Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HUMANISM
CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMANISM
Florence. Arts and culture flourished under the rule of the Medici. Famous
humanists were Niccolo Machiavelli, autor of the political text, The Prince,
and Marsilio Ficino, who studied and translated the works of Plato.
Rome. The papal court contributed to the spead of humanism and
promoted authors like Nicholas of Cusa or Silvio Piccolomini.
Naples. Many scholars and humanists, like Lorenzo Valla, found support in
the court of Alfonso V of Aragn.
SPREAD OF HUMANISM
From the late 15 th century humanist ideas spread through Europe thanks to:
-
RENAISSANCE
SOCIETY DURING THE RENAISSANCE
Quattrocento
The Renaissance first began in Florence, during the 15 th century.
This was a period of experimentation in which artists rediscovered
Greek and Roman cultura. Some Italian painters, like Simone
Martini, had begun the search for perspective in the 14 th century,
but the tendency grew more quickly in the following century.
Cinquecento
This is a period of maturity in the 16 th century in which artists
demonstrated their mastery of the laws of perspective and
proportion.
By the mddle of the century, the style had evolved into less
classical ideals and moved toward Baroque art. During this period
Rom and Venice appeared as new centres of diffusion.
QUATTROCENTO
ARCHITECTURE
PAINTING
Painters mainly searched for perspective and harmony, to represent
balanced compositions and ideal landscapes. Important painters of this
period are:
-
SCULPTURE
Sculptors in this period were interested in human anatomy and the search
for classical proportions through idealism. Important sculptors of this period
are:
-
CINQUECENTO
CLASSICISM
Architecture
Buildings became austere and monumental without losing the
harmony between their elements.
The Rome of Pope Julius II was the main architectural centre for
artists like Donato Bramante and Michelangelo. In Venice, Andrea
Palladio was the leading architect.
Painting
Painters in this period masterfully represented perspective and
human proportion. They investigated other techniques using light
and colour to achieve a natural look. The most important artists
were:
o Leonardo da Vinci, autor of orks like the Mona Lisa (The
Gioconda) or The Last Supper.
o Raphael Sanzio was a genius in perspective and composition
as he showed in the School of Athens.
o Michelangelo, creator of the ceilings at the Sistine Chapel,
who created masterpieces like The Creation of Adam and
The Last Judgment.
o In Venice, Tinoretto, Giorgione and Titian mastered the use
of colour.
Sculpture
Archaeological discoveries from Ancient Rome inspired the
sculptors of the 16 th century. They were strongly influenced by
classical antiquity. This inspired the importance of the human
body, proportion and balance. They often represented nudes.
The Florentine ichelangelo was the most outstanding sculptor of
the Quinquecento. His marble statues were very passionate, but
Architecture
Three different styles developed:
o
Plateresque
First third of the 16 th century.
This style mixed Renaissance decorative elements in Gothic
buildings.
Classical
Second third of the 16 th century. This style used elements
of classical art and was influenced by the Italian
Renaissance.
Herrerian
Last third of the 16 th century.
Buildings became more monumental and geoetric, but
lacked decorative elements.
North of Europe
A distinctive style developed, particularly in paintings.
o Flanders. Flemish painting was characterised by realistic
and detailed portraits and landscapes. Important Flemish
painters of the 15 th century were Jan Van Eyck, Rogier van
der Weyden and Hieronymus Bosh. Later painters, like Pieter
Brueghel, painted more satirical realities.
o Germany. Paintings focused mainly on portraits and
landscapes. Albrecht Drer, a brilliant engraver, pioneered
the art of self-portraits.
France
The best examples of French Renaissance at appear i its
architecture, as seen in the palaces Chteau de Chambord or the
Palace of Fontainebleau. The monarchy promoted the Renaissance
and kings Louis XIII and Franois I brought Italian artists to their
courts.
THE COUNTER-REFORMATION
Persecution of Protestants
The Pope restored the Inquisition to punish heretics by subjecting
them to a trial called auto de fe. A special committee was created,
the Sacred Congregation of the Index, which created a list of
books that were banned for being against Catholic doctrine.
Church reform
Catholicis accepted the need for reform. The Council of Trent was a series of
meetings between 1545 and 1563 that reviewed certain church practices.
The practice of indulgences was prohibited, workshops to train the clergy
were created and bishops were forced t olive in their dioceses. At rent, the
clergy decided to keep the traditional organisation of the Church and ratify
the Pope as its universal leader.
They reaffirmed certain dogmas, like salvation through deeds, the seven
sacraments and the worship of the Virgin and the saints. Finally, they
declared the Vulgate as he only valid versin of the Bible
-
The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola. The Jesuits
directly obeyed the Pope, which made them effective instruments of the