The Rebirth…the basics…
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Period in Europe from
the 1300-1500s
Renaissance means
“Rebirth”
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What was being reborn?
Religion and Art in the Renaissance
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Characterized by creativity,
interest in learning, and a
desire to explore the human
experience
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What does this mean?
Emphasis on individual
achievement
How do these ideas compare
to our society?

Rebirth of antiquity
(Greece/Rome)
City-states survived
the Middle Ages
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Prosperous centers of
trade & manufacturing
Florence, Milan,
Venice, Rome, Naples

Rise of a merchant
class
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Stressed the importance
of education and
individual achievement

Wealthy spent $ on the
arts – Patrons were
supporters of the arts
WHY ITALY?
FLORENCE…Where it all went down
NEW STYLES IN PAINTING
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Portrayed religious figures, like the Middle
Ages, but set them against Greek or Roman
backgrounds
Artists focused on realistic portrayals and
perfected perspective – making distant objects
smaller to create a scene that appeared threedimensional
Used shading to make objects look round and
real
Studied human anatomy and drew from live
models – anything to be as realistic or close to
nature!
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Who wouldn’t like this?
Recognize this one? Thumbs up or down?
The School of Athens
The Last Supper
ARCHITECTURE
Rejected Gothic
architecture as
archaic, disorderly,
and cluttered
Adopted arches,
columns, and domes
i.e. Greece and Rome
Created massive
cathedrals
HUMANISM
Intellectual movement
Study of classical culture
Focused on worldly subjects, not
religious issues!
Education based on Greek and
Roman texts
Grammar, rhetoric, poetry, and
history
Adapted and improved on
classical texts

Petrarch – Italian humanist
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Revived works by Greek and Roman
writers from monasteries and churches
Erasmus – Dutch humanist
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Produced a new Greek edition of
the New Testament
Translated the Bible into the
vernacular
Challenged the Church and urged
reform and return to early
Christian tenants