Transcript 03. Flemish Art and European Culture

Unit IV Renaissance
and Reformation
1. What were the backgrounds of the
Renaissance historically? 14-16 C.
A. famine, plague, war, and religious
dissent, Latin of the church, of law
courts, of Scholasticism in Europe;
B. new birth of ancient Roman Latin
for native literature as by Petrarch,
the Italian poet, to describe ideas
of humanism and patriotism.
The School of Athens (1510-1511), one of several frescoes in the
Vatican Palace, depicts ancient Greek philosophers and scholars, such
as Plato and Aristotle (center);it is considered a masterpiece in the
portrayal of the artistic ideals of the Renaissance. It also illustrates
the importance of classical studies to literary and cultural
achievements of the era.
Classical Studies
Renaissance humanists
studied the literature of
ancient Greece and Rome,
believing that these classical
works represented the height
of human knowledge and
were important models for a
new age. St. Jerome in His
Study by the Italian painter
Antonello da Messina (14301479) depicts the 4th-century
scholar Jerome. He was
known for his important
literary accomplishments,
including a translation of the
Bible into Latin.
Leonardo da Vinci
known not only as a
masterful painter
but as an architect,
sculptor, engineer,
and scientist. His
pursuit of
knowledge was
relentless and his
discoveries left
lasting changes in
the fields of art and
science. With his
sophisticated skills
and love for
learning, Leonardo
embodied the
curiosity and
individualism of the
era and was the
quintessential
Renaissance man.
Giotto
Italian painter Giotto is
held in high regard as
the artist who moved
away from the traditional
medieval technique of
portraying the human
figure as a stiff, flat,
two-dimensional
character. An artist far
ahead of his time, Giotto
began to protray humans
as rounded,
proportioned, and
naturalistic. His work
influenced the
development of
Renaissance art more
than a century after his
death in Florence in
1337.
Petrarch, who
perfected the
sonnet form and is
often regarded as
the first modern
poet, was also one
of the first
humanists.
Petrarch’s love of
the classics and his
belief in the value
of human
experience
influenced his own
writing and
inspired other
humanists.
2. What were the characteristics of
the Renaissance?
A. rediscovery of Classical Literature
and Art as objects of ideal beauty
or learning, instead of professional
work of theologians/philosophers;
B. curiosity about the objective world;
& interest in the morality of human
actions, instead of abstract talks of
religious issues;
C. Individualism: concept of fame &
education for overall development;
3. What interpretations were given by
scholars of the Renaissance?
A. as rebirth of art that was inspired
by ancient Greco-Roman glories; as
rebirth of republican government in
ancient Rome before emperors; as
rebirth of Greco-Roman arts in the
reform of Christian society; as the
beginning of the modern era with a
fundamental individualism;
B. as gradual change based on the
high order of civilized Middle Ages;
Portrait of Michelangelo
Italian artist Michelangelo's
extraordinary
accomplishments in painting,
sculpture, and architecture
made him one of the
outstanding figures in
Renaissance art. During his
lifetime (1475-1564) he
influenced many young
artists, including the
Florentine writer and painter
Giorgio Vasari, who included
this likeness of Michelangelo
in one of his own works.
Tomb of Leonardo Bruni
Italian artist Bernardo
Rossellino combined elements
of architecture and sculpture
when he created the tomb of
Leonardo Bruni, a prominent
Florentine humanist. Rossellino
also evoked the grandeur of
classical antiquity by borrowing
elements such as the imperial
Roman eagles seen directly
below Bruni, as well as his
crown of laurel. Bruni and his
followers admired the
republican government of
ancient Rome and encouraged
the citizens of Florence and
other Italian city-states to adopt
a new patriotism based on the
Roman model. The tomb, begun
in 1444, is in the Church of
Santa Croce, Florence, Italy.
Voltaire
The French writer and
philosopher Voltaire is
considered one of the central
figures of the Age of
Enlightenment, a period
following the Renaissance
which emphasized the power of
human reason, science, and
respect for humanity. Voltaire
believed that literature should
serve as a vehicle for social
change. His biting satires and
philosophical writings
demonstrated his aversion to
Christianity, intolerance, and
tyranny. The expression
captured in this portrait of
Voltaire in 1718 hints at the
sharp sense of humor with
which he won the favor of
18th-century French society.
