The Italian and northern European Renaissance have many similarities since they shared cultural and artistic influence; both locations had differences in social and political structure, as well as contrasting religious beliefs which lead unique concepts in each area. The word Renaissance is derived from the Italian word for rebirth. Italy began to focus on the classical period again after the “1000 years of darkness” during the Middle Ages. They lived around the ruin of what use to be the greatest empire in the world full of culture. The 1000 years of darkness refers to a period when the progression of culture and art reached a halt due to the Black Death as well as a feudalistic Europe. The Italians were able to re-educate themselves because manuscripts of Greek and Roman literature had been kept in the monasteries and church libraries. The Renaissance provided great cultural change, economic incent and modernization from the medieval time. This is mostly relevant within the elite class because of their interest in antiquity. During the 1500’s Northern Europe enters their “rebirth” through Italian guidance. This was possible because of the flow of information and ideas through a well-developed trading system through out all of Europe. Italy’s failure to unite under one ruler, unlike England, France and Spain, lead to many of the city-states to be taken over by other rulers also helped spread the new ideas that were formed through antique ideas. The Italian Renaissance occurred during the 15th century through the 17th century (1400-1600) while the Northern Renaissance began in the 16th century.
In Italy there was a high standard of living, which was caused by their geographical location making them the center for trade. Also, ...
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... to protect from disease and were sometimes used to flirt coyly. In both areas, shoes were jeweled when possible. Usually men’s shoes were more elaborate than women’s because they were more visible due to women’s shoes being covered by their gowns.
Both the Italian and Northern Renaissance were influenced by their encouragement to surpass the negativity and darkness of the middle ages. Boundaries were nonexistent when it came to business and trade, ultimately leading to a cross-cultural environment. Not only did Europe advance in a socioeconomic aspect but in religion, literature, art and politics. There are many similarities between costumes in Italy and Northern Europe because of the flow of ideas, which traveled through the trade route. Also, the newfound importance of learn from antiquity was, started by the Italians, helped form Europe as we know it today.
The Renaissance Period is widely known for the abundance of amazing portraiture that circulated around Europe. During the Renaissance, Albrecht Dürer, a German artist painted a self-portrait in 1500 that had qualities that differed from the usual style of artist in that time (Chauhan). Jean Clouet also painted a portrait for the King of France and became the official court painter. Both artists had a talent for portraiture, while their styles were quite different. King Francis I wanted to be seen as a powerful man, and appointed Clouet to paint him in a classically renaissance way that highlights his wealth and authority. Dürer, described as a cocky, self-centered man, painted himself in a light that is unique and puts him on a ‘holy’ pedestal (Stokstad 356). In this essay I will show how although both paintings have clear differences with their style, both men in the compositions are conveyed in a great and very powerful sense.
Italian Renaissance is looked back today as one of the most important periods that has occurred in this world. It was the earliest manifestation of the Renaissance, as well it was the era of massive cultural change and achievement that started in the 14th century and terminated during the end of the 16th century. Many views of the Italian culture and society remained mostly medieval and the Renaissance didn’t fully develop until the end of the century. As the Renaissance started to develop it began in Central Italy and poured into the cities of Florence and Siena. As time surpassed it spread to Venice where the remains of Greek culture were gathered together, giving humanist scholar’s new texts. Social structure was a key part in the Renaissance
The renaissance was an age of recovery from the catastrophic 14th century, a time for the slow process of recovering from the effects of the Black Death, political disorder, and the economic recession. This recovery was accompanied by a rediscovery of the Greco-Roman culture and civilization. The renaissance began in Italy. There are plenty of reasons why Italy was the main location for revival of antiquity. The first one being the plague was the first to leave Italy. Therefore, they had more time to recover and grow. Another being that Italy was the main power during the past Greco-Roman culture, especially where it flourished in Rome. The rebirth in Italy led to the revival of three characteristics; an emergence of humanist attitudes, art,
Renaissance 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 were really religion-dominated. The Renaissance turned the attention to 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.
Some say there is a plethora of differences between the Italian and Northern Renaissance, while others say there are only a handful of differences when comparing the two. There are many more differences than similarities when one compares the two. They are both completely different because in Italy, much of the literature was nonsecular, while in Northern Europe the writing was centered around humanistic ideals, the North held on to Gothic architecture, while the Italian Renaissance reflects the rebirth of Classical culture, and In the Italian Renaissance, artists realistically painted and sculpted humans in elaborate settings, while the Northern Renaissance used wooden panels for painting.
The decline of great empires like the Greeks and Romans inspired the rise of a great period of time—the Italian Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance originated in the city of Florence, Italy, which gave the city a surplus of culture and religion. The Renaissance emerged after a period of time that was known as the Dark Ages and lasted from the 14th century and lasted through the 16th century. After the Roman Empire ended, it left much of Europe in a state of cultural incompetence. The Roman Empire, known as the last great empire, was a part of Classical Antiquity and its deterioration left the people of Europe without the “light” it needed to thrive. The transition from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance can be reflected through imagery. Greco-Roman culture was particularly grandiose and was one of the main reasons that Classical Antiquity lasted as long as it did. Without the strong foundation of civilization during the time Classical Antiquity, the Italian Renaissance would not have its precedent for a new era. The Italian Renaissance was an amalgamation of a shift in religious beliefs and embracing predecessors to create a time of innovation and new forms of enlightenment.
