The Renaissance

Key Points

The Renaissance is a period of a few hundred years in Europe in which many people were eager to study, to learn and to try new ideas. The one country most associated with the Renaissance is Italy and it was there that a great revival of interest in the learning of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome began. However the new ideas also spread to many other countries, especially in northern Europe.

Learning Objectives:

From this section, you are expected to know:

• Why the Renaissance began in Italy
• What made Renaissance painting so special?
• The life of one famous Renaissance artist/sculptor
• The life of one Renaissance artist outside Italy
• The life of a Renaissance writer

A famous Renaissance artist

Michelangelo

His early life

• Born near city of Florence 1475
• Educated by Lorenzo de Medici
• Lived in his home - treated him like a son
• Left Florence when Lorenzo died
• Moved to the city of Rome when 21 years old

His love of sculpture

• Produced two very famous pieces of work
• The 'Pieta' - marble, Mary with body of Jesus
• The shepherd boy 'David' - huge 14 foot marble statue
• Both works are absolute masterpieces

Importance of Pope Julius II

• Invited by Pope Julius II to design his tomb
• Pope was an important patron for Michelangelo
• He often quarrelled with the Pope
• Tomb was never finished

His greatest painting achievement

• Asked to paint ceiling of Sistine Chapel
• A fresco painting that took four years
• Painted standing up on a scaffold
• Painted scenes from the Old Testament
• Ceiling is 118 feet long and 43 feet wide
• Also painted 'The Last Judgement' - wall fresco

His final years

• The Dome of St. Peter’s
• Designed by Michelangelo
• Did not live to see work finished
• Died at age of 89 years
• Buried in home city of Florence

Review Questions

1. What does the word 'Renaissance' mean?
2. When was this period in history and what occurred?
3. Why did the Renaissance begin in Italy?
4. Name some famous Renaissance patrons and explain why they were so important.
5. Explain why the Medici family were so wealthy
6. Briefly describe pre-Renaissance paintings?
7. What made the painting of the Renaissance so unique?
8. Explain how Leonardo da Vinci was such a genius
9. Name one famous da Vinci painting and describe it
10. What was sfumato?
11. Why are the notebooks of da Vinci so important?
12. What was a fresco?
13. Name one Renaissance artist from outside Italy and name one of his works.
14. Name a famous Renaissance architect
15. What were some of the main changes that took place in architecture?
16. Who was Galileo and why was he so important?
17. Why was Johann Gutenberg so important?
18. What was the first book to be printed?
19. Why was the printing press of such importance during the Renaissance?
20. Name a famous Renaissance writer and one of his written works.