Professional Documents
Culture Documents
14th - 17th C
Re-birth or Revival of Cultural Awareness
Historical & cultural movement
Spanning period
Location
Renewed interest of Renaissance
◦ Roman Art & Design
◦ Greek Art & Design
Area of emphasis for Renaissance
◦ Study of Human Beings
◦ Environment
◦ Science & other intellectual aspect
◦ Philosophy
◦ Literature
◦ Art & design
◦ Politics
Encompass Of Renaissance
Revival of learning based on classical
sources
Rise of courtly
Papal patronage
Development of perspective in painting
Advancements in science
Emphasis Of Renaissance Scholars
Study of humanist method
Search for realism
Human emotion in art
Renaissance Historiography
Long and complex
Debate of usefulness of renaissance
Cultural "advance" from the M.A
Period of pessimism and nostalgia for the
classical age
19TH C Historians
Clear "break" from medieval thought and practice
Continuity between the two eras
Incorrect to classify any historical period
Better
Worse
Early Renaissance Centered in Italy, 15th Century
Complex Composition
Muscular
Elongated figures in complex poses
Renaissance Men / Great Men
◦ Result Of Luck
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Raphael Sanzio
Leonardo da Vinci
Sources Presented for Origin of
Renaissance
Writings
paintings
Renaissance's Origin
◦ Assimilation of Greek and Arabic knowledge
◦ Social and political structures in Italy
◦ The Black Death
◦ Cultural conditions in Florence
Assimilation of Knowledge
Rediscovery of ancient texts
Preserved work
Monastic
Libraries at Cordoba
Educational institutions
Translations of Greek and Arabic texts into Latin
Works of ancient Greek and Hellenistic writers
Muslim scientists and philosophers
Imported into the Christian world (crusaders)
provide
New intellectual material for European scholars
Knowledge assimilation from
Spain
Middle East
Study of mathematics & its Flourishment
Social and political structures in Italy
Lack of political entity
Division into smaller city states and territories
Unusual social climate
Emergence of a cultural efflorescence
famous for
Italy merchant republics
◦ Republic of Florence Producer of Silk & Jewelry
◦ Republic of Venice Producer of Fine Glass
Trading Centers
Intellectual crossroads Ideas from far corners of the globe
Commission of large
Public
Private artistic projects
Black Death
Devastation in Florence
Shift in world view of people in 14th C
More on their lives on earth,
Rather than on spirituality and the afterlife
Manifested in sponsorship of religious works
of art
Cultural conditions in Florence
Cultural movement
Several features unique to Florentine culture
Role of Medici family
Patronization
Stimulation of arts
Religion in Renaissance
Emphasis Ideals of Humanism
Secularaspects
Theology presented
People perceived the relationship between man and god
Followers of the humanist method
Thomas More
John Calvin
Better Educated Middle Class
◦ Fascinated by human achievement
◦ Mankind shapes the destiny
◦ Inspiration for high point of human
achievement
Humanism
Not a philosophy
Method of learning
Humanists
Study ancient texts in original
Appraise them through a combination of
Reasoning
Empirical evidence
Humanist Education Study of
Poetry
Grammar
Ethics
Rhetoric
Humanists Assertion
Genius of man
Unique and extraordinary ability of the human
mind
Features Of Renaissance Art
Development of highly realistic linear perspective
Contribution of Writings of architects
Filippo Brunelleschi
Leon Alberti
Perspective an artistic technique
Realism in arts
Depiction of beauty of nature
Study of
Light
Shadow
Human anatomy
Development of techniques by painters
Development of Vibrant artistic culture
Development of painting in Italy
Technically
Stylistically
Introduction of
Oil paint
Canvas
Inspiration for artists
Depiction of themes of everyday life
Naturalism
Flanders Prosperous Weaving Center
Trade with Italy
Education of Italian noble families
Flanders influence
German
English
Bohemian
French
Reviving of art of panel painting
Manuscript illumination
Panel painters & manuscript illuminators
Manuscript painting techniques
◦ Sophisticated
◦ Realistic
◦ Subject matter painted in larger format
◦ Naturalism in the art
Northern painters
◦ Depictions of objects and people from the
everyday world
◦ Use of oil paint
Luminous qualities
Rich effect
Trademarks Of Northern Painting
Naturalism
Attention to specific detail
Mysticism in religion
Perspective
Fewer depictions of
Nude &
Observed anatomy
Landscape painting
Science in Renaissance
Scientific revolution
Astronomy
Physics
Biology
Anatomy
Flourishing discipline of mathematics
Development of Engineering Techniques
Intermixing of science and art
Leonardo da Vinci