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Unit 2 The West in Transition Beginning of the Nation-State • Common nationality – Language – History – Customs • Transferred loyalty to monarch • Nation-states – England – France – Spain States/Empires • • • • Diverse nationalities One predominated No feeling of national unity States – Russia – Prussia – Austria Italian Renaissance Beginnings • 14th Century Europe—medieval Italy—changing • Centers/Patrons 1st Florence— de Medicis 2nd Rome— Roman Catholic Church Causes • Economic prosperity – Trade • Based on Crusades – Industry – Banking • Political power – Transfer of land from aristocracy to merchant class Causes (cont’d.) • Fluid Society – Position from wealth not birth – Attracted outside talent • Money to spend – Culture and art • Promote political/social ambitions • Show/Build civic pride – Artist’s prestige increased – Education and intellectual elite Philosophy • Humanism – Study of classical manuscripts – Emphasis on man’s dignity and potential • Stressed man’s rational abilities • Individualism – Medieval man feared pride – Renaissance individual had dignity • Concern for secular life – Man could discover all truth – Not antireligious Humanism and Individualism • Began in 1300s Tuscany • Tuscan Triumvirate • Dante Alighieri • Petrarch Tuscany • Boccaccio Dante Alighieri • Late medieval writer • Wrote Divine Comedy • Italian language • Exiled from Florence Petrarch • Father of Italian humanism • Recover classical manuscripts • Letters to historical figures Boccaccio l l Improved Italian prose Wrote Decameron – Collection of tales Neoplatonism • From Heaven we are pushed into our filthy human bodies • We struggle, using our mind and body, to return to Heaven • Marsilio Ficino • Pico della Mirandola Importance of primary sources • Lorenzo Valla • Father of modern analytical historical scholarship • Proved Donation of Constantine a forgery Italian Renaissance Art • • • • • • • • Religious scenes focused on expressions Holy as human God’s beauty in world Neo-Platonism Nude body Uniqueness - self-portraits Pagan myths as Christian icons Individual-secular-profane Filippo Brunelleschi 13771446 • Linear Perspective : Discovered or rediscovered. 1420 • Brunelleschi’s Dome- Florence commissioned by wool merchants Donatello’s David Donatello- c. 1386 – December 13, 1466) David-Commissioned by Cosimo de Medici 1440’s 1st free standing full nude since antiquity (Greek and Roman era) Represents Florence victory over the duke of Milan-like David + Civic virtue over irrational defeating Goliath Contrapposto Wax mold Had studied in Rome Raphael Santi • Humanized Madonna paintings https://www.youtube.co m/watch?feature=player • School of Athens 1509_embedded&v=zpLEUF8 1511 qS3o Northern Renaissance Beginnings • Scholars and merchants in 15th century carried ideas • Centered in courts and universities • Humanized Christianity Humanism • Sir Thomas More – England – Utopia l Erasmus. Made living writing – Netherlands 1446-1536 – In Praise of Folly-Best seller Only bible sold more by 1550-Criticized hypocrisy of Church and clergy. Influenced Martin Luther Literature • England – William Shakespeare-work reflected Renaissance ideals of classic Greek and Roman culture. Individualism and humanism • France – Michel de MontaigneMontaigne-15331592 Developed the essay form to test new ideas. SKEPTICISM- skeptic must be cautious, critical and suspend judgment. –- • Spain – Miguel de Cervantes Northern Renaissance Art • Flemish Style: Heavily influenced by Italian Renaissance • More detail in background than italian • Use of oil vs. tempera in italy • Preoccupied with death • Jan Van Eyck-Arnolfini and his Wife-perfected oil painting. Incredibly detailed. Northern Renaissance Art • • • • • Albrecht Durer: 1471-1528 Northernmost Renaissance artist. Master woodcut Visited Florence Most famous piece self-Portrait- “Christ Like” Norther Renaissance Art • Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) • Partraits of Erasmus, More, King Henry VIII and familiy • The Ambassadors (1533) themes of exploration, religious discord, preoccupation with death and international relations.