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The Renaissance: Upsurge of Humanism

 

OverviewRediscovery of the classical ideal of the fully developed human being whose character was formed by literary study and education

The Renaissance View of Human Nature

The Revival of Interest in the Classical WorldBy the twelfth century, many scholars were familiar with the works of antiquityThe good life is the life that is pleasing to the senses, intellect, and aesthetic capacitiesHumanism ran counter to many Christian teachingsSeemed to reject the doctrine of original sin and natural human sinfulness Individuals could perform mighty deeds without divine

assistance

The New Scholarship: Petrarch, Boccaccio

Renaissance arose in Italy Forces of social change were more advanced in Italy

than in northern Europe Nationality caused Italians to embrace their past more

warmly than ever before

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) Collected ancient manuscripts Love of solitude and the peace of nature First Poet Laureate

Giovanni Boccaccio Fiammetta, Decameron

Humanistic Education and the “Gentleman”

Italian humanists made up the first substantial body of secular scholars in EuropeLittle use for scholasticism Scholasticism had not taken root in the Italian

UniversitiesHumanists not welcomed in most northern universitiesGreek ideal of the well-rounded man was the heart of humanistic educationPattern of educationGentleman – man of refinement and self-control Baldassare Castiglione, The Courtier

Philosophy: The Appeal of Platonism

Aristotle had ruled over medieval universities as the foremost philosopher Florence Platonic Academy, 1450

Marsilio Ficino

Pico della Mirandola Comparative study of religion and philosophy Platonic view of creation and existence

Natural beauty Platonic love Realistic representation

The Critical Spirit and Beginnings of Empiricism

Methods of scholarship introduced by humanists more important than the Platonic revivalReassembly of old learning led to a more critical attitude and greater attention to observed factsLorenzo Valla Donation of Constantine, 1440

Niccolò Machiavelli Learn from direct observation of the world around you Use of induction

Thomas Aquinas Use of deduction

Leonardo da Vinci: desire to unlock the secrets of nature

Christian Humanism: ErasmusNorthern countries dissatisfied with scholasticism and focused on the rediscovered classics of antiquity Not looking for models of secular life Sought guides to a purer religion and found ideals that would

encourage spiritual reform

Desiderius Eramus Sought models of behavior that could be followed by

Christians Ancient writings could strengthen faith He was feared by the suspicious conservatives in the clergy Call for the need to reform In Praise of Folly, 1509

The Revolution in ArtThe Pioneer of Naturalism: Giotto Giotto de Bondone

Not satisfied with flat look of medieval altar panels and the painted figures of manuscripts

Seeks to recreate an actual scene Careful attention to composition Official architect of Florence

New Artistic Techniques: Brunelleschi, Masaccio, van Eyck Fillippo Brunelleschi

Study of perspective Lays down the mathematical rules governing the reduction in size of

pictured objects Masaccio

Fresco in Santa Maria Novella in Florence Jan van Eyck of Flanders

Precise detail Treated the background with the same attention as the foreground

The Liberation of Sculpture: Donatello

Studied the remains of Roman sculpture

Contemporary of Masacchio and Brunelleschi

Observations of the human body

Gattamelata

Lorenzo Ghiberti

Art Triumphs over Nature: Botticelli, Titian, and Leonardo

Sandro Botticelli Subordination of realism to form and color Figures from classical mythology Birth of Venus

Idealized beauty

Venus of Urbina by Titian Flesh tones and textures

Leonardo da Vinci Breadth of curiosity Optics of perceptive, mixing colors, techniques of

metalwork Anatomy, physiology, and nature The Last Supper

The Artistic Climax: MichelangeloMichelangelo Buonnarroti Represented the body in three dimensions of

sculpture Sistine Chapel Influenced by Platonism Sculpture

DavidDying Slave

ArchitectureDome of St. Peter’s

The Liberation Humorist: RabelaisFrançois RabelaisHumanist with a talent for satire and parodyRepresented a humanism that did not copy classical models but stood as an individualistic philosophyRejected Original Sin and stressed natural goodnessGargantua and Pantagruel Begun publication in 1538

Praised natural instincts and abilities of free persons

The Skeptical Essayist: MontaigneMichael de Montaigne Remains loyal to the Catholic Church Essays, 1580

Essay (personal view) a new form of literature

A Philosophical relativist Limits of reason in efforts to comprehend the universe All knowledge subject to uncertainty and doubt, beliefs

are not constant Dogmatism is unjustified Firm authority indispensable to peace and order Tolerance

Impervious to Religious Upheavals of the Time

Rabelais, Montaigne, and Miguel de Cervantes Devotion to humanism

Cervantes Don Quixote Satire of popular tales of chivalry Relationships of characters correspond with

relativity of truth found in Montaigne’s Essays

The Master Dramatist: ShakespeareSir Thomas More, UtopiaWilliam Shakespeare Elizabethan Age “Passion” and “morality” plays of the ancient Greeks

and Romans Theaters are built, Globe Theater Renaissance drama was not associated with religious

festivals Plays reflect the values and concerns of humanism The urge to power and sense of nationality Emphasis on materialism and sensuousness Hamlet: dramatic method

Discussion QuestionsWhat was the Renaissance? Why was it centered in Italy? How does it affect the human condition? Why is education an important part of the Renaissance? How does humanism affect education?What were the changes in art and architecture during the Renaissance?What were the main themes and ideas of literature and drama during the Renaissance?