The Renaissance

Name:Period:

Renaissance - Defined� Describes the cultural

achievements of the 14th century through the 16th century; those achievements rest on the economic and political development of earlier centuries.

� Translated – “The Rebirth,” of art learning

Italy Leads the Way� Seafaring cities (Venice and Genoa)

profited from the Crusades, oversea trade, ship building.

The Sforza Family of MilanMilan – Trading crossroads from East to West.

The Medici’s of Florence: became the official

bankers of the Pope.

*Intellectual Changes*� The New Golden Age, “Revival” of Roman culture

� Individualism: stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and full development of one’s capabilities and talents.

� Humanism: the study of the literary culture needed by anyone who would be considered educated and civilized.

� Secularism: the concern with the material world instead of with the eternal world of spirit.

Characteristics of Renaissance Art

1. Realism & Expression

2. Perspective

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!

First use of linear

perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!

� The Trinity� Masaccio� 1427

What you are, I once was; what I am, you will

become.

3. Classicism

� Greco-Roman influence.

� Secularism.� Humanism.� Individualism

free standing figures.

� Symmetry/BalanceThe “Classical Pose”

Medici “Venus” (1c)

4. Emphasis on Individualism� Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre:

The Duke & Dutchess of Urbino� Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.

5. Geometrical Arrangement of Figures

� The Dreyfus Madonna with the Pomegranate

� Leonardo da Vinci

� 1469� The figure as

architecture!

6. Light & Shadowing/Softening

Edges

Chiaroscuro

Sfumato

The Ideal City Piero della

Francesca, 1470

Leonardo, the Artist:From his Notebooks of over 5000

pages (1508-1519)

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Perspective!

The Last Supper - da Vinci, 1498