The High Renaissance in Italy Main points to consider • Identify the change in human outlook that occurred during the time of the Renaissance. • What were some of the civic monuments that were built to show this change? • Who created some of the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance—and what were the new techniques that enhanced their art? • Identify Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli’s ideas and importance in literature and political thought. The Renaissance marked a new age in thought and feeling The focus on heaven and the afterlife changed to the here and now. Italy during the Renaissance – not yet unified Many civic (city) projects were built • • • • • • Orphanages Hospitals Town halls Schools Squares Bridges Renaissance City States Florence Famous cathedral – ‘il duomo’ (the dome) Venice Palace of the Doge, Venice St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice – Home of the great composer, Antonio Vivaldi Genoa Columbus Different Governments • Some were republics • Others were Merchant Oligarchies • Others were controlled by despots (cruel rulers with absolute power) • Some were controlled by military factions (condottiere) • The states were small and there was constant friction among them. Condottiere - Renaissance Warlords! Condottieri: -the mercenary soldier leaders or warlords of the professional, military free companies contracted by the Italian citystates and the Papacy. The Medici were the most famous Merchant family. Their home was Florence. The Medici produced four Popes of the Catholic Church: Pope Leo X (1513–1521), Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), Pope Pius IV (1559–1565), and Pope Leo XI (1605); two regent queens of France—Catherine de' Medici (1547–1559) and Marie de' Medici (1600– 1610); and, in 1531, the family became hereditary Dukes of Florence. House of Medici Medici family members placed allegorically in the entourage of a king from the Three Wise Men in the Tuscan countryside in a Benozzo Gozzoli fresco, c. 1459. Are you a Renaissance Man? • Are you excellent in all things – the arts, sports, academics? • Do you define the age? • Are you musical, literary, a fine swordsman? • Can you appreciate the opposite sex? Are you a Renaissance Woman? • Are you submissive to your husband? • Are you chaste? • Can you bear many sons? • Can you run the domain while your husband is away? • Can you live past 40? The Renaissance influence the arts The Birth of Venus Botticelli, 1485 Oil painting, canvas and linear perspective were all new developments in art. ‘David’; 1504 Michelangelo Buonarroti 1475 – 1564 Renaissance man – perfection, humanism, proportion Classicism – in the style of ancient Greek sculpture Titian’s 'Venus of Urbino’ is among the world’s sexiest paintings. Battle of the Centaurs is a ‘relief’ by Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo, created around 1492. It was the last work Michelangelo created while under the patronage of Lorenzo de' Medici, who died shortly after its completion. It took Ghiberti 21 years to complete these doors. These gilded bronze doors consist of twenty-eight panels, with twenty panels depicting the life of Christ from the New Testament. The eight lower panels show the four evangelists and the Church Fathers Saint Ambrose, Saint Jerome, Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine. The panels are surrounded by a framework of foliage in the door case and gilded bust of prophets and sibyls at the intersections of the panels. Originally installed on the east side, in place of Pisano's doors, they were later moved to the north side. They are described by the art historian Antonio Paolucci as "the most important event in the history of Florentine art in the first quarter of the 15th century". Recognize this image? Linear Perspective The Creation of Adam is a fresco painting by Michelangelo, forming part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted circa 1511–1512. The High Renaissance 1450-1527 - Age of Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo This portrait was doubtless painted in Florence between 1503 and 1506. It is thought to be of Lisa Gherardini, wife of a Florentine cloth merchant named Francesco del Giocondo - hence the alternative title, La Gioconda. However, Leonardo seems to have taken the completed portrait to France rather than giving it to the person who commissioned it. It was eventually returned to Italy by Leonardo's student and heir Salai. It is not known how the painting came to be in François I's collection. Popes were patrons of the High Renaissance • They used art and architecture to reestablish their power after the Great Schism • Julius II The Warrior Pope Raphael’s greatest works appear in the Segnatura Gratiae et Iustitae – the highest court of the Church The School of Athens – the “Philosophical True” The Dispute of the Sacrament– the “Theological True” The literary (writing) movement of the Renaissance was called Humanism. More works were being written in the Vernacular (language of the people) Scholars sought out the classical texts long forgotten • The area of law was the first area • Scholars examined old texts for the knowledge they contained • This thirst for authentic sources exploded in the Renaissance • Soon, the printing press would bring this knowledge to the rest of the Western World Petrarch (1304-1374)had a wide influence throughout the Renaissance • He loved to write letters, • Poems, • Revived interest in classics • Wrote sonnets about love Petrarch wrote sonnets to Laura and Mrs. Olsen Love poem to Mrs. Olsen Mrs. Olsen your eyes are likes stars, And though age decays you year by year, I will always love you, Do not fear Other writers include Boccaccio • While the Black Death raged in the countryside, friends gathered to hear stories. Dante (1265-1321), considered a Renaissance writer, lived just prior to the Renaissance. He wrote the “Divine Comedy” in Italian—the venacular, which means the language of the people The Divine Comedy was a trip through Heaven, Hell, and purgatory (a half way house for sinners) Dante was in love with Beatrice, though he only spoke to her once, she remained a powerful inspiration Both Laura and Beatrice were famous inspirations to these great writers. They became immortal. Machiavelli (1469-1527) Some writers wrote about politics Machiavelli was concerned that Italy was not united. He wrote The Prince as a guide for rulers. We should now be familiar with his beliefs • The end justifies the means • It is better to be feared than loved • It is better to kill a person than take away his property. • Human nature can be predicted; most humans are selfish • Politics is not about morals or religion—it is about keeping a realm strong and peaceful. Machiavelli admired the New Monarchs in other countries • He was depressed that Italy was disunited and fighting. • He looked with envy on those monarchs who were busy united their realms, including England’s Henry VII, France’s Louis XI, and Ferdinand and Isabella. • Italy would not unite until the 1860’s— almost four hundred years after his birth in 1469. The end of the Italian Renaissance: German and Spanish armies invaded Rome and pillaged and sacked the city in 1527.
