Transcript Day 1 - Birth of the Renaissancex

 We
just watched a clip from the
movie “Renaissance Man” (4:31),
In your own words, explain how
Danny DeVito explain what a
Renaissance Man was?
 With this in mind, what does it tell
you about the Renaissance??



During the Middle Ages,
Europe suffered through
both war and plague.
Those that survived wanted
to instead celebrate life and
question the institutions of
the Middle Ages that lead to
war and plague.
People began to want to
express their ideas and this
new spirit in new ways..
This first began in Northern
Italy.
WHY NOT!!!!
Three
Main Reasons…
◦Big, Thriving Cities
◦A Powerful Merchant
Class
◦Greek/ Roman Heritage




Overseas trade, that was
started by the Crusades lead
to the growth of these citystates
Italy was mostly urban while
Europe was rural
Cities proved to be places
where people exchanged
ideas and goods
Fewer people were left from
the Crusades, so there was
less people to do more work.




A wealthy merchant class formed in each
city-state.
They believed to have power because of their
merit, not their office.
People were now rich because of jobs, and
not of inheritance. (nobles hate this)
This belief of stressing on individual
achievement is key to the Renaissance.




The Medicis were a powerful
banking family in Florence,
Italy
The Medicis had branches all
over Europe, but used their
economic influence to
control political leaders.
Cosmo de Medici ruled as a
dictator of Florence without
holding any political office.
His grandson, Lorenzo the
Magnificent ruled as well
while holding up the idea
that there was an elected
government




Renaissance scholars looked down on the art
and literature of the Middle Ages
Many drew from the ruins of Rome and
Greece around them
Many studied ancient Latin manuscripts
Also, Christian scholars fled from
Constantinople with more manuscripts when
the Turks conquered it.
 As
this Renaissance movement
continued to grow, Its own
themes and values began to grow
with it.
 The two values that stood out
ahead of all others were:
Secularism and Humanism





Humanism is when people focus on human
potential and achievements
Humanists no longer wrote texts to coincide
with Christian teachings
Texts now focused on values of older times
(Greece and Rome)
The study of Literature, History, and
Philosophy became much more popular.
These subjects are known as: Humanities

Francesco Petrarca:
poet who traveled
the world to find old
manuscripts…
helped others do the
same
Dante Alighieri: Italian poet
who wrote The Divine
Comedy… tour of life after
death

Niccolo Machiavelli: wrote The

Prince
The Prince: first secular analysis of

Baldasarre Castiglione: wrote
politics
The Courtier
◦ The Courtier: 1528 manual of
manners,
◦ Discusses the qualities of the ideal
gentleman




In the middle ages, people sought to show
their devotion to god through simple living
and eating plain foods
A movement grew that suggested that people
may be able to enjoy life without offending
god.
This became known as secularism, where
people became more worldly and less
spiritual
Secularists focused on the here and now
How do you feel this Secularist
movement will affect how people
live?
 Do you think it there may be people
outwardly opposed to it? Who?
 Do you feel Humanism or Secularism
will affect society more?





Church leaders during the Renaissance chose
to beautify Rome and other cities through
spending money on large amounts of art
Churches began to financially support artists
The wealthy were also “patrons” to the arts
Many would pay to have their portraits done
and then donate them to the city to be
displayed to show their own importanc

Perspective was a new styles made in the
Renaissance that created the effect of three
dimensions
Leonardo
Raphael
Michelangelo
Donatello
Painter, sculptor,
inventor, scientist
 Studied movements of
muscles and veins in
leaves
 He always wrote
backwards, so you can
only read his writings in
a mirror.

Annunciation is thought to be Leonardo's earliest complete work
DaVinci was obsessed with birds and bird watching… can you tell
From how he makes the angel’s wings?
The Vitruvian Man The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a
male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and
simultaneously inscribed in a circle and square. Shows human proportion
 Raphael
was the
youngest of the
Renaissance artists
 Raphael became
famous for his use of
perspective in
paintings
He was enormously productive, despite
his early death at 37, and a large body
of work remains, especially in the
Vatican, where Raphael and the large
team under his direction, executing his
drawings frescoed the Raphael Rooms
known as the Stanze.


Painter, sculptor,
architect, and poet
He was most famous
for portraying the
human body in
painting and sculpture
Central to the ceiling decoration are
nine scenes from the Book of Genesis
of which The Creation of Adam is the
best known, the hands of God and
Adam being reproduced in countless
imitations.
 Artist
and Sculptor
based out of
Florence
 Was best known for
his ability to show
relief and details in
his sculptures



Famous sculptor
who created the
statue David
All bronze
incorporated
significant 15thcentury
developments in
perspective
illusionism.
 How
are these “Renaissance
Men” a reflection of their
times???
 Who would you consider a
Renaissance man/woman of
today???


Dolph Lundgren,
Renaissance man??
Chemist, Athlete,
poet???