The Intellectual and Artistic Renaissance

World History I

Italian Renaissance Humanism

• A key intellectual Renaissance movement was humanism.

• How did this movement develop?

– Humanism – intellectual movement of the Renaissance based on the study of the humanities.• Focus on grammar, rhetoric, history, moral philosophy, poetry.

– Humanists lived active lives.• Many humanists studied to help their state.• Served as secretaries to city-states and to princes or popes.

– Wealthy bankers paid artists to create art to make their state look good.

Intellectual Renaissance– Renaissance writers such as Dante and Chaucer helped

popularize the use of vernacular.• More people understood it.

– Johannes Gutenberg’s introduction of the printing press helped spread ideas more quickly.

– The humanist movement greatly impacted education.• Liberal arts.• Made students reach their “full potential” as humans.• Women were absent from Renaissance schools.

The Artistic Renaissance in Italy• Renaissance artists imitated nature and wanted to

be realistic in their art.– Frescoes became the first masterpieces of the

Renaissance.• Raphael, one of Italy’s best painters by age 25, was known for

frescoes.

– There were also major achievements in sculpture and architecture.• Donatello – studied and copied the statues of Greeks and

Romans.

– By the end of the 15th century, a new artistic world had been created in Italy.

Masters of the Renaissance

Michelangelo• Michelangelo wanted to be a sculptor, not a painter.– Born to a wealthy family .– Most known for painting ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.• He didn’t want to do this, but was forced to by Pope Julius II.• It took over four years to complete.

– Michelangelo’s works focused on perfection.

Invented by Da Vinci?• Horseless Carriage (Car)• Helicopter• Parachute• Aircraft Carrier• Machine Gun• Light Bulb• Tank ?

Masters of the RenaissanceLeonardo da Vinci– Mastered realistic painting– Inventor, scientist, architect

• Leonardo was very interested in flight.– He sketched many early flying machines, including

helicopters.– Despite hating war, Leonardo drew designs for many

new weapons.• Rapid fire cannon, tank with blades to chop legs off

Leonardo Da Vinci• Leonardo focused much of his studies on science.– He kept a very detailed notebook.• It included sketches and notes of ideas for inventions.• It was written to be read in a mirror, probably to keep his ideas

from being stolen.• He sometimes added parts that don’t belong to confuse those

who tried to steal his ideas!

– He spent a lot of time studying the human body.• His art was very lifelike.• Examined the dead, against orders of the church.“History’s first modern man”