The Italian Renaissance

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The Italian Renaissance

• Section 2.6

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Definition Characteristics

• French for Rebirth
• Rebirth of what?
• A period of commercial, financial, political, and
  cultural achievement
• Secular, individualistic, materialistic,
  humanism, vernacular, civic
• Not anti-religious (especially Northern
  Renaissance)
• Centered in Florence, Italy

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Differences b/t Medieval and Renaissance
Medieval
Renaissance

• Glorify God
• Local/Feudal
• Church is center
• Focus of life
• Run by Church, Bible oriented
• Deprived, innately bad
• Jesus, Saints

• Glorify man, the individual
• Monarchs centralize power
• Secular/material important
• Important but not center
• Run by Humanists , secular oriented
• The paragon of animals
• Aristotle, Cicero

• Purpose of Art
• Politics
• Society
• Religion
• Education
• Man
• Heroes

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City-States

• Centrally located
• Gained foothold on desired goods from east during
  Crusades
• Trade, banking, independence allowed them to
  prosper
• Merchants used wealth as stepping stone for
  political power/civic beautification
• Florence
• Full of talented citizens
• Center of Italian Renaissance
• Led by merchant family (The Medicis)

Prelude to Brunellechis Dome
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Humanism

• Literary movement
• Rejected medieval traditions for secular
• Leaders of Renaissance
• Saw Quattrocento (14th Century) as golden age
• conceptualized idea of ancient, middle, modern
• Wanted to imitate the Ancients
• Rejected quiet, contemplative life for active one
• Saw man as paragon, the measure of all things
• Studied grammar, poetry, pagan history,
  mathematics, astronomy, music
• Sought to breed well-rounded individual
  (Renaissance Man)

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Art

• Commissioned by merchant class, the church,
  wealthy
• Purpose was religiousgtgtself-glorificationgtgturban
  beautification
• Gradually became more secular
• Naturalism and realism hallmarks
• Human body and individual glorified
• Linear perspective, oil-based paint, developed
• Artists emerge as celebrities

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Medieval Weltanschauung
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Giotto (1267-1337)St. Francis Preaching to the
Birds
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Donatello (1386-1466)David
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Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
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Michelangelo
Pieta
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Sandro Botticelli 1445-1510Primavera1482
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Raphael (1438-1520)The School of Athens
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Discussion Question How do the works of The
Ninja Turtle artists of the Renaissance as well
as Machiavellis The Prince and Castigliones The
Courtier reflect the zeitgeist of the
Renaissance.
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Education and Etiquette

• Purpose of education was to foster moral, ethical
  individuals (especially rulers)
• Stressed history, rhetoric, ethics
• Foster civic individuals
• Developed secondary education
• Castiglione, The Courtier
• A How to be a Gentleman for Dummies book
• Clothes should be neat, movements graceful, be
  poised, affable, familiar with literature,
  effortless
• Women should be polite and pleasing to men

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Politics

• No centralization existed in Italy
• Condottieri mercenaries who fought for highest
  paying city-state
• Lack of civic duty, patriotism
• Machiavelli- The Prince
• A How to Rule for Dummies book
• Rejected what rulers ought to do in favor of
  what works
• The ends justify the means
• Anticipates scientific objectivity
• Rulers should keep/break promises, be
  merciful/cruel as the situation calls for
• Politicians cant be chained to moral
  considerations
• Dreamed of an Italy like that of Rome (citizenry
  of virtuous, patriotic, citizen-soldiers)

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