The
Renaissance
(1350-1650)
I.
The Renaissance—a “rebirth”
of culture and learning in
Western Europe
1.
Key features:
◊Rediscovery
of classical
Greek and
Roman
culture
◊Renewed interest in secular (nonreligious — concerned with here
and now) and worldly matters
◊Increased emphasis on the
uniqueness and worth of the
individual
II. Italy—the Renaissance began in Italy
AROUND 1350 due to traders and
Crusaders returning from the Near East
1. Italy already had a rich history of
Greek and Roman culture.
2. Cities were centers of trade of exotic goods from
the Byzantine Empire which had preserved
Greek and Roman culture for nearly 1,000 years
since the fall of Rome.
3. Italian city-states—(Milan and
Florence)—cities which ran own
affairs
◊ ex. Collected own
taxes and
maintained own
army
3. Patronage—when someone
financially supports the arts or a
specific artist
3. Patron— someone who financially
supports the arts or a specific
artist
ex.
Ex. Lorenzo di Medici
ruled Florence and wa
a wealthy and
powerful patron who
financially supported
the arts
-Lorenzo di Medici
tomb by
Michelangelo
4. Humanism—study of Greek and Roman
culture led to a new philosophy which
focused on humans and the world
around them
1. Humanists were concerned with
secular and worldly matters
2. Emphasized the achievements
and abilities of the individual
Medieval Art
Religious
Jesus
Madonna
Crucifixion
2-dimensional
Lacking
depth/Flat
Unrealistic!
Renaissance Art
Can be religious and secular
(non-religious)
Portraits
Landscapes
Weddings
Classical
Greek and Roman Style
3-Dimensional
Appearing to
have depth or
thickness in
addition to
height and
width
Realistic!
Medieval
or
Renaissance?
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or
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