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Material Type: Notes; Professor: Byrne; Class: The Age of Exploration; Subject: Honors; University: Belmont University; Term: Spring 2009;
Typology: Study notes
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History Early Itialian Humanism o C 1270-1310 – basically the same time as Dante o Human condition – dante – religious context, otherworldly o Humanism – human condition in relation to this world secular – thus early modern compliments religion o Humanism – humanist was one who studied the humanities, like how an artist was one who studied the arts (7 liberal arts) Sophists – Greeks Quintilian – liberal = free Trivium – grammar, logic, rhetoric Quadriveum (numbers) – arithmetic (basic), geometry (space), music (sound), astronomy (time) o Arts help DEVELOP human being Important but NOT humanities, only tools, theory o What does it mean to be human? Middle ages – religion defined what it means to be human o Humanism – the attempt to study or understand humanity in secular terms, with an emphasis on classical authors (pagans, romans), Poetry, moral philosophy, history o Medieval “humanism” and Renaissances Carolingian Renaissance c 800 Recopy classical books, preserve Latin literature Ottonian Renaissance – 10th^ century The 12th^ century renaissance Clerics at the schools (universities) Scholastics 13 th^ century reception of Aristotle The Italian Lay Notary o The paperwork o Not in the church, but know latin (civic work) o Urban o Literate Grammar, rhetoric, art of dictation/art of creating documents (ars dicteminis), latin o Legal – documents, tradition, but not the status Not professionals, not wealthy o Worked with lawyers o Had guilds Notarical Functions o Drew up official documents for city o Copy official documents for city (in touch with history) o Record personal documents Wills, contracts, marriage agreements, gifts inter vives (while alive) o Serve guilds and communes as record keepers o Write diplomatic letters for commune o Serve as diplomats o Often wrote histories o Often moonlighted (had second jobs) Teaching grammar schools Lovato Lovati, from Padua 1241- o Writer of poetic letters in classical style (read and studied classical stuff)
o Studied Seneca’s works, moral philosophies o Antenores references, studied works to find stuff on antenores First classical research Alberto Mussato from Padua 1261- o Began by copying texts o Revived eclogue, elegy, soliloquy, classical tragedy o Private scholar o Celebrated “liberties” of Padua o Wrote history of Emperor Henry VII based on Sallust and Livy o Wrote moral philosophical work on old age Early Italian Humanism o Centered around lay notaries, not university-trained scholars o Heavy interests in both expression (language/style) and moral philosophical problems What is humanity – nature vs. bible o Concerned with urban/civic life of the free commune o Very consciously depended on latin writers of the late Republic/early Empire o Looked at the ancients and saw similarities Francesco Petrarch 1304- o The first modern man o Wrote in Italian and latin o Born when dante begins divine comedy, big influence o Born in Arezzo in Tuscany o Father was a notary o 1312 – moved to Avignon – Papal territory, Italians followed the pope, lots of work for notaries Petrarch hated it corruption o Loved to attack the immoral, but he wasn’t great himself o Lived for praise, first self-promoting celebrity o With popes gone from rome the city got to do its own thing. Antiquity reborn! Cola di Rienzo o Pet was a romantic, hated the time in which he lived o Nostalgia of ancient world Go back to go forward o 1316 – began law school in Montpellier He was 12 and hated it Corruption of the law Hate scholastic study of laws. No life in it Law was all written in bad latin o Drops out of law, joins clergy, deacon Notary. Got paid, wrote poetry, he was pretty much a secretary Lived off of “corruptly spent” money o Makes a living as a writer Never wanted to be tied down o Met Laura, began Canzoniere (she was his Beatrice) Very much a courtly love situation She died in 1348 of plague Wrote not about her, but about HIS reaction, like Augustine INTROSPECTION in a secular way, about oneself o 1337 – retires to Vaucluse (at 33) o Uses sonnet and perfects its form The Black Death o Not great stats on black death Not until they start keeping death records 25-40 percent of population destroyed across Europe Cities hurt worst k- medit region had highest initial rates o 1350 – starts Comes back every decade until 1500s Never has the same huge effect – dies down
o Grew up wealthy, EDUCATED, knew classics o Joins the church, lower clergyman, not priest Will have patrons, used as secretary Makes living, supports his writing, scholarship Job without any responsibilities – sine cure o Travelled with father when young o Cino – may have studied under him Good latin literature o Study of canon law – gives it up o 1332 – father leaves Italy Becomes a scholar in our sense of the word Writes scholarly works to get people into classics o 1332 – mythological allegories o Geneology of the gods – connects the PAGAN gods Mythological part of classical societies – content “Italy became pagan again”, uh, no The mythology stuff is okay because WE put xtian messages in the stories o Not an eyewitness to black death in Florence o 1363 – plague comes back – freaks everyone out Not a one-time-deal…shit o At the 2nd^ outbreak B becomes more spiritual Writes more religious works Famous, virtuous women Writing against book about wicked women o Hired by city of Florence to lecture on Dante In old age High praise for dante Florence transcends, sees itself as something higher, higher culture o DECAMERON Stories, wit, like Odyseus Ancient world likes wit Middles ages like virtue, hates gray area Lots of average people in stories Smart and stupid people, wide range of people Gullibility of church, sins of church folk Xtian – that poor woman from the last story… Petrarch sees as allegory – the moralist How Job should have been told – more patient o He fought, didn’t accept, she accepts everything – submits Inspired Chaucer – Chaucer is the copier Chaucer writing for less advanced audience C-stereotypes, B-Individuals B-can’t fit the characters to their stories like C does Frame story characters in B are generic, not important B’s world is more SECULARIZED o Reflects in his work C-less secularized, afraid of Lollardly C-starts story in inn – going to a church B-starts story in a church, ends up in villa, secular place o Selfish punk kids, leave Florence, they had no one there o When plague comes, flee (medical literature) o If emotions grab you (fear, sorrow), you’ll get plague Attitude, listen to pleasant music, tell stories Addresses ladies in intro and conclusion He should be allowed as much freedom in his writing as painters are allowed Churchmen have done far worse than my stories are Stories told in places of pleasure, not church
