The Renaissance began in Italy between 1300-1600 and saw a rebirth of interest in art, literature, and learning from classical antiquity. This movement was characterized by a focus on secular themes, individualism, and humanist ideals that emphasized reason and scholarship over religious doctrine. Major developments included innovations in painting techniques like linear perspective, the patronage of scholars and artists by Italian city-states, and the works of figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The Renaissance spread northward with a greater emphasis on Christian humanism and religious themes as seen in the works of artists like Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer, and scholars including Erasmus, More, and

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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