Renaissance & Reformation Flashcards
(78 cards)
3 advantages Italy had that made it the birthplace of the Renaissance
Thriving cities
A wealthy merchant class
Classical heritage of Greece & Rome
Thriving City-states
Overseas trade created by the crusades led to the growth of large city-states in northern Italy. Northern Italy was urban while the rest of Europe was rural. Cities r places where people exchange ideas and r the best places to start an intellectual revolution.
The bubonic plaque in the 1300’s struck these cities hard - since there were fewer laborers survivors could demand higher wages. Merchants began to pursue other interests such as art.
Wealthy Merchant class
Dominated politics
Unlike nobles, merchants did not inherit social rank
To succeed in business they used their smarts
Successful merchants believed they deserved power and wealth because of their individual merit - belief in individual achievement.
Florence
Had a republican form of government, but during the Renaissance it came under the rule of one powerful banking family - the Medici.
The Medici family bank had branch offices throughout Italy and the major cities of Europe.
Cosimo de Medici was the wealthiest European of his time. In 1434 won control of Florence’s government - did run for office but influenced members of the ruling council by giving them loans. Dictator of Florence for 30 years.
He died in 1464. His grandson Lorenzo - Lorenzo the Magnificent came to power in 1469 - ruled as a dictator but made it look like an elected government
Lorenzo’s brother, Giuliano was murdered at the altar when the brother’s were attending mass. Lorenzo escaped and had the killers brutally and publicly executed.
Classical heritage of Greece and Rome
Renaissance scholars looked down on the art and literature of the Middle Ages. They wanted to return to the learning of
The Greeks and Romans.
Got inspiration from the ruins of Rome
Studied ancient Latin manuscripts
Christian scholars in Constantinople fled to tome with Greek manuscripts when Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453
Studying of greek manuscripts made scholars become more influenced by classical and worldly values. Developed a new outlook on life and art.
Humanism Worldly pleasures Patrons of the arts Renaissance man Renaissance woman
Humanism
Intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements. The literary culture every educated person should posses.
Humanists influenced artists and architects to carry on classical traditions.
Popularized the study of subjects common to classical education. The humanities - history, literature and philosophy.
Worldly pleasures
Humanists said a person could enjoy life without offending God. The wealthy enjoyed material luxuries, good music and fine foods instead of wearing plain clothes and eating plain food.
Most people remained devout Catholics, but the basic spirit of Renaissance society was
Secular
Secular
Worldly rather than spiritual and concerned with the here and now.
Patrons of the arts
Church leaders became patrons of the arts by financially supporting artists. Beautified Rome and other cities by spending huge amounts of money for art.
Merchants and wealthy families were also patrons of the arts by having their portraits painted or by donating art to the city to place in public squares
The Renaissance man (universal man)
A man who excelled in many fields - strive to master every area of study.
Baldassare Castiglione wrote a book called The Courtier that taught how to become such a person. Said a young man should be charming, witty, well educated in the classics, dance, sing, play music, write poetry, be a skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman.
The Renaissance woman
Should know the classics and be charming, but weren’t expected to seek fame. They were expected to inspire art, but rarely create it. They were better educated than medieval women. Had little influence in politics.
Isabella d’Este
Did exercise power. Born into the ruling family of Ferrara. Married the ruler of Mantua. Brought many Renaissance artists to her court and built a famous art collection. Skilled in politics and won her husband’s release when he was taken captive in war
Artistic styles changed during the Renaissance
Medieval artists - used religious subjects to convey a spiritual ideal.
Renaissance artists - portrayed religious subjects, but they used a realistic style copied from classical models. Greek and roman subjects became popular. Used the technique of perspective.
Perspective
Shows three dimensions on a flat surface
Because of the new emphasis on individuals, painters began to paint prominent citizens.
Revealed what was distinctive about each person.
Used a realistic style when depicting the human body.
Renaissance artists
Michelangelo Buonarroti -used a realistic style when depicting the human body
Donatello - made sculpture more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions that reveal personality - famous statue is David - late 1460’s -the first European sculpture of a large, free-standing nude since ancient times
David was a favorite subject of many sculptors of the period
Leonardo de Vinci
A true renaissance man - a painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist. Interested in how things worked. Filled notebooks with observations and sketches.
The Mona Lisa - the woman in the portrait seems so real that many writers have tried to explain the thoughts behind her smile.
The Last Supper - shows the personalities of Jesus’ disciples through facial expressions.
Raphael Sanzio
Learned from studying Michelangelo andLeonardo -he was younger than them. One of his favorite subjects was the Madonna and child. Portrayed their expression as gentle and calm. Famous for his use of perspective.
Famous painting - school of Athens.
Filled the walls of Pope Julius II’s library
Painted famous Renaissance figures such as Michelangelo, Leonardo and himself.
Renaissance women artists
Sofonisba Anguissola - first woman artist to gain an international reputation
Artemisia Gentileschi - painted with her father and helped with his work
Renaissance writers used techniques writers use today. Some followed the example of the medieval writer
Dante
Dante wrote in the vernacular, his native language, instead of
Latin
Renaissance writers used these techniques still used today
Writing in the vernacular - their native language, not Latin
Wrote either for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects
