Michelangelo and Renaissance Religion

The change between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance is best shown through the art and architecture, demonstrated specifically through an emphasis on religion and classical antiquity, both suggesting a clear cultural change. The culture of both of these eras was greatly shaped by the studies of humanism and theology. The transformation of cultural studies from theology to philology greatly impacted art and is shown through many paintings from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, there was a big focus change from religious figures to the human life (Class Notes). This is shown through many paintings, like the Crucifixion of St Peter by Michelangelo.

Additionally, this artistic period involved discovery of new ideas that reflected the desire of the Catholic Church in Rome to reassert itself in the wake of Protestant Reformation. Classicism can be defined as a stylistic art in literature, music and visual art that takes the art of perfection of the ancient Greece and Rome from the middle Ages of the 18th century and seeks to be recognized

The Renaissance which translates roughly as a rebirth and fresh thinking which lasted from the 14th through 17th centuries attempted to reapply the ancient intellectual learning of the Greco-Roman Civilization. The thinkers and artists of this new era differed remarkably from their medieval counterparts. Broadly speaking, Mediaeval period was a period predominantly dominated by Christian outlook. Moreover, All of the Civilizations regarded as ‘Heirs’ of Rome paid significant tribute to their respective religion. Thus, it can be safely concluded that religion and politics were interwoven in Medieval period.

From the 1530s-1540s the Catholic church tried to regain their supremacy over Europe, they sent out missionaries, and had biblical lectured held throughout the world. The Protestants did succeed in leaving the church and starting a different religion; but the Catholic church is still one of the biggest and longest lasting religions of the world. The people of the Renaissance tried to recreate their culture. “Renaissance man looked back to classical antiquity and attempted to create a way of life based on the glories of ancient Greece and the grandeur of ancient Rome... Yet Renaissance classicism went far beyond simple reconstruction of the classic past” (Kemper 67).

The Renaissance and Reformation were two very important periods of time in European history that included change in culture and religion. The Renaissance happened before the reformation. The Renaissance was the rebirth of art, literature, and architecture. The reformation focused mainly on reforming the Catholic Church from its evil ways. Out of the Catholic Church came the protestant church.

Philosophy, in turn, related back not exclusively to rational thought, but also to religion. One particular ancient philosophy that was revived in the Renaissance was Plantonics. It was actually so prominent in Renaissance thought that the revived version was given a new name: Neoplatonics. Initially, many early doctors of the Church came in contact with Neoplatonism. From this exposure, elements of Christian philosophy became “inextricably mixed with Plato’s teachings.” Thus, the Greco Roman roots of Plato, which had been instigated by the movement countering the polytheistic religion of mythology, and the Greco Roman formation of Christianity both served as the main contributors to the Neoplationism of the Italian Renaissance.

The development of perspective also was part of a trend towards realism in the arts. Another important aspect of the Renaissance was the Protestant Reformation in the 16th-century in which religious, political, intellectual and cultural outbreaks shattered Catholic Europe, setting the structures and ideas that would define the modern era. All of these little innovations that came together in a short timespan had set the world’s society, politics, arts and many more characteristics for centuries to come.

During this time of religion Raphael really adapted to the idea of cathedrals and landscape of Holy places. The Renaissance Era began with the question of life and wondering why things in the world are the way they are. The Renaissance time period was a time of more creative living. It became the time period of trying new ways to handle every day live. People became more educated and started questioning the ways of the world.

This revival of classical influences is common for a Renaissance artisan, but the new, exaggerated form of the human body is new and unique to Michelangelo’s artistic style. Much of the art created during the Renaissance was geared toward religion, and with Michelangelo this was no exception. By th... ... middle of paper ... ...Print. Schulz, Juergen. “Michelangelo's Unfinished Works.” The Art Bulletin 57:3 (1975): 366-373.

Voltaire's Criticism of Leibniz The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was a time of great intellectual and moral growth for humanity. In part because of the increasing effect of the Protestant Reformation, people were starting to turn to reason for the answers to life's questions, rather than to the dogmas of the Catholic Church. Scientific inquiry became widespread and accepted as the standard for inquiring into the nature of the universe. The scientific method was developed. For the first time in the history of art, perspective was used in paintings.