His 101 chapter 12 -the renaissance
description
Transcript of His 101 chapter 12 -the renaissance
The Renaissance
What is the significance of the Renaissance?
Renaissance
“Rebirth” does not mean that there was a lack of learning during the middle ages that was “reborn” between 1350 and 1550
“Rebirth” does not mean that Renaissance society experienced a rebirth of classical learning and paganism
Renaissance personalities loved classical learning but this love did not replace their Christian beliefs
There was no single Renaissance position on anything
Distinguishing trends of the Renaissance
Rediscovery Works of Roman thinkers such as Livy and Tacitus Recovery of classical Greek literature, especially Plato and Aristotle Mastery of Greek language and Greek literary heritage
Renaissance scholars used classical texts in ways that were new More aware of the conceptual gap between their own world view and
the world view of classical authors Recognized similarities between ancient city-states and Italian city-
statesRenaissance culture was more worldly and overtly
materialistic than medieval culture Importance of urban political arena Importance of living well in this world Increasing weakness of the Church in political arena
Renaissance Humanism
A program of studies intended to replace the 13th and 14th century emphasis on logic and metaphysics with the study of language, literature, rhetoric, history and ethics
Focus on classical Latin and GreekFocus on producing virtuous citizens and able
public officials rather than securing salvation and protecting the Church
Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance
Italy was most advanced urban society in Europe
Italian aristocracy lived in urban centers not rural castles More fully involved in urban public affairs Less distinguished from the wealthy merchant class Urban aristocrats engaged in commerce and banking
activities Urban merchants imitated the manners and lifestyles
of the aristocratsDemand for education to further commercial
interests Lay educators rather than clergy Produced learned treatises on politics and ethics
Petrarch: The Father of Renaissance Humanism (1304-1374)
Petrarch & Christian Humanism
Scholasticism is misguided for concentrating on abstract speculation rather than on teaching people who to live virtuously and gain salvation
Cultivate literary eloquence to inspire people to do good
Italian Sonnets Focus on contemplation
Petrarch Sonnet No. 134 (translated by Anthony Mortimer)
I find no peace, yet I am not at warI fear and hope, I burn and freeze;I rise to heaven, and fall to earth’s floorGrasping at nothing, the world I seize
She imprisons me, who neither jails nor freesNor keeps me for herself, nor slips the noose;Love does not kill, nor set me free,Love takes my life, but will not set me loose.
I have not eyes, yet see, no tongue, yet scream;I long to perish, and seek release;I hate myself, and love another.
I feed on grief, and in my laughter week;Both death and life displease me;Lady, because of you, I suffer.
Civic Humanists
Leonardo Bruni(1370-1444)
Leon BatistaAlberti (1404-1472)
Bruni and Alberti
Man’s nature equipped him for action Usefulness to family and society Serving the state
Ambition and quest for glory are noble impulses
Refused to condemn striving for material posessions
Alberti, On the Family Nuclear family instituted by nature for well-being of
humanity Women’s place is to “increase and continue
generations” and nourish children Similar to Greek views on women’s place in society
Neoplatonism
Platonic Academy founded by Cosimo de’ Medici in Florence Byzantine scholars and Italian scholars focused on
works of Plato, ancient mysticism and Christianity Marisilio Ficino (1433-1499)
translated all of Plato’s works to Latin Pico della Miradnola (1463-1494)
Oration on the Dignity of Man: there is “nothing more wonderful than man.”
Man is endowed with the ability to achieve union with God
Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)
The Prince
Reflects the unstable political conditions in Italy at the time he wrote it Invasions by France and Spain Internal dissension and competition of Italian city-
states 1498 prominent official in Florentine Republic
established when the French deposed the Medici family Attempt by Cesare Borgia (Son of Pope Alexander VI)
to create his own principality 1512 Medici’s returned to power and Machiavelli is
dismissed
Machiavellian Advice to Rulers
A prince’s actions must be judged by their consequences not by their moral quality
Human beings are “ungrateful, fickle and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers and avid for gain.”
Necessity of preserving the state will often compel a prince to act in ways that are the opposite of “loyalty, charity, humanity and religion.”
