Renaissance Art Period
The Renaissance period generally marks European history approximately between the 14th and 16th centuries. However, the start and the end of the period depend on the country (Szalay, “The Renaissance”). The period bridges the Middle Ages and modern historical periods. It also overlaps with the Early History of Restoration and Elizabethan periods depending on the country. The Renaissance period is mostly connected to Italy, where it started in 1400, spreading to Germany, France, and England. Renaissance is mainly associated with the spread of intellectual and cultural changes rather than mere history (Wilde, “Introduction”).
Renaissance is a French word meaning “re-birth.” The powerful urge to learn about classical philosophy was reborn after the Middle Ages (“Renaissance”). Middle Ages ignored classical philosophy, and some were forgotten, leading to cultural decline. Therefore the Renaissance geniuses wanted to revive the classical philosophies and texts. They then started interpreting and expanding them to create their scientific inquiry, philosophy, and art style. Renaissance thinkers came up with the vernacular language in writing, astronomy, printing press, world exploration, painting and sculpture methods, and humanist philosophy. Shakespeare’s work is the latest Renaissance developments.
Despite associating the Renaissance period with Renaissance thinkers’ efforts to revive or reawaken ancient Rome and Greece’s philosophies due to their decline during the Middle Ages, some of the classical texts, traditions, and knowledge were not wholly lost from Europe in the Middle Ages. Three periods experienced the revival of ancient times’ philosophy and art (Haskins & Haskins 3). We have the Carolingian Renaissance, the Ottonian Renaissance, and the 12th Century Renaissance (5). The Carolingian Renaissance happened in the 8th and 9th centuries during the Charlemagne reign, who was the Holy Roman emperor. The Ottonian Renaissance happened during the 10th Century during Otto I, II, and III emperors. The 12th Century Renaissance played a critical role in ushering the later Renaissance. During the period, classical Greek science and philosophy and Latin texts started to be brought back on a larger scale. There was also the establishment of early versions of universities (6).
Moreover, the Crusades took part in paving the way for the Renaissance. Crusades encouraged people’s interactions, and through it, many Europeans interacted with multiple and advanced Middle Eastern cultures (Myers 4). Many Islamic nations were in the custody of classical texts of Rome and Greek already lost in Europe, and they were re-established through returning crusaders. Additionally, the fall of the Roman and Byzantine Empires due to the Ottomans takeover also have a role in paving the way for the Renaissance period (Szalay, “The Renaissance”). Constantinople’s sacking in 1453 by the Ottomans led to the migration of many scholars to Europe, and with them are the classical art. The dispute between the Christians and Moors in Spain forced many scholars to flee to other regions. Many of them fled to Italian cities, including Padua and Florence creating an environment for renewal of learning.
Furthermore, the Black Death paved the way for the Renaissance (Gottfried 14). The Black Death took away many famous officials in Europe, leading to political and social turmoil, particularly in Florence, which is the point contemplated for the Renaissance birth. After the Black Death, the Medici family, including others, went to Florence to take advantage of available social-climbing opportunities (15). They demonstrated their wealth since they were powerful families and sponsoring artists. Also, the Black Death led to the questioning of the Church’s gospel on life after death. People started focusing on the present, bringing the humanistic philosophy of the Renaissance period.
Many scholars and historians contemplate Florence as the origin of the Renaissance, but some scholars broaden it to Italy as a whole (Szalay, “The Renaissance”). After Renaissance birth in Italy, its artistic techniques, values, and thoughts spread all over Europe. Italy’s attack by military enhanced the spread of such philosophies, and the end of England and France’s Hundred Years War paved the way for people to concentrate on essential things.
Key Characteristics of Renaissance
The Printing Press
The invention of the printing press started due to the need to reproduce classical texts better and restudy them. The discovery of the printing press in the Renaissance period paved the way for modern cultural development (Szalay, “The Renaissance”). The first printing press to be developed happened in Europe in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg. Such discovery enabled printing music, secular books, and Bibles in various languages and large amounts.
Religion
The Black Death, among other factors, led to the middle class, an increase in trade, and the move of the papacy from Rome to Avignon temporarily for a period between 1309 to 1377 (Szalay, “The Renaissance”). During the start of the 15th Century, the influence of the Catholic Church was therefore disappearing. The rise of humanism and re-birth of classical texts in the Renaissance period the approach of society towards religion and papacy’s authority. Renaissance humanism paved the way for the development of multiple social movements and groups. Also, the distribution of the Bible in various languages due to the development printing press enabled people to read and learn multiple lessons of Biblical Scriptures leading to the rise of Evangelism. The evangelical movement spread the message of the Scriptures instead of the Church’s Church’s institutional power and their belief of personal conversion for salvation instead of works or obsessions.
