The Renaissance in ItalyThe Renaissance in Italy

The Italian City-statesThe Italian City-states

Italy conduit for travel and commerce Italy conduit for travel and commerce between Europe and Eastbetween Europe and East

Cities independent from kings and popesCities independent from kings and popes

Merchant princesMerchant princes

Medici family – powerful banking familyMedici family – powerful banking family

Charitable to artsCharitable to arts

Civic humanismCivic humanism

Renaissance HumanismRenaissance Humanism

Humans God greatest creationHumans God greatest creation

Humanist: student of classical ideasHumanist: student of classical ideas

Glorified beauty and order in natureGlorified beauty and order in nature

Pico’s Pico’s OrationOration: man had choice of : man had choice of goodness or evil in himselfgoodness or evil in himself

Great reformers, artists, writers, inventorsGreat reformers, artists, writers, inventors

Lorenzo “The Magnificent”Lorenzo “The Magnificent”

1462-92, patron of the arts1462-92, patron of the arts

Praised Plato, civic leader, poetPraised Plato, civic leader, poet

Wrote songs in ItalianWrote songs in Italian

Gave money and support to artists in Gave money and support to artists in FlorenceFlorence

Had many libraries, museums, and Had many libraries, museums, and palaces built for Florencepalaces built for Florence

Ghiberti’s Baptistery DoorsGhiberti’s Baptistery Doors

Competition for Baptistery Doors – 1401 Competition for Baptistery Doors – 1401 Ghiberti and Bunelleschi competed for the Ghiberti and Bunelleschi competed for the commission with the subject of “Abraham and commission with the subject of “Abraham and Isaac”Isaac”Ghiberti won Ghiberti won They took 48 years! They took 48 years! Michelangelo called them the “Gates of Michelangelo called them the “Gates of Paradise”Paradise”The Creation of Adam and EveThe Creation of Adam and Eve (fig.13.8) – (fig.13.8) –perspectiveperspective

Brunelleschi’s DomesBrunelleschi’s Domes

Florence’s greatest Renaissance architectFlorence’s greatest Renaissance architect

Studied Rome’s ancient buildingsStudied Rome’s ancient buildings

Domed roof over Florence Cathedral – Domed roof over Florence Cathedral – unique two-layer constructionunique two-layer construction

Simplicity and reasonSimplicity and reason

Pazzi Chapel – Roman architecturePazzi Chapel – Roman architecture

Attempt by Pazzi on Lorenzo’s life in Attempt by Pazzi on Lorenzo’s life in chapelchapel

Florentine Painting: A Refined Florentine Painting: A Refined ClassicismClassicism

Life-like figures, volume and perspectiveLife-like figures, volume and perspective

Revival of fresco techniqueRevival of fresco technique

Masaccio – depth through modeling, linear Masaccio – depth through modeling, linear perspective, and atmospheric effectsperspective, and atmospheric effects

The Tribute Money The Tribute Money (fig. 13.12) – (fig. 13.12) – chiaroscurochiaroscuro

Sandro BotticelliSandro Botticelli

Primavera Primavera (fig. 13.17)(fig. 13.17) – Neoplatonic ideas– Neoplatonic ideas

Birth of Venus Birth of Venus (fig. 13.18)(fig. 13.18) – her birth – her birth equivalent to the birth of the human soul, equivalent to the birth of the human soul, as yet uncorruptedas yet uncorrupted

Later threw his Classically-themed Later threw his Classically-themed paintings on Savanorola’s “Bonfire of the paintings on Savanorola’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” and returned to Christian Vanities” and returned to Christian subjectssubjects

Italian Renaissance MusicItalian Renaissance Music

The MassThe Mass1.1. Sacred motets in LatinSacred motets in Latin

2.2. Secular song inserted in massesSecular song inserted in masses

Guillaume Dufay – fuses polyphony with Guillaume Dufay – fuses polyphony with new form, “word painting”new form, “word painting”

Polyphonic secular songsPolyphonic secular songs1.1. Frottola Frottola

2.2. MadrigalMadrigal

DonatelloDonatello

Brought back the free-standing nude with Brought back the free-standing nude with DavidDavid (fig. 13.10) (fig. 13.10)Used contrappostoUsed contrappostoBiblical description of David is that he is Biblical description of David is that he is adolescentadolescentTuscan hatTuscan hatPagan (Classical) rather than ChristianPagan (Classical) rather than ChristianPolitical overtones because Political overtones because DavidDavid was the was the symbol of Florencesymbol of Florence

Michelangelo in FlorenceMichelangelo in Florence

By age 22 already rival to DonatelloBy age 22 already rival to Donatello

In Rome: In Rome: PietPietá á (fig. 13.26)(fig. 13.26)

Florence’s Florence’s David David (fig. 13.27): Classical (fig. 13.27): Classical values with a biblical themevalues with a biblical theme

Captured his spirit/hero in stoneCaptured his spirit/hero in stone

The Decline of FlorenceThe Decline of Florence

SavonarolaSavonarola

Appealed to poor and working peopleAppealed to poor and working people

Condemned Church’s corruption and Condemned Church’s corruption and excesses of wealthexcesses of wealth

““Bonfire of the Vanities”Bonfire of the Vanities”

