Despite the nature, origins and even existence of the Renaissance being subject to intensive investigation by many historians, the traditional understanding of the European renaissance as being defined as the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern era has resonated in society throughout time. Exemplified through the influx of creative arts, literature and philosophy of that time, Swiss cultural historian Jacob Burckhardt defined this bridge as being the result of an immense intellectual transformation in humanity. In fact, the term ‘renaissance’, coined by the French historian Jules Michelet, can be translated to mean ‘new birth’ or ‘rebirth’. Spanning roughly through the 14th to 17th centuries, the renaissance is often recognised as the time of a revolution of cultural revitalization and exploration. These traditionalist ideas of the Renaissance as developed by Michelet and later expanded by Burckhardt were however ultimately disposed by revisionist historians like Charles Homer Haskins who began a revolt against Renaissance idea, motivated by the goal to deny the era any legitimate historical existence and annex the period to the middle ages. However, the perspectives of these historians in this debate are ultimately a reflection of their own context and purposes. Both Michelet and Burckhardt’s approach reflect their own 19th-century world, whilst Haskins was heavily influenced by his liberal, optimistic 20th-century ideals. A more contemporary approach to the debate is exemplified through historiographer Wallace K. Ferguson. Ferguson had chosen to focus and draw conclusions from the mirrored reflections and controversies surrounding the Renaissance idea that persisted amongst past historians. However, despite argua...
The renaissance is one of the most culturally, religiously, and artistically inventive periods in the history of mankind. From giant sculptures carved to perfection to literary works of art that induced deep thinking, the renaissance demonstrated that man’s view of itself was expeditiously becoming refined. Many of the most influential people in history, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, and Dante lived during the time of the great reinvention of Italian society. The renaissance altered the way education, art, and innovation were perceived and forever changed the thinking of the common man.
During the Italian renaissance there were many inventions, creations, and art, but some of the things still affect our lifestyle today. Some of these things are well known by people, where some are just artwork that has lots of exposure in the modern world. There are people who devote their lives to study these works of art. There must be some information on how this outburst of art and other works began, as before the Renaissance Italy was in a depression. This is a complete turnaround from a depression. In this report I am going to review and go over how the Renaissance started and who kept it alive, by studying the life of rich patrons. There is also going to be sections on specific inventions and artwork that shows renaissance lifestyle, using a book of Art History and information about popular inventions.
The Renaissance has not ceased to be an age of discussion and debate among historians throughout the recent centuries. The vibrant nature of the era marks it as a most fascinating period of history. The Renaissance can be described as an age carrying the essence of “self-discovery and fulfillment, of recognition of human worth, and a dynamic outpouring of artistic activity.” This new world flourishing with art and creative optimism was also steeped in a spirit of “revolt of the Medievalists.” In an effort of “rebirth,” the previous culture of the Middle Ages was rejected, and even scorned. Foundational principles in all fields were overstepped, and old cultural norms were practically obsolete. It was an era whose humanistic philosophy greatly impacted the lens through which man viewed himself and the world.
The study of the Greeks and Romans, was evident here when artist became more realistic because of Neo-Platonist. It was a school of thought that believed that reflection of nature can lead to the ascension of to God. Art evolved from being crude and obvious, to being beautiful and clear. Saints were no longer just bigger, but the art allows them to still be the center. Math was added to the process with people like Alberti and Da Vinci commented on how math gave value to their works of arts. The process to reach the end now mattered, just like how Francesco Guicciardini, paved way for context to matter when evaluating history. This was an exceedingly important change from the Middle Ages. This ultimately made understanding easier and less oppressive. To learn and to fulfilling one’s potential was one of the great humanistic ideal. Many scholars commented on how being learned and well-rounded in all aspects was the ultimate goal. Francios Rabelias believed in the being trained in all area matters from language to science of utmost importance. Pico della Mirandola, talks of the limitless human potential to create and ability to do anything. These humanist reject the folly of the Middle Ages, and through the infinite potential and knowledge, humans can do
“Against a backdrop of political stability and growing prosperity, the development of new technologies- including the printing press, a new system of astronomy and the discovery and exploration of new continents- was accomplished by a flowering of philosophy, literature, and especially art” (History). Beginning in the early 14th century, art began to drastically change and new ways of expression emerged (Sachs 7). “Three great masters- Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael- dominated the period of the Renaissance” (History). The legacy of these three great artists and their work has lasted hundreds of years and is bound to last for hundreds more
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,
In comparison to today’s society there have been many topics such as; religious wars, and controversial arts, educations, and careers. The Renaissance era pinpoints what would be known as a new way of expression in a classical manner. If there was a way to describe the Renaissance it would be “an era of intellectual action”.
The humanist preoccupation with the glory of the ancients spans the entire length of the Italian Renaissance and surfaces in nearly all the writers from Petrarch to Castiglione. The precise use of classical writers varies depending on the purpose of the Renaissance writer’s particular work—they are held up as examples to be emulated by historians, as works essential to shaping good character in their readers by the educational writers, and as personal guides in the letters and treatises of the correspondents and philosophers. However, their invocations in humanist texts exhibit a common sense of the rediscovered continuity of human nature, a continuity that had been rashly denied by the monastic tradition of the Middle Ages but was now being revived as part of the humanist project. It would not be entirely accurate to say that the humanists longed for “a return to a better past,” because they largely accepted Christianity as the final truth, and to return to a pre-Christian age would be to return to perhaps a more vigorous secular life, but also to a spiritual darkness. Instead, they aimed to synthesize the learning of the ancients with the modern Christian world and to create a unified literary and philosophical tradition that would link their seemingly disparate civilizations and could be passed on to later generations as a cohesive canon.
The Renaissance is a period in Europe, from the 14th to the 16th century, considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history. It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe, marking the beginning of the Early Modern Age. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the change from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Ever since the arrival of the Renaissance, new ways of approaching art physically and emotionally have been introduced by some of the most prominent men of the rebirth and by many lesser known people. The innovators of the Renaissance have brought into the art world many new characteristics and techniques to paintings and sculptures. From experimentation, to observation, to getting in touch with the human body and mind, artists of the time period were able to learn and build upon that knowledge. The information and innovations they contributed sculpted the modern world of creativity for us to learn, use, and develop our own styles for future generations in the light of artistic encouragement.
In the midst of the dark ages, war and poverty in Europe, mainly Italy, came a bright light in Lorenzo de’ Medici. A natural statesman, genuine poet and philosopher and man of the people, Lorenzo ushered in an era in Italy noted by the French historian Voltaire as one of Europe’s “Four great cultural epochs.” Becoming the unofficial father of the renaissance, Lorenzo commissioned artists to paints portraits and architect
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.
The rediscovery of Greek and Roman classical antiquity in the Renaissance Italy created a perfect climate for creative ...
...rtists and thinkers the freedom to create and speculate-and, in their spare time, to immortalize their patrons. As wealth flowed into the coffers of the great Italian cities, art prospered and optimism reigned about man's potential to understand the universe and his place in it. Behind all the achievements of the Renaissance lies the belief that man has the capacity to improve himself, to grow and to learn.