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The influence of the Renaissance on western society
The influence of the Renaissance on western society
The influence of the Renaissance on western society
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For my analytical essay I've chosen the Renaissance art movement. I choose this movement because it played such a monumental part in European history. Basically, the Renaissance, also known as the rebirth, was a cultural movement that started an artistic transformation and started the scientific revolution. This time period also links the transition from the end of the Middle Ages to the beginning of the Modern Age. The Renaissance started in Italy in the 14th century and spread to northern Europe by the 16th century. During the Renaissance artists changed the way they painted and sculpted, they learned how to paint in all three dimensions, which brought life and realism to their works. Also, getting away from the religious roots of art created an entirely new type of art that was rich in drama and emotion. This was also the time period when painting with oils was started. In this paper I'm focusing mainly on Renaissance art work, since that was the assignment, but I feel it's important to also mention the other important parts of the Renaissance, architecture, science, politics and religion. In architecture buildings were made bigger and grander than ever before, this was because of new rules were created pertaining to proportion and perspective. Temples dedicated to wealth (often disguised as something else ) popped up all over Florence and the rest of the world, because of the return of antiquity and referring back to the "classics" of the Greek and Roman past. In science people started to question the church and its powerthis may have been because the church's "indulgence" policy was so far out of line; as a result to this curiosity people started to study the natural world, discovering the secrets of the universe. Leonardo da Vinci was a huge part of the advancement in Science, with his inventions and theories. This was also the time period that Galileo discovered that the Earth revolved around the sunmuch to the dismay of the church. In politics more and more people were getting educated; being out of the churches clutches allowed more of the middle class to gain riches and education. Also, ancient works that hadn't been read for more than a thousand years were poured over, causing much debate from those who read them. The invention of the printing press allowed new ideas to be filtered through Europe at a quicker pace, allowing philosophers and writers to share their opinions with the general public.
The European Renaissance occurring from 1450 to 1650, marked a change that led to many developments in art, religion, literature and the economy. The impact of the Renaissance changed the thinking and life. The society saw a rise in creativity, in ambition and in politics. During the Renaissance (the rebirth) achievement in art especially rose, though depending on where the Renaissance was, it was a different experience all around. Renaissance art in Italy and southern Europe had more of a grecian theme, while northern Renaissance focused more on life and mythology.
There are always major changes happening to western civilizations. These changes can become the cornerstones of revolutions and the keynotes of history. Religion, civil rights, economic struggle, intellectual enlightenment as well as other civil inquisitions have led western civilization through its twist and turns. For the whole of Europe in its transitions from medieval times to the modern world, it was influenced by a change in ideology. Philosophies and sciences brought about the new age for Europe. Political, religious and scientific standpoints reshaped the society on the continent.
It is heavily believed that Leonardo da Vinci led the scientific revolution. Although most people know him as an artist, many fail to realize he played a much more important role in the Renaissance than just that. When he started the scientific revolution it revolutionized how scientists did their research and it’s an impact that still exists
The Renaissance, or “re-birth,” began in Italy as the highest point of human development. The new prosperity allowed scholars to concentrate on different levels of importance than money, food, and war with other countries. These scholars began looking toward attractions rather than things affecting them. Money entering the world so suddenly allowed people living in Florence and Rome make it beautiful. Different types of artwork became very famous. Some of the famous artists of this time were Donatello, Michelangelo, and Verrocchio. Fine art glorified the capabilities of humans and many people became artists. The cities in Italy soon became popular attraction sites and scholars moved from Constantinople towards Rome.
The Renaissance started in Italy in the 14th century. It was referred to as the “rebirth” because it brought back attention to art and science. The Middle-Ages was really religion-dominated. The Renaissance turned the attention to being an individual and worldly experiences; they were the main themes of the Renaissance art movement. Art benefited from the patronage of such influential groups as Medici family of Florence, the Sforza family of Milan and the Popes Julius II and Leo X. This movement helped art become more sophisticated. Many ideas from the renaissance art movement spread to different parts of Europe.
