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

1. Glorify God
2. Local/Feudal
3. Church is center
4. Focus of life
5. Run by Church, Bible oriented
6. Deprived, innately bad
7. Jesus, Saints

1. Glorify man, the individual
2. Monarchs centralize power
3. Secular/material important
4. Important but not center
5. Run by Humanists , secular oriented
6. The paragon of animals
7. Aristotle, Cicero

1. Purpose of Art
2. Politics
3. Society
4. Religion
5. Education
6. Man
7. 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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