Medieval Schools
During the Middle Ages, advocates of Scholasticism sought to forge a connection
between classical Greek philosophy and Christian theology through the use of logic.
Teachers and instructors employed the concepts of reason and revelation to teach their
students how to think. In this 15th-century Italian painting, parents take their children
to see a teacher of grammar.
4. What were the economic & social
basis of the Renaissance?
A. changing economy: international
trade created Italian rich cities and
rulers, providing the capital and the
flow of ideas for the new culture;
Atlantic powers’ colonial expansion
rivaled Italy in cultural expansion;
B. urban society: complex structurenobles, merchants, workers, rulers;
pursuit of wealth and opportunities
for traders/bankers to interact with
the world beyond their town walls
created an atmosphere more open
to new ideas and to innovation and
enterprise in all aspects of life;
C. rural society: new urban markets
for agricultural products turned the
self-sufficient rural economy into a
one that produced goods for sale;
landowners wanted to receive cash
from tenants to buy products from
merchants; independent kind of life
replaced communal serfdom;
The First Crusade (1095-1099)
The Crusades introduced Europeans to other cultures and helped to revive trade that
had lagged during the Middle Ages. Although Christian territories acquired during the
First Crusade were gradually lost over the next 200 years, the revitalization that these
commercial contacts brought had lasting impact on economic and cultural
developments during the Renaissance.
Italian Banking in the 14th Century--Banks first emerged in the Middle Ages,
but grew in importance as commerce developed during the early years of the
Renaissance. The Medici family, one of the most prominent merchant and
banking families in Europe, used their wealth from money-lending to become
patrons of the arts and gain political power.
Columbus Setting Sail in 1492 on his first journey in search of a quicker
route to Asia. Here, Columbus takes leave of Ferdinand V and Isabella, the
Spanish rulers who sponsored his first expedition. Exploration became an
important element in international rivalries for economic and political power.
Rise of the City
The growth of trade and
the rise of wealthy cities
in Italy helped to
encourage the political
and cultural
achievements of the
Renaissance. Within the
walls of these thriving
urban centers lived an
increasingly diverse mix
of social and economic
groups. This portion of
a fresco illustrates the
energy and bustle of
city life.
Rural Life
The peasants in rural
areas of Europe received
little benefit from the
literary and artistic
developments of the
Renaissance but were
deeply affected by
economic changes. As
urban markets for
agricultural products
grew, a money-based
economy began to
replace the selfsufficient rural system of
payment in service.
5. How did the Renaissance affect the
political system in Europe?
A. commerce replacing the Catholic
as the unifying force in Europe;
B. decline of the Holy Roman Empire
and the Roman Catholic Church due
to their struggle for political control;
C. rulers of the Italian city-states thus
empowered for expansion abroad;
D. Monarchies consolidated in France/
England/Spain due to their subjects’
wish for peace/order after civil wars;
Papal Palace in Avignon, France
In 1305, through the influence of Philip the Fair, king of France, the papal
court was moved from Rome to Avignon. This period when the popes were
dominated by the French monarchs has become known as the Babylonian
Captivity. The papal palace today remains a symbol of this period of exile.
Doges’ Palace, Venice
The Doges’ Palace was a municipal center and residence for the doges or
elected leaders of the former Venetian Republic. The present palace dates
from the early 14th century. After being damaged by fire on several
occasions, the interior was decorated by leading Venetian artists of the 16th
century.
Renaissance Diplomacy
This painting, The Arrival of the Ambassadors is by Venetian artist
Vittore Carpaccio. Venice, like other Italian city-states during the
Renaissance, competed for prestige and political dominance and
relied on diplomacy, and occasionally warfare, to protect its interests.
Louis XI,
king of
France, was
considered
one of the
“new
monarchs,”
who were
able to
strengthen
their control
over
European
governments
in the late
15th century.
Thomas More’s
Utopia
This woodcut
depicts the island
that symbolized
More's concept of
an ideal
community. More,
who was a
statesman as well
as a writer, used
the fictional
Utopia to satirize
conditions in
England.
