Additionally the reintroduction of classical works encouraged the search for forgotten knowledge, whilst the creation of the printing press enabled works to be mass produced and allowed knowledge to spread effectively. A further catalyst of the Renaissance was the rise of wealthy patrons, who gave interest, support and encouragement to people to “break free from the bonds of medieval thinking”. Trade played an integral role at the beginning of the Renaissance. Addy suggests that the start of the Renaissance was marked by peace, which allowed countries to increase their wealth and trade. Italian city-states like Venice and Genoa were located on the trade routes that linked the rest of Western Europe with the East; it is therefore “no coincidence that both these city-states became active trading centres”.
Some Medici were Renaissance humanists in their own right. More important, they became patrons supporting some of the greatest art and scholarship of the entire Renaissance. The Medici family became prosperous through banking. They had branches throughout Europe in London, Naples, Cologne, Geneva, Lyons, Basel, Avignon, Bruges, Antwerp, Lubeck, Bolgna, Rome, Pisa, and Venice. Cosimo de’ Medici was the de facto ruler of Florence from 1434 to 1464, and was also an astute banker and a highly cultivated man of letters.
The Medici family also had an impact in the history of the Catholic Church with four Popes from the Medici heritage. Along with the family’s political stature and religious role, it too was a great supporter of the arts and architecture in Florence and Italy (“Medici, House” 2). As one of the greatest influential powers of the Renaissance Era, the Medici family played a very big part in political control, religious influence, and artistic patronage in European society. Over time, the family gained authority slowly until they were able to found the Medici Bank. The family’s wealth and influence was initially derived from the family’s textile trade guided by the Arte della Lana, a wool guild during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance in Florence.
GENERAL BACKGROUND The roots of the Renaissance surfaced in Italy, where urban life, banking, and capitalism had progressed at a rapid pace. By the 14th century, the city–state of Florence was the leading center of international finance. But, even more importantly, there was a growing consciousness of political identity in 14th–century Italy. Many Italians became interested in renewing their rich classical past, and scholars actively studied the Latin classics. Following the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1182-1226), who advocated religion as an intense personal experience, religious and secular thinkers of this period emphasized the importance of personal intuition and experience in seeking both divine and natural knowledge.
I also think that it is one of the greatest accomplishments in the Renaissance era and it is also a testament to the greatness of its creator, Michelangelo. Pope Julius II was a "warrior pope" who in his papacy undertook an aggressive campaign for political control, to unite and empower Italy under the leadership of the Church. He invested in symbolism to display his temporal power such as his procession, in the Classical manner, through a triumphal arch in a chariot after one of his many military victories. It was Julius who began the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica in 1506, as the most potent symbol of the source of papal power. In the same year, 1506, Julius II conceived a program to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Palladio was born as Andrea di Pietro della Gondola in 1508. Andrea was later named Palladio, an allusion to the Greek goddess of wisdom, when apprenticing for Gian Giorgio Trissino, a Vicenzan nobleman and intellectual, in the mid 1530’s 4. His name proved to be true, because of his wisdom and talents, he was first recognized by Trissino who would then mold him to the architect we know today. Trissino stimulated Palladio to appreciate the arts, sciences and Classical literature and granted him the opportunity to study Ancient architecture in Rome5. There he explored ruins,
Why did Pope Julius II do all this? He was motivated by several factors: 1. He wanted to increase the power and prestige of the papacy and the Church 2. He wanted to restore the city of Rome to its former glory. Remember that the city of Rome had once been a magnificent capital of an entire empire It is important to remember that at this time in history, Popes are more like Kings than the way that we think about Popes these days.
Renaissance art is the painting, sculpture and decorative arts of the European history. Renaissance art emerged in Italy during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Renaissance art derived during the early 14th century in Italy to late 16th century in Europe. Renaissance art was most mature in Europe during the late 16th century. The term Renaissance means rebirth which is very fitting for this era because it represents a cultural rebirth of Classical art, new artists of Renaissance looked to earlier classical artist and incorporated more light and color into their work so that their work would look almost life like.
During this time, anti-classical sentiments began to emerge, eventually developing into the Mannerist movement. But through this paper it will be focused more in to the High Renaissance and a few artist of that period The modern notion of the fine arts and the exaltation of the artist-genius originated in Renaissance Italy, during the High Renaissance, artist fist became “international celebrities, no one more than Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Through this http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Leonardo-Da-Vinci.html
What changes happened during the Renaissance and why did these changes happen? The Renaissance (rebirth) started around the early 14th century and lasted until the mid 1550’s. The Renaissance was one of the largest periods of growth and development in Western Europe, things like architecture, art, religion and many more works are known to have been developed. The Renaissance helped and changed the way people thought and lived their lives. During the Renaissance art was said to be very important, artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, Breughel the Elder and Leonardo Da Vinci created amazing works of art like the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.