CH. 15 The
Renaissance and
Reformation
1350-1700 A.D.
The Italian Renaissance
• An era of Awakening
• Renaissance- “rebirth” Philosophical and Artistic movement and
the era when that movement flourished
• Renewed interest in Ancient Greek and Roman literature and Life
• Italian Renaissance Scholars wanted to explore ancient Greek and
Roman great achievements
• Medieval scholars tried to bring ancient history into harmony with
Christian teachings
• Emphasized the power of human reason and advances were
made in the arts and sciences
The Italian Renaissance
• Causes:
• Ruins of the old Roman Empire reminded Italians of Ancient
Roman glory
• Trade and the Crusades
• Byzantine civilization whose scholars preserved ancient Greek and
Roman learning
• Trade with Southwestern Asia and Africa helped teach Europeans
about African and Arab advancements in science and in Medicine
Differences in Art:
Differences in Literature:
• Middle Ages
• Scholasticism
• Religion
• “The Divine Comedy”
by Dante
• “The Canterbury
Tales” by Chaucer
• Renaissance
• “The Prince” by
Machiavelli
• About Government
• Francesco Petrarch
• Love poems
The Italian Renaissance
• Humanities
• Humanities- the study of ancient Greek and Roman literature
focusing on grammar, history, poetry, and rhetoric to become a
“well rounded” person in society
• Humanists- people who specialized in the humanities
• Literature written in Greek and Latin
• Many copies so the scholars need to investigate as to which was the
most accurate copy (sought to verify through investigation)
• Christians turned to the Jewish to learn Hebrew
• Important to know how things worked = interest in education
• Meaningful life
• involved in practical affairs, such as supporting the arts
• Many were Christian struggled with preparing for the afterlife but also
living a joyful life with individual achievment
The Italian Renaissance
• Italian Renaissance Writers
• Classical Education- study of ancient Greek and Roman literature
• Studying the ancient Greeks and Romans works (the Classics) was the
distinction of an educated person
• Francesco Petrarch- 1304-1374 Love Poet/teacher/scholar
• Considered to be some of the best love poems in literature
• Most famous Sonnets to Laura (imaginary ideal woman)
• Believed in a full active life but worried that his desire for fame would
hinder his chances at salvation
• Niccolo Machiavelli- 1469-1527 Florentine diplomat and historian
• Most Famous “The Prince” described government as it truly was not loft
ideals
• Ruthless behavior to get ahead – Ruler should only be concerned with
power and political success
• Ancient Roman inspiration – Lack of conventional morality- Still humanist
just different “ the ends justify the means”
The Italian Renaissance
• Baldassare Castiglione- 1478-1529
• “The Book of the Courtier” most famous book of the Renaissance - about real
people, real places but fictional story about how gentlemen and gentlewomen
show act in polite society settings
Examples of literature:
• Petrarch:
• http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa021600a.htm
• Machiavelli:
• http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/quotes.html#explanation5
• Castiglione
• http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa021600a.htm
• Machiavelli:
• Castiglione's characters opine about how their courtier can impress his audience and win
its approval. Similar to the Classical Roman rhetoricians Cicero and Quintillian,
Castiglione stresses the importance of delivery while speaking. In Book I, the Count
states that when the courtier speaks he must have a “sonorous, clear, sweet and well
sounding” voice that is neither too effeminate nor too rough and be “tempered by a
calm face and with a play of the eyes that shall give an effect of grace.” (Castiglione 1.33)
This grace, or grazia, becomes an important element in the courtier’s appearance to the
audience.
The Italian Renaissance
• Italian Renaissance Art:
• Perspective- life like quality of painting 3Dish, Objects in the
distance smaller than in the foreground.
• Huge contrast to medieval art
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No holy land
Real life Italy portrayed in the paintings
Human figures
Realistic figures and images
The Italian Renaissance
• Leonardo da Vinci- 1452-1519
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Architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, mathematician and scientist
Flying machine and submarine
Drew about plants and the human body
Used his work in science to assist his paintings
http://www.drawingsofleonardo.org/
http://www.leonardodavincisecrets.c
• om/http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpeditions/962403346/
The Italian Renaissance
• Michelangelo- 1475-1564
• Painter and sculptor
• Statue of David and the celling of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican
• Wrote poetry and assisted in the design of St. Peter’s Basilica
The Italian Renaissance
• Rafael – 1483-1520
• Beautified the Vatican hired by the Pope
• Painter- best known for frescos and Madonna’s
• Titian -1483-1520
• “The assumption of the Virgin”
• 1st to become wealthy from his work
• Giotto- 1276-1337
• Realist fly story
• Masaccio- 1452-1519
• Realist used light and shadow to create a sense of depth in hos
paintings