6. How did the Renaissance affect the
church and religion?
A. a society based on money rather
than faith hit the Catholic Church;
B. popular heretical religion emerged
proposed to do away with church;
C. Mystics sought direct revelations
from God without the church so as
to deepen the religious life of the
individuals;
D. many humanists hoped to reform
Christianity by education, not faith;
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X, who was a
member of the Medici family,
was a strong supporter of
the arts. The pope
commissioned this portrait
from the noted Renaissance
painter Raphael, whom he
also named as the chief
architect for renovations of
Saint Peter’s Basilica in
Rome. During the
Renaissance, the Roman
Catholic Church experienced
a decline in power and
prestige, although popular
religious fervor remained
high.
Savonarola Put to Death in Florence
Girolamo Savonarola was a popular preacher of repentance in Florence
during the Renaissance, but he denounced important political and religious
figures, including the pope, for moral corruption. Eventually the church
charged him with heresy. In 1498 Savonarola was hanged and then burned
at the stake in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria.
7. How did the Renaissance affect the
development of humanism?
A. a philosophy that emphasized the
dignity and worth of the individual,
originated in the study of classical
culture, by the study of humanities:
grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry,
ethics, to develop the whole person
physically, morally and intellectually;
B. humanists were townspeople not
associated with the church, flexible
& open to all the possibilities of life;
New Educational Goals
One of the major influences
of humanism during the
Renaissance was a new focus
on education as shown in this
painting of Massimiliano
Sforza, the son of the duke of
Milan, attending to his
lessons. The humanities
emphasized disciplines such
as history, poetry, and ethics
that drew on the teachings of
classical Greece and Rome.
Scholars considered
development of the character
and the body just as
important as the mind, and
young people were
encouraged to open
themselves to all the
possibilities of life.
Renaissance Nobility
This depiction of the nobility holding court is part of a fresco painted
by Italian artist Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the 14th century.
Money Changer
and His Wife as a
witty commentary
on greed.
In the Renaissance
townspeople
challenged the
dominance of the
church in everyday
life. Humanism
reflected some of
the changes in
values of the new
urban society, but
also focused on
ways of improving
humanity. The
banker’s wife
pretends piety by
leafing through a
religious book,
while stealing a
glance at her
husband’s gold.
8. How did the Renaissance affect the
development of science?
A. The Renaissance spirit of curiosity,
experimentation, & objectivity filled
scientific inquiry; scholars focused
concrete experience over abstract
theory, tried to observe the natural
world carefully, completely, without
preconceived ideas;
B. The spirit of curiosity as extended
to exploration & navigation, math &
astronomy--Columbus, Da Vinci;
Renaissance Science
During the Renaissance, Belgian physician Andreas Vesalius experimented
with the dissection of human bodies in order to learn more about human
anatomy. The spirit of curiosity and experimentation that characterized the
Renaissance created a fertile climate for the development of science.
Advances were made in many fields including navigation, astronomy,
mathematics and medicine.
Leonardo da Vinci's
Sketches
Leonardo da Vinci
recorded thousands
of pages of ideas
about art, science,
and engineering in
notebooks. He
wrote his ideas
backward so that
they could only be
read in a mirror.
About 4,200 pages
still exist.
9. How did the Renaissance affect the
development of arts?
A. It brought about sense of change
in all aspects of life and a favorable
atmosphere for artistic innovation &
experimentation;
B. Wealth gathered in towns created
demand for refinement in arts and
variety in form & content, to value
the classical heritage as ideas and
formal models for artistic changes,
helping support writers and artists;
C. It replaced the medieval notions of
painting & sculpture as crafts only to
decorate churches by that of highly
intellectual artistic accomplishments,
with merge of art & science by use of
math/geometry to achieve proportion;
Roman sculpture/architecture served
as bases for new artistic inspiration:
revival of the dome/interest in secular
buildings—palaces, libraries, theaters
was its important contribution to the
development of Western architecture;
D. Its humanist respect for the ancient
Greek and Roman classics tended to
prevent free literary creation, but its
restless curiosity, its interest in the
world & its urban influences created
a demand for a native literature that
expressed the new life then; and its
individuality with a concern for fame
drove writers to do experiments to
win praise from critics and support
from patrons: The Divine Comedy by
Dante & love sonnets by Petrarch as
pioneers in European literature for
Shakespeare, Marlowe, (plays) and
Spenser (epic), Sidney (sonnets) in
England of Queen Elizabeth I;
10. What did it leave to world history?
A. artistic beauty defining the West;
B. a period of intellectual preparation
for thinkers & scientists of 1600s;
C. its idea of man ruling nature led to
modern science & technology;
D. its thinkers used classical models
for republicanism & human freedom.
