17-1

17-1:

__Renaissance:__ The movement that started from 1300 - 1600 and was when Italy caused an explosion of creativity in art, writing. The term Renaissance means rebirth, and refers to a revival of art and learning. __Humanism:__ An intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements. __Secular:__ Worldly rather than spiritual and concerned with the here and now. __Patrons:__ Church leaders during the Renaissance beautified Rome and other cities by spending huge amounts of money for art so they became patrons of arts by financially supporting artists. __Perspective:__ An art that shows three dimensions on the a flat surface. __Vernacular:__ native language __Sonnets:__ 14- line poems
 * Bold Words:**

//The Prince//(1513) by Niccolo Machiavelli examines the imperfect conduct of human beings. He examines how a ruler can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies. He says most people are selfish, fickle, and corrupt.
 * Key People:**

__-Italy's Advantages-__ • The Renaissance lef to innovative styles of art, literature, new values, (the importance of individual) • Italy had advantages that made it the birthplace of the Renaissance: thriving cities, wealthy merchant class, and the classical heritage of Greece and Rome.
 * Key Events:**

__City- States__ • Overseas trade had led to the growth of large city-states in northern Italy-- northern Italy was urban, rest of Europe was rural. • 1300s, the bubonic plague struck these cities hard, killing 60 percent of the population. Economic changes came with survivors demanding higher wages and merchants pursue art.

__Merchants and the Medici__ • In Milan and Florence Merchants dominated politics. Merchants did not inherit social rank, and used their wits for business. They believed they deserved power and wealth. • City-state of Florence was under rule of Medici (power banking family). Cosimo de Medici was the wealthiest European of his time. In 1434- he won control of Florence's government- he influenced members of the ruling council by giving them loans. He was dictator for 30 years. • Cosimo de Medici died in 1464- but his family controlled Florence. 1469- Lorenzo de Medici came to power (Lorenzo the Magnificent) he ruled as a dictator yet kept up the appearance of hanging an elected government.

__Looking to Greece and Rome__ • Scholars wanted to return the learning of the Greeks and Romans. 1) The artists/ scholars of Italy drew inspiration from the ruins of Rome 2) Western scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts in monasteries. 3) Christian scholars in Constantinople fled to Rome with Greek manuscripts when the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453.

__-Classical and Worldly Values-__ • Scholars became more influenced my classical ideas which gave a new outlook on life and art

__Classics Lead to Humanism__ • Humanists studied classical texts to understand ancient Greek values. They influenced artists, architects to carry on classical traditions and popularized the study of subjects common to classical education, such as history, literature, and philosophy. Subjects are called humanities.

__Worldly Pleasures__ • Humanists suggested that a person might enjoy life without offending God. Renaissance Italy, wealthy enjoyed material luxuries, good music, fine foods. • Most people were still devout Catholics. Basic spirit was secular. Church leaders started to live in beautiful mansions, lavish banquets, wore expensive clothes.

__Patrons of the Arts__ • Renaissance merchants and wealthy families were patrons of arts. Portraits painted or donating art to the city demonstrated artists importance.

__The Renaissance Man__ • The ideal individual strove to master almost every area of study. "a universal man" excelled in many fields was praised. Later they were called "Renaissance men" • Baldassare Castiglione wrote "The courtier (1528)" that taught how to become such a person. A young man should be "charming, witty, well educated in classics." he should "dance, sing, play music, write poetry, skilled rider, wrestler, swordsman."

__The Renaissance Woman__ • Women should be "charming, inspire art (dont create it)" Upper-class Renaissance women were better educated than medieval women though had little influence in politics. • Isabella d' Este did exercise power. Born in Ferrara, she married the ruler of Mantua. She brought many Renaissance artists to her court and built a famous art collection and was skilled in Politics. When her husband was taken capitive she won his release.

__-The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art-__ • Renaissance artists often portrayed religious subjects, but they used realistic style copied from classical models. They used the technique of perspective.

__Realistic Painting and Sculpture__ • Painters began to paint prominent citizens which revealed what was distinctive about each person. Michelangelo Buonarroti used a realistic styled when depicting the human body. • Donatello also made sculpture more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions that reveal personality. His statue David, a boy who according to the bible became a great king used classical form. It was the first European sculpture of a large, free-standing nude since ancient times.

__Leonardo, Renaissance Man__ • Leonardo de Vinci was a true renaissance man who studied how muscle moves and house veins are arranged in leafs and filled this info in his notebook and then put it in his art. • Leonardo painted the //Mona Lisa//, who seems very real and have tried to explain the thoughts behind her smile. He also drew //The Last Supper.//

__Raphael Advances Realism__ • Raphael Sanzio learned from studying Michelangelo and Leonardos works. He portrayed Madonna and child as gentle and calm and was known for his perspective. • Raphael filled the walls of Pope Julius II's library with paintings. One of them being //School of Athens,// that conveys the classical influence on the Renaissance he also painted famous Renaissance figures as classical philosophers and their students.

__Anguissola and Gentileschi__ • Sofonisba Anguissola was the first woman artist to gain an international reputation and is known for her portraits of her sisters and King Philip II of Spain. Artemisia Gentileschi was another artist who painted pictures of strong, heroic women.

__-Renaissance Writers Change Literature-__ • Dante wrote in vernacular (Italian). Renaissance writers wrote either for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects.

__Petrarch and Boccaccio__ • Francesco Petrarch was one of the earliest and most influential humanists, he was a poem, and known as the father of Renaissance humanism. In italian he wrote sonnets about a mysterious woman named Laura, who was his ideal. • Boccaccio is known for //Decameron-// a series of realistic, sometimes off-color stories. • The //Decameron// presents tragic and comic views of life the author uses humor to illustrate the human condition. He presents his character in all their individuality and all their folly.

__Machiavelli Advises Rulers__ • //The Prince//(1513) by Niccolo Machiavelli examines the imperfect conduct of human beings. He examines how a ruler can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies. He says most people are selfish, fickle, and corrupt. • He says a prince must be strong as a lion and shrewd as a fox and might have to trick his enemies and own people for the good of the state. He was concerned about what was politically effective. • Machievalli argued that in the real world of power and politics a prince must sometimes mislead the people and lie to his opponents. He suggested that in order for a price to accomplish great things, he must be crafty enough to gain the trust of others.

__Vittoria Colonna__ • Vittoria Colonna (1492- 1547) was born in a noble family and in 1509 she married the Marquis of Pescara who spent most of hims life on military campaigns. • Vittoria Colonna exchanged sonnets with Michelangelo and helped Castiglione publish //The Courtier.// Her poems expressed personal emotions.