Defeated and burned at the stakeDefeated and burned at the stake

Message affected artistsMessage affected artists

Machiavelli’s Machiavelli’s The PrinceThe Prince

Florentine diplomat – described realities of Florentine diplomat – described realities of political philosophy and powerpolitical philosophy and powerThe Prince – The Prince – aa masterpiece of political masterpiece of political philosophyphilosophyDescribes the ideal prince or ruler: only Describes the ideal prince or ruler: only strong, ruthless leaders keep country safe strong, ruthless leaders keep country safe from foreign dominationfrom foreign dominationMachiavellian ideal – the end justifies the Machiavellian ideal – the end justifies the meansmeans

The Genius of LeonardoThe Genius of Leonardo

Architect, engineer, mathematician, and Architect, engineer, mathematician, and musician as well as artist – true “Renaissance musician as well as artist – true “Renaissance Man”Man”

Finished very few projectsFinished very few projects

Conceived airplane, helicopter, parachute, Conceived airplane, helicopter, parachute, machine gun, and other inventions hundreds of machine gun, and other inventions hundreds of years before they were ever builtyears before they were ever built

Developed artistic techniques of Developed artistic techniques of chiaroscurochiaroscuro and and sfumatosfumato

Leonardo as ScientistLeonardo as Scientist

Notebooks: Notebooks: mirror writingmirror writing

Birds in flight, movement of water, Birds in flight, movement of water, anatomyanatomy

Inventions requiring propulsion lacked Inventions requiring propulsion lacked means for motionmeans for motion

UnpublishedUnpublished

Leonardo as PainterLeonardo as Painter

The Last Supper The Last Supper (fig. 13.20)(fig. 13.20)

Madonna of the Rocks Madonna of the Rocks (fig. 13.19)(fig. 13.19)

Mona Lisa Mona Lisa (fig. 13.21)(fig. 13.21)

Classical triangle compositionClassical triangle composition

Felt that painting was “the highest art”Felt that painting was “the highest art”

““Renaissance Men”…and Renaissance Men”…and “Woman”“Woman”

LeonardoLeonardoBaldassare Castiglione: wrote The Baldassare Castiglione: wrote The Courtier, idea of “universal man” (well-Courtier, idea of “universal man” (well-rounded individual)rounded individual)Isabella d’Este: educated, cultured, Isabella d’Este: educated, cultured, refined tastes, and a patroness of the refined tastes, and a patroness of the artsarts

1.1. Ruled her city in husband’s absenceRuled her city in husband’s absence2.2. Multi-talentedMulti-talented

Patronage of the RenaissancePatronage of the Renaissance

Wealthy church officials and families Wealthy church officials and families employed artists for beauty and employed artists for beauty and entertainment: patronage directly entertainment: patronage directly translated as power and prestigetranslated as power and prestige

Popes and princes: Julius II and Leo XPopes and princes: Julius II and Leo X

Sometimes there were problems between Sometimes there were problems between patrons and artistspatrons and artists

Josquin des Prez: Composer Josquin des Prez: Composer of the High Renaissanceof the High Renaissance

Leo X meditated in the Sistine Chapel Leo X meditated in the Sistine Chapel listening to the choir of listening to the choir of aa cappellacappella music music

Musicians were male, girls had to have Musicians were male, girls had to have private lessons or attend a conventprivate lessons or attend a convent

Greatest composer of High RenaissanceGreatest composer of High Renaissance

Match between words and music, complex Match between words and music, complex polyphony: “word painting” and “imitation”polyphony: “word painting” and “imitation”

RaphaelRaphael

Julius II: apartments in the Vatican Julius II: apartments in the Vatican

Known for his MadonnasKnown for his Madonnas

School of Athens School of Athens (fig. 13.25)(fig. 13.25)1.1. Aristotle and Plato in centerAristotle and Plato in center

2.2. Portraits of contemporary figuresPortraits of contemporary figures

3.3. Michelangelo front, slightly left of centerMichelangelo front, slightly left of center

Raphael buried in Raphael buried in PantheonPantheon and is the and is the only artist to be buried thereonly artist to be buried there

Sistine Chapel CeilingSistine Chapel CeilingIn 1508 Pope Julius II asked M. to paint ceilingIn 1508 Pope Julius II asked M. to paint ceilingUsed Old Testament as prophecy of Christ’s Used Old Testament as prophecy of Christ’s comingcomingCombines classical and Christian ideas, tension Combines classical and Christian ideas, tension between spirit and fleshbetween spirit and fleshCentral panel Central panel Creation of EveCreation of Eve, not , not Creation of Creation of AdamAdam (fig. 13.28) (fig. 13.28)Muscular energy – male modelsMuscular energy – male modelsConfident colors (which was not known until Confident colors (which was not known until ceiling cleaned in 1990’s!)ceiling cleaned in 1990’s!)

The New St. Peter’sThe New St. Peter’s

Last years devoted to architectureLast years devoted to architecture

Old basilica demolished and modernizedOld basilica demolished and modernized

150 years to complete150 years to complete

Three main architects: Bramante, Michelangelo, Three main architects: Bramante, Michelangelo, MadernoMaderno

Greek Cross floorplan (M.’s design seen only Greek Cross floorplan (M.’s design seen only from the rear) (fig. 13.32)from the rear) (fig. 13.32)

Conflict between architects and popesConflict between architects and popes

Limited funds in VaticanLimited funds in Vatican

An Age of GiantsAn Age of Giants

Why such concentration of talent in Italy?Why such concentration of talent in Italy?– Cultural center of beauty and learningCultural center of beauty and learning– Triumph of the human spiritTriumph of the human spirit