1. The Renaissance
The Rise of Humanism in
Europe

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Renaissance: Main Ideas
• Occurred mainly in Italy 1300-1600
• Elite movement
• Focused mainly on changes in art and
learning
• Tendency towards secularism
contrasts religiosity of Middle Ages
• 1860- Jacob Burkhardt argues
Renaissance is a distinct break from
Medieval life, contemporary historians
(Burke) disagree

4. Major Definitions
• Renaissance French for “rebirth”
describes a reawakening or rebirth
of interest in the heritage of the
classical past
• Classical Past Greece and Rome
(500 BC- AD 400)
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5. • Humanism reading and
understanding of the writings of
the classical past; Rhetoric, poetry,
history, politics, and philosophy
–Civic humanism (AKA Classical
Humanism or Pagan Humanism)
applying humanism to the political
life of Italian city-states
–Christian humanism focused on early
church writing instead of secular
authors
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6. • Individualism in the Renaissance
sought great accomplishments and
looked for heroes in history
• Virtu the essence of being a
person through showing humanist
behavior through speech, art,
politics, warfare, and seizing
opportunity. Virtu is not morality
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7. Renaissance: Causes
• Economic success of Northern
Italian city-states from acting as
middle men between East and
Europe  growth of cloth industry
and international banking
• Struggles between Papacy and
Holy Roman Empire 
independence of many Italian city-
states
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8. • Gov’ts of city-states often
competed by supporting artists
and scholars who ushered in new
ideas
• Northern Italian city-states often
built on Roman ruins; Italians felt
kinship to the past
• Influx of new ideas from scholars
fleeing falling Byzantine Empire
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9. Renaissance Literature
• Dante (1265- 1321) The Divine
Comedy describes a journey
through hell, purgatory and
heaven. Shows that reason will
not substitute for faith. Uses
strong symbolism. Represents
pinnacle of Medieval poetry.
Written in Florentine Vernacular.
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10. • Petrarch (1304- 1374) wrote in Latin
and Italian; collected and
preserved classical texts; helped
define classical style; best known
for sonnets.
–Considered the father of Humanism
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11. • Boccacio (1313-1375) wrote The
Decameron a collection of short
stories in Italian about young
lovers trying to flee the plague.
Intended to amuse, not illuminate,
the reader
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12. • Castiglione (1478- 1529) The Book
of the Courtier defined the qualities
necessary for gentlemen; included
both intellectual and physical
qualities; greatly influenced
modern ideas on education and
behavior
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13. Renaissance Art
• Broke from the Medieval past in
content and technique
• Medieval art was idealized and
used for religious purposes
• Though Renaissance art was
sometimes religiously themed it
focused on secular themes and
individuals
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14. Medieval V. Renaissance Art
Medieval Art
• Idealized forms used to
educate a population unable
to understand concepts
• Utilized pointed arches,
flying buttresses, fan
vaulting
• Attempted to portray the
feeling of God
Renaissance Art
• Produced works celebrating
individualistic and non-
religious spirit
• Copied classical, esp.
Roman forms, arched,
domes, columns, and
squared angles
• Focused on symmetry,
perfection, and balance
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15. New Artistic Techniques
• Linear Perspective
• Contrapposto
• Chiaroscuro
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17. Giotto
• The Father of Renaissance
Painting
• 1266-1336
• Used light and shadow to create
depth
• 1306 The Pentecost
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18. Donatello
• Father of Renaissance Sculpture
• 1386-1466
• David was the first full size bronze
sculpture since antiquity
• Utilized contrapposto
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19. Masaccio
• 1401-1428
• Emphasized naturalism in The
Expulsion of Adam and Eve by
depicting realistic human nudes in
three dimensions and expressing
emotions
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20. Leonardo da Vinci
• 1452- 1519
• Numerous works included
paintings and mechanical
drawings
• Studied the human body to create
anatomically correct figures
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21. Raphael
• 1483- 1520
• Master of Renaissance grace and
technique
• Applied perspective, pyramidal
composition, chiaroscuro, and
contrapposto to works such a The
School of Athens
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22. Michelangelo
• 1475- 1564
• Considered himself a sculptor
above all else and used pyramidal
construction, and emotion in
crafting La Pieta
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
highlights his painting talents
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23. Scholars
• Differed from Medieval scholars by
seeking practical solutions and
results, and not making judgments
based on religion
• Examined primary sources rather
than relying on traditional
interpretations
• Played an active role in civic life
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24. Lorenzo Bruni
• 1370-1444
• Civic humanist
• Chancellor of Florence
• First to write a history of the city
• First to use the term humanism
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25. Lorenzo Valla
• 1407-1457
• Wrote Elegances of the Latin
Language which created modern
rules for Latin Grammar
• Exposed the forgery of The
Donation of Constantine which
ceded vast lands in Italy to the
Papacy
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26. Machiavelli
• 1469- 1527
• Analyzed politics from the
standpoint of reason rather than
faith or tradition in The Prince
• His approach to politics is amoral
• Discusses how to gain power and
keep it
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27. The Renaissance Outside Italy
• Less emphasis on classical antiquity
• Greater emphasis and inspiration by and
from religion; Christian humanism
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28. The Low Countries
• Religious themes, but an exacting
eye for details
–Jan van Eyck (1385-1440)
–Pieter Brueghel (1520- 1569)
–Rembrandt van Rijn (1606- 1669)
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29. Jan van Eyck
• The Arnoflini Marriage
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•Statue of St.
Margaret, patron
saint of childbirth
•Dog = fidelity
•Oranges = fertility
•Shoes= sacred rite
•Mirror shows fine
attention to detail

30. Pieter Brueghel
• The Wedding Dance
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Appears to be a frivolous party, but has serious
undertones. Details show bawdiness of
activity

31. Rembrandt van Rijn
• The Anatomy Lesson of Dr.
Nicolaes Tulp
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32. Germany
• 1450- Johannes Gutenberg
develops the moveable type
printing press
• Hans Holbein
• Albrecht Durer
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33. Han Holbein
• 1497-1543
• The Ambassadors
• Shows off skill with use of
anamorphis
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34. Albrecht Durer
• 1471- 1528
• Gave realism and individuality to
the art of woodcutting as seen in
The Last Supper
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35. Christian Humanism
• Dominant outside of Italy
• Looked to original sources of religious
writing in Latin, Greek and Hebrew
• Focused on providing guidance on
personal behavior
• Criticized the growing worldiness of the
Catholic Church and urged reform from
within; emphasized toleration and
education
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36. Desiderius Erasmus
• 1466- 1536
• Dutchman known as the Prince of
Humanists
• Known throughout intellectual circles for
tolerance and restraint
• Launched criticism against the Church
and clergy he hoped would lead to reform
• “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther
hatched.” 16th century aphorism
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37. Thomas More
• 1478- 1536
• Wrote Utopia (Greek for nowhere)
describing a perfect society on a
small coastal society
• Mixed civic humanism with religious
ideals
• Portrayed gov’t as very active in
economic life, society, education and
health
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38. Jacques Lefevre d’Etables
• 1454- 1536
• Leading French humanist
• Wrote five versions of the Psalms
which challenged the tradition of a
single interpretation or religious
tradition
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39. Francesco Ximenes de Cisneros
• 1436- 1517
• Lead Spanish Church as Grand
Inquisitor
• Founded a university to teach Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew
• Reformed Catholic clergy preventing
the Protestant Reformation from
occurring in Spain later on
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