Italian Renaissance
|
|
The Italian Renaissance was intertwined with the intellectual
movement known as Renaissance humanism and with the fiercely
independent and combative urban societies of the city-states of
central and northern Italy in the 13th to 16th centuries. Florence,
Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance for several reasons.
The first two or three decades of the 15th century saw the emergence
of a rare cultural efflorescence, particularly in Florence. This
'Florentine Enlightenment' (Holmes) was a major achievement. It was
a classical, classicizing culture which sought to live up to the
republican ideals of Athens and Rome. Sculptors used Roman models
and classical themes. This society had a new relationship with its
classical past. |
It felt it owned it and revived it. Florentines felt akin to 1st
century BC republican Rome. Rucellai wrote that he belonged to a
great age; Leonardo Bruni's Panegyric to the City of Florence
expresses similar sentiments. There was a genuine appreciation of
the plastic arts—pagan idols and statuary—with nudity and
expressions of human dignity. Painting took huge leaps forward in
development from the works of Giotto through Fra Angelico, Masaccio,
Masolino, Piero della Francesca and many others.
A similar parallel movement was also occurring in the arts in the
early 15th century in Florence—an avant-garde, classicizing
movement. Many of the same people were involved; there was a close
community of people involved in both movements. Valla said that, as
they revived Latin, so was Latin architecture revived, for example
Rucellai's Palazzo built by Leone Battista Alberti. Of Brunelleschi,
he felt that he was the greatest architect since Roman times.
Sculpture was also revived, in many cases before the other arts.
There was a very obvious naturalism about contemporary sculpture,
and highly true to life figures were being sculpted. Often
biblically-themed sculpture and paintings included recognizable
Florentines. Mention should be made of the competition to sculpt
bas-relief bronze panels for the baptistery in Florence. The winner
of the competition was Ghiberti, whose naturalistically and
elegantly expressive work won over Brunelleschi's entry.
Brunelleschi went on to give up sculpture and become one of the
world's most significant architects, designing the Duomo of
Florence.
The nascent philosophy of nominalism also played a part, and can be
demonstrated by the attention to detail in the observation of nature
expressed in many paintings of the time.
Classicism was applied both to literature and art. In many
city-republics there was a small clique with a camaraderie and
rivalry produced by a very small elite. Alberti felt that he had
played a major part, as had Brunelleschi, Masaccio.The list of
artists who contributed to the flowering of Italian art at this
period is long and varied, and must also include Gentile de Fabriano,
Fra Angelico, Lorenzo da Monaco, Fra Filippo Lippi, Masolino,
Giovanni di Paolo and many more. Alberti admitted he had no
explanation of why it happened.
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance,
a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe from the
end of the 14th century to about 1600. Although its origins trace
back to the earlier part of the 14th century, many aspects of
Italian culture were largely Medieval and the Renaissance did not
come into full swing until the end of the century. The word
renaissance (rinascimento in Italian) literally means “rebirth”, and
the era is best known for the renewed interest in the culture of
classical antiquity after the period that Renaissance humanists
labeled the Dark Ages. These changes, while significant, were
concentrated in the elite, and for the vast majority of the
population life was little changed from the Middle Ages.
The Italian Renaissance began in Tuscany, centered in the city of
Florence and Siena. It then spread south, having an especially
significant impact on Rome, which was largely rebuilt by the
Renaissance popes. The Italian Renaissance peaked in the late 15th
century as foreign invasions plunged the region into turmoil.
However, the ideas and ideals of the Renaissance spread into the
rest of Europe, setting off the Northern Renaissance and English
Renaissance.
The Italian Renaissance is best known for the cultural achievements
during the period. This includes works of literature by such figures
as Petrarch, Castiglione, and Machiavelli, artists such as
Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and great works of architecture
such as The Duomo in Florence and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. At
the same time, present-day historians also see the era as one of
economic regression and of little progress in science. |
 |
|
Nofeerentals.com No fee one and two bedroom, Downtown Manhattan rental apartments New York City Nofeerentals.com no fee rental apartments in Downtown Manhattan New York NY studio, one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom , rental apts http://www.nofeerentals.com/new-york/manhattan/downtown.asp
Notasinc.com Tapestry hand made wall hangings Crespos of natural fibers, leather and wool. Tapestry hand made wall hangings elaborated with natural fibers, leather and wool, original designs for every space at your home or office. Each one is a unique piece of art decoration http://www.notasinc.com/tapestry.htm
White gold Diamond Ruby Bracelet at Jewelheaven.com Ruby bracelet is one of the types of ornamental jewelry worn around the wrist. The Ruby bracelet is one of the most romantic and elegant piece of jewelry. Wear ruby bracelet, it for health, wealth, wisdom and love. http://www.jewelheaven.com/Ruby-Bracelet.asp
Lansend.com: Microsoft Certified Computer consultants in New York, NY Microsoft Certified Computer consultants providing computer and network consulting services in New York ,NY Manhattan Queens, Lan Wan Networking VPN. http://www.lansend.com
Plush Dijon futon cover is a microfiber futon cover velvet suede futon cover
Plush Dijon futon covers is a microfiber futon cover. A mustard color velvety
soft like suede futon cover poly cotton machine washable futon covers
http://www.futonstogo.com/details-of-product/futon-cover-plush-dijon-suede-solid.asp
|