Renaissance & one artist in detail Flashcards
What and when was the renaissance?
the renaissance was the rebirth of interest in the learning of ancient Greece and Rome. It began in Italy in the 14th century and ended in the 16th century.
What do historians look at the renaissance as?
Many historians look at the renaissance as the beginning of the modern world.
What is humanism and how is it attached to the renaissance?
Humanism was a new way of looking at the world. Humanists wanted to improve life on Earth, not just think of life after death. The writings of ancient Greece and Rome gave them insight into human nature. They took a great interest in different kinds of learning, and they developed new ideas.
What were the causes of the Renaissance in Italy?
The runes of ancient roman buildings were found in many of Italy’s cities.
The invention of the printing press.
Before Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, many scholars left for Italy and brought manuscripts of ancient Greece and Rome with them.
Italy divided into city-states and small kingdoms, which competed against each other. They had wealthy patrons who could afford art.
City life was based on merchants and commerce. Merchants brought ideas from many different places, particularly the east.
Italian cities grew wealthy by expanding trade into Asia and Europe. Merchants and bankers became supporters of artists. (patrons)
What were the changes in painting?
More vibrant colours were used, religious themes were switched for portraits and landscapes.
The use of perspective creates an illusion, it adds depth to a painting, it gives a feeling of three dimensions. The use of perspective was one of the most important developments in renaissance art.
People were now more realistic.
In the middle ages, pictures were painted using egg yolk mixed with colour pigments. This was called tempera and this dried too quickly so changes could not be made.
In the renaissance, oil was mixed with coloured pigments, this dried more slowly so changes could be made, and shading could be used.
In the middle ages, pictures were painted on wooden panels and on walls; pictures were now also painted on canvas.
What is a fresco?
A fresco was a painting done on wet or damp plaster. The paint soaked into the plaster and became part of it. Some of the most important paintings of the renaissance were frescos.
What significant changes occurred in architecture?
Classical columns, rounded windows, dome, pediment,
The architecture was now more curved.
Explain the Pieta and David sculptures. What were they carved from? What were their stories?
Michelangelo’s first great work of art was the Pieta which is in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He carved it from a block of Carrara marble. he carved the idealised human form in the head of Mary. He said it would not age because she was so pure. His sculpture of the dead Christ was very realistic. he was helped by his study of ancient greek and roman sculptures and by dissecting dead bodies.
Michelangelo sculpted David from a block of marble in Florence that had been damaged by another sculptor. David faced and killed the giant, Goliath, in the old testament.
Give an example of Michelangelo’s painting skills and the painting’s story.
The ceiling of the Sistine chapel:
Pope Julius || asked him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. He painted four main scenes and many smaller scenes from the old testament. It took him four years to finish this fresco painting.
Give an example of Michelangelo’s architectural skills
He was asked by the pope to design the dome of the new St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was his last great project. He did not live to see its completion because he died in 1564 at the age of 89.
Name a female artist in the renaissance
Sofonisba Anguissola. She was born in Northern Italy in 1532 as the daughter of a nobleman. She was encouraged by her parents to paint.
How did the views of the universe change during the renaissance?
Nicholas Copernicus studied mathematics, astronomy and medicine in Italy. He concluded that the sun was the centre of the universe and that the Earth and other planets revolved in circles around it. He published his views on the year he died.
Johannes Kepler was a german astronomer. He used mathematics to work out how the planets moved. He proved the Copernicus was right about the sun being the centre of the universe but he said Copernicus was wrong to say that the planets moved around the sun in circles.
Kepler said that the planets’ orbits were elliptical. This was one of his three laws of planetary motion. These laws led to Issac Newtons’ law of gravity in the 17th century.
How did the views of the universe change during the renaissance?
Nicholas Copernicus studied mathematics, astronomy and medicine in Italy. He concluded that the sun was the centre of the universe and that the Earth and other planets revolved in circles around it. He published his views on the year he died.
Johannes Kepler was a german astronomer. He used mathematics to work out how the planets moved. He proved the Copernicus was right about the sun being the centre of the universe but he said Copernicus was wrong to say that the planets moved around the sun in circles.
Kepler said that the planets’ orbits were elliptical. This was one of his three laws of planetary motion. These laws led to Issac Newtons’ law of gravity in the 17th century.
What significant contributions did Galileo make to renaissance science?
The law of falling bodies: Galileo proved Aristotle wrong by proving that objects fall to the ground at the same speed.
The pendulum clock: Galileo proved Aristotle wrong through experiments that longer swings took the same amount of time as shorter swings. His discovery led to the development of the pendulum clock.
The telescope: Galileo invented his own telescope to study the surface of the moon. He discovered the rings around Saturn. He also discovered four moons around Jupiter.
Astronomy: Galileo used his study of the planet’s to support Copernicus’ views about the universe but was forced to publicly say that the sun was not the centre of the universe after publishing his own views. He was sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life. His book was banned by the catholic church and this was not lifted until more than 200 years.
Who was Vesalius and why was his work significant?
Vesalius was a Belgian-born doctor. He was a professor of anatomy at the University of Padua. Vesalius was given permission by the university to dissect the bodies of executed criminals. He then published his findings in 1543. He used evidence from his dissections to prove Galen wrong. He made a significant contribution to Renaissance medicine.
