Renaissance

2. RENAISSANCE SOCIETY DURING THE RENAISSANCE - The Renaissance started as a cultural and artistic movement in Italy and later spread to other parts of Europe.

1. Nobility and the Bourgeoisie - Humanism was most popular in cities.

- The bourgeoisie were the bigger supporters of the new mindset and promoted new forms of artistic expression.

- Nobility adopted the refined values and lifestyles of the court, surrounding themselves with the latest artists and thinkers.

- The bourgeoisie and the nobility became patrons of the arts.

- The Medici family in Florence promoted Michelozzo, Michelangelo and Donatello.

- Popes commissioned works from artistslike Bramante, Alberti or Michelangelo.

2. RENAISSANCE 2. Artists - Following individualistic values of humanism , artists were more respected socially.

- Culture became more secular, and people discussed topics outside religious themes.

Religion lost its influence in intellectual and daily life aspects.

2. RENAISSANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RENAISSANCE -Artists recovered ideals of beauty and harmony of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

- Features: 1. Human anatomy and nature: - They reflected the classical canons of beauty and proportion.

- Painters and sculptors used mathematics to the perspective.

2. Harmony and clarity of lines: - Architects sought ideal beauty and proportion and returnd to the construction methods of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

- They designed buildings on a human scale.

3. Religion and new themes: - classical aesthetic was applied to religious themes.

- New themes: ancient mythology, portraits, landscapes.

2. RENAISSANCE PERIODS OF THE RENAISSANCE - Two periods: 1.

Quattrocento: -

It began in Florence during the 15 th century.

This was a period of experimentation and artists rediscovered Greek and Roman culture.

Italian painters like Martini began to search for perspective.

2. Cinquecento: - It is a period of maturity in the 16 th century - Artists demostrated their mastery of the laws of perspective and proportion.

- By the middle of the century, the style had evolved into less classical ideals and moved towards Baroque art.

- Rome and Venice appeared as new centres of diffusion.