THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

WHY ITALY?

See Do Now from last week!Northern Italy had WAY more cities than rest of Europe because of trade Merchants in these cities explored art and other pursuits after Bubonic plague

Merchants also dominated politics

FLORENCE AND THE MEDICIS

Among wealthiest families in all of Europe- merchants

Ruled Florence, often as dictators Bankers to the Pope Patrons of the arts

Donatello Raphael Michelangelo

Brought in materials from Greeks/Romans

THE CHURCH’S ROLE

Became one of the biggest patrons of the arts- used to beautify city of Rome

Became more worldly- threw large banquets, wore expensive clothes, and bought mansions

ARTISTS Michelangelo- realistic style with human body

Donatello- first nude since ancient times

Leonardo Da Vinci- Mona Lisa and Last Supper

Massacio- first to use linear perspective

Raphael- popularized perspective

WHAT IS PERSPECTIVE?

Vanishing PointHorizonWas used in classical times

LITERATURE

It’s all about the vernacular Why important? For Italian Renaissance, that meant Italian

WRITERS

Petrarch- wrote sonnets- 14 line poems- mostly about a woman named Laura- in Latin and Italian

Boccaccio- Decameron- collection of tragic, comedic, and “off-color” stories about young people avoiding the plague

Castiliglione- The Courtier- “guidebook” on how to become a Renaissance man or woman

Machiavelli- The Prince- people are selfish and fickle, successful politicians must be shrewd and able to trick enemies and supporters; integrity not really important- sometimes you must mislead and lie Wrote it for Medicis