Week 2:  "Origins of the Renaissance"

Week 2:  Renaissance Emergence & Florence

Intro.  Definition of Renaissance

French from “Re-birth” or  italian Rinascimento, from rinascere "to be reborn", taken in reference to a revitalization of interest in classical learning and ideas, particularly studies in the “humanities”.  Can be and has been applied to a number of different phases throughout history, though most often the “Italian Renaissance” or “European Renaissance” throughout the 15th-16th centuries.  This label can be misleading, as this cultural development was so much more than a re-boot of old ideas or an interest in history- it was a synthesis of classicism and contemporary ideas afloat at the time, leading to something totally new, that would prove to be enduring and have long lasting effects.  In particular, The Renaissance is seen by many, as a key moment in history that paved the way for the modern world: The scientific revolution, The Enlightenment and so forth.  Studies in the Renaissance can take a number of forms, this class on the whole will be strongly in the visual arts and art history jurisdictions, though historical and social phenomenon will be tied in as necessary.

Questions of particular interest:

What is stylistically significant about the Renaissance?

How does it compare to art from the past, and against modern art?

What caused this movement?  what conditions allowed it to develop

What ended it?  is it over?

How did it evolve and move across time and space

I.   An Art Baseline

A.  Byzantine Style   -   4th - 15th century

i.  strictly religious themes

ii.  two dimensional, flat

iii.  iconographic

iv.  different technology, and emphasis on materials, mediums, such as mosaic:

Mosaic of Justinian and co. at San Vitale, Ravenna

B.  International Gothic Style   -  14th and 15th centuries

i. highly colored and decorative, curvilinear drawing

ii. tends towards flatness over volume

iii.  habitual use of gold as background and ornament, often other worldy bg

iv. naturalistic: attempt at a realistic depiction of some natural details, figures landscape, etc

v.  generally religious in nature

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C.  Proto-Renaissance: innovative Genius, Giotto di bondone (colle 1266/67-1337)

i.  worked in Assisi at the shrine of St. Francis, also in Florence and Rome

ii.  compare to Cimabue to illustrate innovations

iii.  simplicity, clarity, powerful form, deep emotion & narrative force.  

iv.  space delimited to a shallow forward stage, simple blue sky

v.  true spatial illusion and perspective have yet to come

(Above) Cimabue's Maestà, 1280-1285, Uffizi Gallery, Florence

(Below) Lamentation by Giotto di Bondone in the Scrovegni Chapel

note use of backwards facing figures, inviting the viewer into the scene

II.  Transition & Emergence

A.  Black Death -  mid 14th century (1348)

i.  30-70% death tolls, depending on area

ii.  total mind set change for survivors

iii.  opened the door for more interest in non-religious studies

B.  Economics

i.  Crusades were a boon economically for Italy and Florence

ii.  consolidation and consternation in in the wake of the plague

iii.  new strong middle and upper class after the rise of banking

vi.  monopoly on luxury good market, and eastern markets, for northern regions

C.  Humanism

i.  13th century consciousness of collective latin and classical past

ii.  Major literary works and figures:  Dante and Petrarch

iii.  urged more secular focus, dignity of man, reverence for past

III.  Florence:  Cauldron of Creativity

A. Geography

i. trade, networks, sea

ii. ancient classical culture abound

iii.  strong urban tradition, specialist classes required secular learning

B. Social:  Government, people & organization

i.  Autonomy as a city-state, and strong urban center: culture of competition

ii.  Republic since 7th century:  public, integrated, interconnected community

iii.  Guilds and Bankers: strong burgher class: patrons

Powerful patrons of the arts such as, Lorenzo Medici (above),

financed much of the innovative output during the Renaissance in Florence

this was compounded by the intensely public and competitive urban life found at the time in the Republic of Florence