Stick to the path of good as far as a prince is able but know how to follow evil
Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy
Praised the constitutional form of governmentEquality among citizensPolitical independence for city-statesSubordination of religion to the service of the
stateSome view this as contradicting views
expressed in The Prince Are these views contradictory? Can these views be reconciled?
3 perspectives on Machiavelli
Machiavelli endorsed princely tyranny for its own sake, amoral, interested in power only
Italian patriot who saw tyranny as the only way to liberate Italy from its foreign conquerors
Follower of St. Augustine who understood that in a fallen world a ruler’s good intentions do not guarantee that his policies will have good results
The Ideal of the Courtier
Baldassare Castiglione(1478-1529)
The Book of the Courtier
The qualities of a Renaissance Man Master all skills of medieval warrior Physical proficiency of a champion athlete Possess the refinements of a humanistic education
Latin and Greek, vernacular Familiar with the classics Speak and write well Compose verse Draw Play musical instrument
Sprezzatura – air of nonchalance
Principal Characteristics of Italian Renaissance Art
Chicaroscuro Effects of light and shade
Anatomy and proportions of human bodyLinear perspectiveOpened art to non-religious themes and
subjects Reveal hidden mysteries of the soul Appeal primarily to intellect Delight the eye
Introduction of oil painting
Masaccio (1401-1428)
Masaccio, Trinity, 1425-1428,Fresco, Santa Maria Novella,Florence, Italy
The Tribute Money
Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)
The Birth of Venus
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper
Virgin of the Rocks
High Renaissance
Venetian School Reflected pleasure-loving life of merchants in Venice Appealed to senses by painting idyllic landscapes Portraits of the rich and powerful Subordinated form and meaning to color and elegance
Rome Center of High Renaissance in 1st half of 16th century
Raphael (1483-1520) Michelangelo (1475-1564)
Michelangelo, Jacopino del Conte
Renaissance Sculpture
Free-standing statues in the round 1st time since antiquity Established sculpture as a separate and potentially
secular art formDonatello, DavidMichelangelo, David
The Pieta, Descent from the Cross Experimented with mannerisms for communicating mood
Two Davids
The Pieta
Descent from the Cross
High Renaissance (1490-1520)
Center shifted from Florence to RomePapal undertaking to restore the ancient city
Use of indulgences to do so sparked the Protestant Reformation
Pope Julius II commissioned Donato Bramante to rebuild Saint Peter’s Cathedral
Harmonious design Tempietto San Pietro Andrea Palladio Villa Rontunda
Tempietto San Pietro
Villa Rotunda
The Waning of the Italian Renaissance
French invasion of 1494Constant warfare1527 Charles V of Spain invaded and sacked
RomeGradual shifting of trade routes from
Mediterranean to the Atlantic Region cost Italy its supremacy in trade
Counter-Reformation 1542 Roman Inquisition 1564 Roman Index of Prohibited Books
Northern Renaissance
Christian Humanism Sought ethical guidance from Biblical and religious
precepts Challenged Roman Catholic Church traditions &
hypocrisy Desiderius Erasmus Sir Thomas Moore
Both men wanted to challenge and reform the Roman Catholic Church, not leave it
Desiderius Erasmus & Christian Humanism
Criticized wealth, “worldliness” and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church
Learn Latin, Greek and Hebrew Bible teachings of the early church
fathers Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam
(1466-1536) Return to basic teachings of
Christ Criticized dogma and ritual Translated New Testament
from Greek Erasmus’s New Testament
was the source for vernacular editions of the New Testament
Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)
Appointed Lord Chancellor of England in 1529
Utopia (1516)Ideal communityCritique of excesses
Refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church of England
Executed in 1535
Decline of Christian Humanism
Supplanted by the ReformationSupplanted by the Rise of Lutheran, Calvinist
and Anglican Churches
Alfred Durer (1471-1528)
Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance
Italian Renaissance More secular More urban Still fervent Christianity Conclusions reached
by greatest minds of antiquity are compatible with Christianity
Northern Renaissance Focused on reforming
Roman Catholic Church Christian Humanism Less urban Still fervent Christianity Conclusions reached
by greatest minds of antiquity and Church fathers are compatible with each other and Christianity