mary’s cloak, and the scenery outside.
• List the similarities and differences for these two works of art.
. Focus on the following: - facial
expressions- Use of color- Amount of detail- Background- Use of light and
shadow
• (Mona Lisa is more realistic, uses shadows, and has darker, more subtle colors. Both artworks are finely detailed, especially the backgrounds.)
• Based on this analysis and information in the text, what can you conclude about Renaissance art? (more realistic than medieval art, especially in use of light, shadow and perspective.)
DavidMichelangelo
School of AthensRaphael