The Renaissance in ItalyThe Renaissance in Italy
The Italian City-statesThe Italian City-states
Italy conduit for travel and commerce Italy conduit for travel and commerce between Europe and Eastbetween Europe and EastCities independent from kings and popesCities independent from kings and popesMerchant princesMerchant princesMedici family--powerful banking familyMedici family--powerful banking familyCharitable to artsCharitable to artsCivic humanismCivic humanism
Renaissance HumanismRenaissance Humanism
Humans God greatest creationHumans God greatest creationHumanist: student of classical ideasHumanist: student of classical ideasGlorified beauty and order in natureGlorified beauty and order in naturePico’s Oration: man had choice of Pico’s Oration: man had choice of goodness or evil in himselfgoodness or evil in himselfGreat reformers, artists, writers, inventors.Great reformers, artists, writers, inventors.
Lorenzo “The Magnificent”Lorenzo “The Magnificent”
1462-92. Patron of the arts1462-92. Patron of the artsPraised Plato; civic leader; poetPraised Plato; civic leader; poetWrote songs in ItalianWrote songs in ItalianGave money and support to artists in Gave money and support to artists in FlorenceFlorenceHad many libraries, museums and palaces Had many libraries, museums and palaces built for Florencebuilt for Florence
Ghiberti’s Baptistery DoorsGhiberti’s Baptistery Doors
Competition for Baptistery Doors--1401Competition for Baptistery Doors--1401Ghiberti and Brunelleschi--Abraham and Ghiberti and Brunelleschi--Abraham and IsaacIsaacGhiberti won-- Classical style;48 years! Ghiberti won-- Classical style;48 years! Michelangelo: “Gates of Paradise”Michelangelo: “Gates of Paradise”Story of Jacob & Esau: optical Story of Jacob & Esau: optical perspectiveperspective
Brunelleschi’s DomesBrunelleschi’s Domes
Florence’s greatest Renaissance architectFlorence’s greatest Renaissance architectStudied Rome’s ancient buildingsStudied Rome’s ancient buildingsDomed roof over cathedral altarDomed roof over cathedral altarSimplicity and reasonSimplicity and reasonPazzi Chapel--Roman architecturePazzi Chapel--Roman architectureAttempt by Pazzi on Lorenzo’s life in Attempt by Pazzi on Lorenzo’s life in chapelchapel
Florentine Painting: A Refined Florentine Painting: A Refined ClassicismClassicism
Life-like figures, volume and perspective.Life-like figures, volume and perspective.Fresco techniqueFresco techniqueMasaccio-- depth through modeling and Masaccio-- depth through modeling and atmospheric effectsatmospheric effectsThe Tribute Money--chiaroscuroThe Tribute Money--chiaroscuroAtmospheric and linear perspectiveAtmospheric and linear perspective
Sandro BotticelliSandro Botticelli
La Primavera La Primavera blending of mythology and blending of mythology and ChristianityChristianityAdoration of the Magi Adoration of the Magi honored the Medici honored the Medici patrons. Includes himself in paintingpatrons. Includes himself in paintingClassical ruins anachronisticClassical ruins anachronistic
Italian Renaissance MusicItalian Renaissance Music
The MassThe MassSacred motets in LatinSacred motets in Latinsecular songsecular songGuillaume Dufay--monodyGuillaume Dufay--monodyHeinrich IsaacHeinrich IsaacPolyphonic songs: frottola and madrigalPolyphonic songs: frottola and madrigalMaddalena CasulanaMaddalena Casulana
DonatelloDonatello
Brought back the free-standing nude: Brought back the free-standing nude: DavidDavidUsed contrappostoUsed contrappostoBiblical description of David: adolescentBiblical description of David: adolescentTuscan hatTuscan hatPagan (classical) rather than ChristianPagan (classical) rather than Christian
Michelangelo in FlorenceMichelangelo in Florence
By age 22 already rival to DonatelloBy age 22 already rival to DonatelloIn Rome: PietaIn Rome: PietaFlorence’s David: classical values with a Florence’s David: classical values with a biblical themebiblical themeCaptured his spirit/ hero in stoneCaptured his spirit/ hero in stone
The Decline of FlorenceThe Decline of Florence
SavonarolaSavonarolaAppealed to poor and working peopleAppealed to poor and working peopleCondemned Church’s corruption and Condemned Church’s corruption and excesses of wealthexcesses of wealth““Bonfire of the Vanities”Bonfire of the Vanities”Defeated and burned at the stakeDefeated and burned at the stakeMessage affected artistsMessage affected artists
Machiavelli’s Machiavelli’s The PrinceThe Prince
