Italian Renaissance

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Italian Renaissance Humanism
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In the Renaissance a new philosophy, HUMANISM,
emphasized
INDIVIDUALISM
CLASSICISM
SECULARISM
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Why the change in philosophy?

• Fatalism reflected realities of medieval Europe

• Manors were isolated life was hard

• Manorial life was traditional, pre-determined
  inflexible

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• Change is only possible if God willed it

• God created the world so it was logical to assume
  whatever you were doing was decided for you

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Since most people were serfs and impoverished
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its not difficult to understand obsession with
the afterlife
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By the Renaissance (c. 1350-1660) life changedat
least in the towns and cities

• Wealth increased

• A new middle class developed

• Trade increased new products appeared

• New skills could be learned

• New occupations were created

• Prosperity spread

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An individual could now

• Leave the manor

• Learn an occupation different from his parents

• Improve his status and economic standing

• Acquire nice things and enjoy some of lifes
  pleasures

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By no means did this mean rejecting Christianity
or questioning the basic teachings of the Roman
Catholic Church.
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But it did mean possibility for individual
achievement and pleasure in the secular world on
the way to the afterlife.
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Humanism in Art
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Birthplace of the Renaissance
I T A L I A
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Medieval Art Refresher

• Religious Subject Matter Symbolism
• Focus on Afterlife
• No Individualization/ Emotion
• Anatomical Inaccuracies
• Lack of Single Scene
• Two-Dimensional
• Untrained Artists

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Renaissance art clearly depicts the philosophy of
humanism in its emphasis on
INDIVIDUALISM
CLASSICISM
SECULARISM
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Renaissance art also includes new or reborn
artistic techniques
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Symmetry
Alessandro Botticelli, Venus and Mars c. 1483
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PERSPECTIVE
Piero della Francesca, Ideal City, c. 1470
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GEOMETRY
The triangular organization suggests stability
and order, values held by the ancient Greeks
Romans
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It also suggests the Trinity, a basic
Christian belief
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit
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Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro (shading)
Creates a sense of realism of individual
Leonardo da Vinci The Madonna of the Carnation,
c. 1478-1480
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How does this painting reflect Humanism?
INDIVIDUALISM
SECULARISM
3-D landscape
Mary is a real person, not a medieval zombie
Concern with details
Emphasizes the real world setting
Why does she look real?
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But this is still a religious painting
The Church is still a major patron of the arts
Renaissance Europe is still a very religious
society
But the art is now done in a realistic style by
professionally trained artists, not untrained
monks
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Alessandro Botticellis Birth of Venus, c.
1482-1486
How does this work reflect Humanism?
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What about the subject of the painting?
Shes Venus
Roman goddess of love and beauty
Remember, one of the hallmarks of Humanism is
CLASSICISM
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How does this painting reflect Humanism?
Leonardo da Vinci Lady with an
Ermine c. 1485
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Portraits What could be a better expression of
INDIVIDUALISM
CLASSICISM
No portraits in the Middle Agesbut lots during
Roman times!
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Roman Architecture Reborn
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore Florence, Italy
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VS.
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The Renaissance cathedral is more down to earth
more human in scale
Appropriate for the focus on man
life in the secular world
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Italian Renaissance art clearly reflects Humanism
in its emphasis on
1. INDIVIDUALISM glorifying potential, talents
and accomplishments of individual human beings.
2. CLASSICISM Re-discovery and appreciation of
ancient Greek Roman culture
3. SECULARISM emphasis on this world (the here
now) and its material pleasures rather than
the afterlife (hereafter) or spiritual world.