Northern Italy: birthplace of the Renaissance
Renaissance = rebirth
cities were the center of the action
Milan and Florence and wealthy mechanist and bankers
artists were inspired by the former splendor of Rome
Merchants and the Medici
Merchants dominated politics
Medici were powerful banking family
patrons: they paid artists, writers and musicians to create beautiful works of arts
Super-Patron: Isabella d'Este
educated, brilliant
gifted singer, lute player, innovative dance
wealthy, power parents
fashionista, designs her own perfume
What patronage got
nativity
Antonio da Correggio
1529-1530
101 in. by 74 in.
evolving values... humanism
deep interest in what people have already achieved, as well as what they are capable of achieving in the future
worldly(secular) values were essential
"Renaissance Man," "Renaissance Women"
could master many fields of work
Renaissance Women: Isabella d'Este
Renaissance Men: Leonardo da Vinci
- Painter
- Scientist
- Inventor
Artistic style and methods - sculpture
realistic figures
Pieta
carved from marble by Michelangelo from 1498-1499
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
Artistic styles and methods - painting
perspective - using shadowed depth to create the illusion of three dimensions
Frescoes - technique of mural painting
Michelangelo's work in the ceiling of the Sisine Chapel
Artistic styles and methods - literature
vernacular - their native language
literature was more accessible to the masses
Northern Renaissance
ideas and attitudes about the Renaissance moved from Italy northward
Up north, the classical (Greek and Roman) learning and the humanistic approach was combined with religious ideas
learning spread rapidly, mostly due to one major invention
The Printing Press (feat. Movable Type!)
the Chinese had invented the printing press centuries before, but Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized it in Germany in 1439
one of the most important and impactful inventions in history