Duomo, Florence, Italy
Florence, located in north central Italy, was the site for many architectural
innovations of the Renaissance. The eight-sided dome of the cathedral known
as the Duomo was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in 1436.
Villa Barbaro by Paladio
The Villa Barbaro in Maser, Italy, was designed about 1560 by Italian
painter and architect Andrea Palladio. The style is clearly influenced
by classical Roman architecture, as can be seen in the use of statuary
and the pediment with a frieze above the facade.
11.What were the backgrounds of the
Religious Reformation historically?
A. nationalist sentiment against papal
taxation and church officials’ control
reduced the powers of the church;
B. John Wycliffe’s attack on papal act,
moral & intellectual standards of the
priests; his Bible/sermon in English;
C. greed, immorality & ignorance of
papal officials put papacy to blame;
D. humanist idea of Bible, not church
as the source of religious authority.
Wycliffe’s writings later inspired Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant
Reformation.
Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg Bible is
the first book known to
have been created with
movable metal type. It
was printed by Johannes
Gutenberg in Mainz,
Germany, between 1450
and 1455. The advent of
movable type increased
the efficiency of printing
and the number of books
that could be produced.
More books and a more
literate population, in
turn, enhanced the
spread of ideas
throughout Europe,
fueling the 16th-century
Protestant Reformation
in Germany.
Martin Luther
German theologian and
religious reformer Martin Luther
precipitated the Protestant
Reformation with his
publication in 1517 of his
Ninety-Five Theses, which
detailed the indulgences and
excesses of the Roman Catholic
church. Luther felt that the
essence of Christianity lay not
in an elaborate organization
headed by the pope, but in
each person’s direct
communication with God.
Luther’s protest set off a flood
of departures from the Roman
Catholic church and set the
stage for further Protestant
movements, including
Calvinism and Presbyterianism.
John Calvin
John Calvin established a new
religion with strict codes of
belief and behavior. Calvin
taught the virtues of faith
above good works and
advanced the theory of
universal priesthood, in which
all Christians could practice
their religion without the daily
guidance of priests. Calvin
also established the idea of
the “Elect,” a preordained
group of people whom God
chooses for Salvation. Many
European princes and citizens
embraced Calvinism, and his
ideas spread to other
countries and sparked other
major Protestant religions.
John Knox
In contrast to
Calvin’s focus on
the bourgeoisie,
however, Knox
preached the idea
of the “Elect” to the
peasant masses of
16th-century
Scotland.
Later called
Presbyterianism,
this Protestant
religion became a
symbol of Scottish
nationalism in the
struggle against
Catholic monarchs.
Henry VIII
by Hans Holbein
Hans Holbein’s famous
portrait of Henry VIII shows
the Tudor king as the
quintessential Renaissance
sovereign. Henry prided
himself on his education
and his patronage of
humanist scholars such as
Sir Thomas More, but his
increasingly despotic
behavior left a more
enduring image. He is most
famous for founding the
Church of England and for
having six wives, two of
whom he had beheaded.
12.What were the main results of the
Religious Reformation?
A. power & wealth lost by the feudal
nobility/the Roman Catholic church
passed to the middle classes and to
monarchical rulers;
B. various regions gained political,
religious, cultural independence;
C. individualism/nationalism in culture
& politics developed;
D. protestant value judgment brought
about democratic governments;
E. medieval system of authority was
destroyed;
F. removal of religious restriction on
trade/banking stimulated capitalism;
G. national languages/literature were
advanced due to religious literature
in native languages of the people;
H. popular education was stimulated
through new schools by protestants;
I. religion became an expression of
people’s beliefs more than a special
right of the clergy of the church;