The Renaissance can be considered an artistic period between the end of the Middle Age and the start of the Modern Age. The cultural movement touched every part of Europe but its origin and development are in Florence. This period is a synonym, a symbol of “change” in all the aspect of the humankind: it is the celebration of
Though the Renaissance era included all of Europe, Italy was the cradle of the movement. The cities of Florence, Rome and Venice were of great importance to this period. Major artists created art mainly in these three. As the center of Italy, Rome held the residence of the Pope and many other important factors. Throughout history, the Roman Catholic Church was very insistent on promoting their ideas. During this time, they used artists and their creativity to promote the Bible and other aspects of their beliefs. Artists were paid, or commissioned by patrons (often the Pope) to create art they wanted. One of the most ambitious patrons was Pope Julius II, who realized the impact visual images had on people’s ideas (Kleiner, 599). Pope Julius II was called the warring Pope, because he often went and involved himself in wars. He also held very humanistic ideas. Because of this, Michelangelo’s relationship to Pope Julius II was very different from his relationship with Pope Leo X, who succeeded Julius II. Julius, because of his adaptions to humanistic thoughts, he let Michelangelo express himself to the fullest, even when forcing him to paint the Sistine Chapel. Leo X, however, was very critical of everything Michelangelo set out upon. This resulted a strained relationship, and eventually abandonment of projects that were supposed to be completed. It is clear that Pope Julius II had a liking for Michelangelo, while the Medici’s looked on him as a type of lowly artist subject to their will.
The Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual movement that had its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries. During these times there was a heightened interest with the classical learning that was brought about in the middle ages. The renaissance first started in Italy and then eventually spread to Western Europe. During this period there was a high interest in the aesthetics of the classical world like architecture. The renaissance focused on the 17th century philosophy which came from the Greeks.
The Renaissance was a time of rebirth, as its name entails. In Italy, more people were becoming literate and more books were being printed. More scientific discoveries were being made and therefore more theories were being published. In this time of intellectual prosperity, art also made a great leap. Perspective was the main change during this time period, and throughout the years, starting around 1400, it became more involved and more intricate. Eventually artists were so adept at using it, that it became the primary way to insert intimacy and feelings of emotion into a painting. This evolution of technique paved the way for later artists to play with new approaches to allow the viewer to experience an image in different ways.
The Renaissance art had well defined landscapes, natural folds in drapery and three dimensional objects or people. The middle ages art was focused on religion and symbolic representations (Doc.A). At the same time the new artistic styles almost kind of mocked the the movements and interest of the new age. That is how the renaissance changed has man’s view of man on art.(doc.A)
Paolucci, Antonio. The Origins of Renaissance Art: the Baptistry Doors, Florence. 1st ed. New York, N.Y.: George Braziller, 1996. 14-37.
“Known as the Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe saw a great revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome” (History). The word Renaissance is French for rebirth (Sachs 7). The origins can be traced back to Italy in the 14th century (History). Florence, Venice, and Rome grew into major centers in art, due to the changes that were occurring during this time (Sachs 7.) Artists across the country were exploring their newfound creativity and for new ways to express these advanced concepts (Sachs 7). The Renaissance was a time for artistic expression, especially through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
Artists in the Renaissance aided the continuation of Renaissance ideals. Renaissance art, including paintings, sculptures, and architecture,...
The shift between the Middle Ages and Renaissance was documented in art for future generations. It is because of the changes in art during this time that art historians today understand the historical placement and the socio-economic, political, and religious changes of the time. Art is a visual interpretation of one’s beliefs and way of life; it is through the art from these periods that we today understand exactly what was taking place and why it was happening. These shifts did not happen overnight, but instead changed gradually though years and years of art, and it is through them that we have record of some of the most important changes of historic times.
The Italian Renaissance included some of the greatest artists we have ever seen from Leonard Da Vinci, to Michelangelo, and Raphael. The Renaissance took place from the late thirteenth to sixteenth centuries and is know as the ‘rebirth’. The idea that the rebirth of the arts after being asleep for a thousand years is an amazing thing to grasp. This time brought back light to liberal arts, which were on the brink of being extinct. (Murray 2) What is also interesting about art during this time was that most of the art had Christian in its roots, for example, Botticelli’s The Allegory of Spring (Faure 1) is said to have had a Christian interpretation. (Murray) “Every Italian artist, willingly took the title of architect, sculptor, and painter” (Faure 2). At the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Italian painters had asked the Flemish painters for their secret techniques because the Italians felt like the language of painting was one that was always meant for them. (Faure 4) The sculptors claimed their inspiration from ancient works. Lastly the Renaissance introduced idea of individualism, which helped the Italians get away from everything that was going on during that time. Art during the Renaissance included painting, sculpting and architecture, all of which were an important part in expressing the idea of individualism and making art what is is today.