Florentine diplomat--described realities of Florentine diplomat--described realities of political philosophy and powerpolitical philosophy and powerThe Prince The Prince masterpiece of political masterpiece of political philosophy. Realisticphilosophy. RealisticDescribes the ideal prince or ruler: only Describes the ideal prince or ruler: only strong, ruthless leaders keep country safe strong, ruthless leaders keep country safe from foreign dominationfrom foreign dominationMachiavellian: end justifies meansMachiavellian: end justifies means
The Genius of LeonardoThe Genius of Leonardo
Arts, sciences, engineering, mathematicsArts, sciences, engineering, mathematicsNot true to only one patron/rulerNot true to only one patron/rulerRestless, inquisitiveRestless, inquisitiveTrue geniusTrue genius
Leonardo as ScientistLeonardo as Scientist
Notebooks: Notebooks: Mirror writingMirror writingTanks, submarines, airplaneTanks, submarines, airplaneLacked propulsionLacked propulsionUnpublishedUnpublished
Leonardo as PainterLeonardo as Painter
The Last SupperThe Last SupperMadonna of the RocksMadonna of the RocksClassical triangle composition: Classical triangle composition: RenaissanceRenaissanceMona LisaMona LisasfumatosfumatoPainting: the highest art Painting: the highest art
The Renaissance Man…and The Renaissance Man…and WomanWoman
Leonardo: Renaissance manLeonardo: Renaissance manBaldassare Castiglione: Universal manBaldassare Castiglione: Universal manIsabella d’Este Educated, cultured, Isabella d’Este Educated, cultured, refined tastes. Patroness of the arts; ruled refined tastes. Patroness of the arts; ruled her city in husband’s absenceher city in husband’s absenceMulti-talentedMulti-talented
Patronage of the RenaissancePatronage of the Renaissance
Wealthy church officials and families Wealthy church officials and families employed artists for beauty and employed artists for beauty and entertainment: contractsentertainment: contractsPopes and princes: Julius II and Leo XPopes and princes: Julius II and Leo XSometimes there were problems between Sometimes there were problems between patrons and artistspatrons and artists
Josquin des Prez: Composer Josquin des Prez: Composer High RenaissanceHigh Renaissance
Leo X meditated in the Sistine Chapel Leo X meditated in the Sistine Chapel listening to the choir of listening to the choir of aa cappellacappella music. music.Male musicians; girls had to have private Male musicians; girls had to have private lessons or attend a conventlessons or attend a conventGreatest composer of High RenaissanceGreatest composer of High RenaissanceMatch between words and music, complex Match between words and music, complex polyphony: word painting and imitationpolyphony: word painting and imitation
RaphaelRaphael
Julius II: apartments in the Vatican: stanzeJulius II: apartments in the Vatican: stanzeKnown for his MadonnasKnown for his MadonnasSchool of AthensSchool of AthensAristotle and Plato in centerAristotle and Plato in centerPortraits of contemporary figuresPortraits of contemporary figuresMichelangelo front center figureMichelangelo front center figureRaphael buried in Pantheon. Only artist to Raphael buried in Pantheon. Only artist to be buried there.be buried there.
Michelangelo in RomeMichelangelo in Rome
1505 Pope Julius II ordered Michelangelo 1505 Pope Julius II ordered Michelangelo to Rome to build his tombto Rome to build his tombCaptives: soul striving to break free from Captives: soul striving to break free from sinsinTomb unfinished. Tomb unfinished. Moses Moses embodies embodies Michelangelo’s temper: Michelangelo’s temper: terribilitaterribilitaMature manMature man
Sistine Chapel CeilingSistine Chapel Ceiling
1508: Julius asked Michelangelo to paint 1508: Julius asked Michelangelo to paint ceilingceilingUsed Old Testament as prophecy of Used Old Testament as prophecy of Christ’s comingChrist’s comingCombines classical and Christian ideas, Combines classical and Christian ideas, tension between spirit and fleshtension between spirit and fleshMuscular energyMuscular energyConfident colorsConfident colors
The New St. Peter’sThe New St. Peter’s
Last years devoted to architectureLast years devoted to architectureOld basilica demolished and modernizedOld basilica demolished and modernized150 years to complete150 years to completeGreek Cross floor plan Michelangelo’s Greek Cross floor plan Michelangelo’s design seen only from the reardesign seen only from the rearConflict between 12 architects and 22 Conflict between 12 architects and 22 popespopesLimited funds in VaticanLimited funds in Vatican
An Age of GiantsAn Age of Giants
Why such concentration of talent in Italy?Why such concentration of talent in Italy?Cultural center of beauty and learningCultural center of beauty and learningTriumph of the human spiritTriumph of the human spirit