Intellectual Movement
Renaissance humanism enhanced critical thinking, greatly influencing both the ancient and contemporary society (Ivory 3). It also enabled the view of classical Roman and Greek texts as a means of changing modern perspectives, allowing the development of new thinking after the Middle Ages. Renaissance humanism stressed reasoning, human fulfillment, and scientific inquiry (Szalay, “The Renaissance”).
Science
Renaissance period led to the re-birth of Ancient Greek beliefs on perfect laws and reasoning in the creations. It led to increased geography, medicine, anatomy, astronomy, architecture, mathematics, and alchemy. In the 1530s heliocentric solar system was published. In the period, science and religion also parted ways due to empiricism leading persecution of many scientists, including Galileo Galilei (Szalay, “The Renaissance”).
Geography
Renaissance thinkers were eager to develop trade routes and explore new places. In 1492, Columbus made the New World’s discovery, and the first person to circumnavigate the earth was Ferdinand Magellan in the early 15th Century (Szalay, “The Renaissance”).
Society and Economics
Renaissance period led to the disappearance of feudalism and the increase of capitalism. The Black Death led to an increase in trade and labor shortages, paving the way for the middle class’s rise (Gottfried 13). It also led to the importance of having money rather than allegiances (Szalay, “The Renaissance”).
Music
The sponsorship expansion of music and art beyond the Catholic Church led to many innovations (“Music”). Inventions of musical instruments, including the family of harpsichord and violin, occurred in the Renaissance period. Also, the development of the printing press increased music distribution. The significant feature of Renaissance music was humanism basing on classical treatises.
Literature
The significant features of Renaissance literature are humanist themes and re-birth of classical texts (“Renaissance”). An example is Shakespeare’s work, which has human agency themes and man’s true nature.
Art
Renaissance art was majorly based on classical art (Cox 4). Renaissance humanism philosophy interlocked with classical sculptures, paintings, and decorative artwork. The focus of both Classical and Renaissance art was human nature and beauty. During the period, paintings became realistic. Patrons, including the Medici family in Florence, made the Renaissance art and innovations successful (12). The Medici family sponsored many artists between the 1500 and 1600 Centuries, including Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Florence is the epicenter of Renaissance art, but it was later overtaken by Rome in the 1500 Century when it was filled with art, and religious buildings by Pope Leo X considered as High Renaissance period happening between the 1490s and 1520s (Szalay, “The Renaissance”).
Michelangelo’s Works
Renaissance led to the development of art, and the most monumental sculptures of Michelangelo are Pietà in 1498-99, located in St.Peter’s, Rome, and David of 1501-04, located in Academia, Florence. The sculptures are based on Romans and Greeks’ classical religious teachings (“Michelangelo Artwork”). Pietà depicts Jesus’s body on Mary’s laps after his Crucifixion, and David shows the prophet David with the slingshot, which he used to murder Goliath. Both sculptures humanize Biblical figures taught in classical religious texts and tales by Romans and Greeks, and they are still taught today. Therefore bringing the idea of “re-birth” of classical art.
Conclusion
Renaissance period led to many new techniques and art developments by expanding Romans and Greeks’ classical philosophies.
Works Cited
“Michelangelo Artwork.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist/michelangelo/artworks/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
Szalay, Jessie. “The Renaissance: The ‘Re-birth’ of Science & Culture.” Live Science, 29 Jun. 2016, www.livescience.com/55230-renaissance.html. Accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
Wilde, Robert. “Introduction to the Renaissance.” The Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc., www.irfi.org/articles3/articles_4401_4500/introduction%20to%20the%20renaissancehtml.htm. Accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
“Renaissance.” Brooklyn College, academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/ren.html. Accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
Haskins, Charles Homer, and Jim Haskins. The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century. Vol. 14. Harvard University Press, 1927.
Myers, Philip Van Ness. Mediaeval and Modern History. Ginn, 1905.
Gottfried, Robert S. Black Death. Simon and Schuster, 2010.
Ivory, Y. (2007). Wilde’s Renaissance: Poison, Passion, and Personality. Victorian Literature and Culture, 35(2), 517-536.
“Music in the Renaissance.” The Met 150, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/renm/hd_renm.htm. Accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
Cox, Virginia. A short History of the Italian Renaissance. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015.