The Renaissance

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The Renaissance

• The Age of Rebirth

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The Renaissance

• Around 1300, western European scholars developed
  an interest in classical writings
• This led from the thinking of the Middle Ages to
  a period of rebirth called the Renaissance.
• People became less concerned with the mysteries
  of the heavens and more interested in the world
  around them.
• The period of the Renaissance was 1300-1600.

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Renaissance

• These states had grown rich from trade and many
  powerful families took control of the area that
  was originally ruled by guilds.
• These powerful families wanted to be remembered
  as wise, generous rulers.
• They ordered for palaces and churches to be
  built. They also set up schools so that male
  children of wealthy families could educate their
  minds as well as their bodies.

4
City Life

• The center of city life during the Renaissance
  was the piazza or central square.
• Markets were set up, merchants traded goods and
  people gathered there.
• The Italian Renaissance began in Florence which
  was ruled by the Medici family.

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Renaissance Italy
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City Life cont.

• Problems began to develop in Florence and a monk
  named Savonarola accused the Medici's of not
  ruling justly.
• Savonarola with the backing of the people
  overthrew the Medici family 1494.
• He ran Florence in a very strict way. He did not
  believe in the way of life that the Renaissance
  had brought to Florence.
• By 1498, the people of Florence grew tired of
  Savonarolas ways. He was hung and the Medici
  family returned to power.

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The Papal States

• During the 1300s and 1400s, the power of the
  Popes declined.
• Most Popes were not very religious. They acted
  more like political leaders.
• Due to the actions of Pope Alexander VI, Rome
  replaced Florence and the center of the
  Renaissance.

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Venice

• The Renaissance did not reach Venice until the
  late 1500s. Before this time, Venetians had
  always looked to Constantinople rather than
  western Europe for art and literature.
• Venice was different than any other city. It was
  built on 117 islands all connected through a
  network of canals and bridges.
• In Venice the ruler was called the doge.
• The business district of Venice was called the
  Rialto.

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Renaissance ArtTechniques and Themes

• Increasing focus on secular rather than religious
  subjects
• Realistic-looking figures and scenes
• Perspective/depth
• Sense of movement, activity
• Symmetry/proportionality

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Art

• Artists of the time were considered to be very
  important people.
• Nobles and merchants wanted artists to produce
  works that increased the fame of their cities.
• Renaissance artists carefully studied ancient
  Roman and Greek art, science and mathematics.
• Artists became interested in perspective and
  chiaroscuro (using light and shade to show depth
  or dramatic effect) and began to pay close
  attention to the details of nature.

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Art cont.

• Artists began to study the structure of the human
  body.
• They began experimenting with light, color and
  shade.
• Their art is displayed all through Europe in
  churches and museums.

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• Based on what youve read, identify these two
  paintings and their artists.

• How do these two paintings represent the
  Renaissance techniques of perspective and
  chiaroscuro?