The periods between 14th and 17th century were marked by a return to classical ideas and culture, known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance or some may say “Rinascita” meaning rebirth, represented a break away from conformist society and culture of the previous medieval Europe to the revival of lost knowledge. This cultural movement, where changes occurred in almost every aspect of intellectualism, we know evoked in the in the heart of Florence, Italy. The unique characteristics of this city enabled an atmosphere of learning and artistic expression. An independent city like Florence was quickly capable to grow prosperous through trade and banking creating a class of wealthy businessmen who became patrons to individual artists providing them with fund and other necessities. It were these men too who become the most prominent face of the Renaissance movement. The Renaissance marked an important moment in human history and ending of the dark ages. Having changed the way in which people thought has given us many of the freedoms we have today. This essay will be further exploring the que...
The Renaissance was the rebirth of Europe and it all started in the city of Florence. Florence and everything that made a standard Renaissance city: painters, sculptors, writers, architects, and a vivid culture. Soon all of Europe would follow in Florence’s footsteps and “the setting is so rich, varied, rambunctious, and inventive as Italy in the Renaissance” (Cohen 1). The painters and sculptors defined Renaissance culture and could actually make a living because they were being sponsored.
By the late 14th century, the Italian city-states had amassed a large treasury from taxes and tariffs. People began to swarm to the cities to work as laborers and artisans, creating urban societies. The merchants of t...
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.
The Renaissance period started in Italy and took place between the 1400’s and the 1600’s. In French, the term Renaissance means rebirth, which is an accurate way to describe that period since it was then that many people chose to break away from the stagnation, incertitude, and extreme hardships that occurred during the Middle Ages and plagued most of Europe. The Renaissance period is noted for being a time when the population sought educational reform which increased literacy and many were able to master more than one skill set. This led to an intellectual, economic, and artistic revolution that transformed several European nations such as Italy, France, Spain, and several others. During this time, there were several developments within the Catholic Church, such as scandals and controversy. Because of that, many people were driven away from the traditions of the church and sought more freedom of expression and individualism. As economies improved, there was more wealth and a desire for self improvement which greatly influenced the arts.
The Renaissance (1300-1700) began in Italy and eventually spread to Germany, France, England, and Spain. The Renaissance is also known as the Middle Ages. To understand what the Renaissance exactly is would be to say that it was the cultural rebirth that occurred in Europe through a term called humanism. In other words, the people wanted a Christian worldview through a classical learning style. While many things helped the Renaissance become well known, the political and economic aspects of the Renaissance is what played a huge developing role in which helped it flourish into creating its environment. The economic aspects were just as important as the political aspects of the Renaissance, but it was the political aspects that had the most
The Renaissance was a time when people began to think and see things differently. It was a time for new innovations. People wanted to study the past and learn more about culture. People began to see important in human emotion, and they began to see that there was much more rather than just religion. Europe was facing many problems like the Black Death. But the problems caused a shift in the world view of people in 14th century Italy. During the early 1400’s, Europe witnessed a major rebirth of fine art painting, sculpture, drawing and architecture. Early Renaissance art had its birth of creativity and development in Florence, Italy, which eventually spread to Western Europe. Italy contained the status of being the richest trading nation with both Europe and the Orient, Italy was fortunate to be left with a huge repository of classical ruins and artifacts. In almost every town and city, examples of Roman architecture and sculpture, including copies of sculptures from Ancient Greece, had been familiar for centuries. The decline of Constantinople and the capital of the Byzantine Empire caused many Greek scholars to go to Italy, bringing knowl...
The Renaissance or “rebirth” is a cultural movement that started in Italy during the late 14th century and expanded to the early 17th century. The Renaissance was a bridge that allowed Western Europe to move from the medieval era to the modern era. Renaissance later spread to other parts of Europe. Advances in technology allowed art and architecture to flourish during the Renaissance era. Cities like Florence in Italy saw a spike in artists and architects who have changed from mere paid skilled laborers to professional artists.
The term Renaissance has, over the years, become synonymous with ideas of expanding civilisation, rebirth, and cultural expansion. The most renowned example of a country’s cultural renaissance was that of the Italians; however this is only one example of such a cultural and philosophical paradigm. To begin with, a “renaissance” is a revolution of the rebirth of ideals within a country’s individuals: self-awareness, art, architecture, religion and science, to name a few. For it is these ideas that have given civilisations the drive and perseverance to rise from a period wrought with fallow and of social, cultural, and economical regression. Many prominent world powers today, and subsequently in the past, have went through a period of renaissance, which was preceded by what many call a dark age; it is through this time of upheaval that the ideas and socio-political philosophies flourished, paving the way towards each nations’ renaissance. To this, the Renaissance should not only be seen as an essential part of European history, but its ideals should also be credited philosophically for improving and influencing different developing societies through the ages.