Doesn’t back down in conclusion like Chaucer did Wants to entertain people and bring them comfort “it is a HUMAN quality” This is what makes him a humanist Treating humanity without moral constraints of the church o Has tolerance, more so than Chaucer o Not for him to judge o What makes him more modern than Chaucer o Compassion for audience AND the characters On brink of relativism, pulls back from it Is he a humanist? Makes people think for themselves, separate from church Church says laughter/feelings bad – he says its good o Could you ever laugh again after the black death? Italian States o Papacy – 2nd^ monarchy Avignon papacy 1370 Pope Urban VI (urbs – city of rome) Wanted to head back to rome Some cardiansl didn’t want that, liked comfort of Avignon Cardinals also voted Clement VII – antipope – Avignon France/Spain – Clement English/Roman Empire – Urban 1409 – Council of Pisa (not college of cardinals, as should be) Alexander V – 3rd^ pope 1414-17 Council of Constance Urban dies, Clement imprisoned, elect Martin V – Rome Schism ends Conclave, not council, elects Martin During this time Lollards gain power – Wycliff Undermines human element of church Rome needs a lot of fixing Needs radical change, finds it in popes of ren Ren rome – what you see today These popes aren’t pastors, but scholars, doers, humanists o Art, architecture, scholarship, latin-writing o Naples Brilliant court, important center of culture Spanish control o Milan – duchy Cisconti family – ghibs Went to war a lot – power hungry Produced weapons and armour Wars against venice, Florence, got beaten 1400 – back to Florence, lost again, Florence felt like Athens (against Sparta, winning), david vs. goliath o Florence Medici family Lots of money, become active in politics Cosimo They liquidated their enemies 1434- o Great age of Florence o Lorenzo Republic in form only 1500s – medicis become dukes Want Florence to become better than Rom o 2 medicis become popes
Paint things as they APPEAR, not necessarily how they ARE Fooling the eye Perspective – what you see, how you construct it (the grid) Brunelleschi comes up with this idea, nothing intellectual about it o Audience – painters o PATRONS – educate them, “taste,” understand what good art is True artist is an illusionist Changes expectation, raises the status of the artist Leonardo da Vinci – call him Leonardo o His sketches – put alberti to work Florence o Gathering place of genius o Like Athens o Appreciated artists more than anywhere else Artists give glory to the city Donatello – Florence o In guild of sculptors o Status of st. George – roman clothing He studied archiological element What was the case historically – realistic Masaccio – real name is Thomas, died at 30 o Influenced alberti on perspective o Perspective isn’t scientific o The trinity – makes it 3D What it would look like if you were looking at it Patrons are in the picture – becomes common after black death Mary looks out at audience o Peter’s Shadow Heals Cycle of st. peter, very popular Typical Florentine street, clothing Human figures are realistic Faces are people the artist knew Beggars are portraits – realistic o The tribute money Political element – tension over tax matters in Florence Medieval elements – three peters, several differen scenes in the same pic Classical influence – half circle, stoic faces Atmospheric perspective o Things look less distinct farther away Not so sharp o Simple way to show distance Man as god, god as man – humanism Attempt at perfection in portrait of jesus Donatello o The bronze david 1432 o 1 st^ full relief/full nude since antiquity Raphael o Son of artist, went to Rome, died young o Painted audience room in Vatican School of Athens Parnasis Sacraments allegory Theologians o School of Athens Portraits – Michelangello, Leonardo Aristotle – ethics – pointing to this world Plato – timeaus – neoplatonic, pointing up
Michelangello o Florentine o Pope asked him to paint Sistine chapel Didn’t want to do it, thought his talents as a sculptor were being wasted o Self portrait – very dark o Series of depressed states – depiction as st. bart Someone who was horrified o David Big hands – adolescent growth spurts Stressed head and hands - allegory of power, our human tools Hellenisitic body Head moves forwards – furrowed brow, not stoical Hands – detail, played harp, shepherd, iconic hand Power of human potential Also hands in creation of adam Mary and Jesus He put his name on it – recognition of artist, very ren High gloss finish Felt that he was simply RELEASING the figure from the stone – philosophy The prisoners Pope Julius – wanted his tomb to be at the center of st pete Unfinished b/c of Sistine chapel Dome at St. Pete’s Fiero Literature in transition o “social realism” Defferences in class, gender, personality o Dance of Death o Boccaccio’s Decameron Realistically conceived characters “tale of Flippa” o The feminism of Christine de Pisan – France 1364 – 1428 First female professional writer Came at a time when men were systematically restricting women “Epistle to the God of Love” 1399 Spokesperson for female achievements Book of the City of Ladies Reason, Rectitude, Justice o The Social Realism of Chaucer 1340- Middle class civil servant Canterbury Tales Humanizing techniques Wrote in middle English o Art and music in transition Giotto’s New Realism – Florence 1266- Pictorialism and humanism of Itialn Ren paintings Chiaroscuro – the technique of modeling form by gradations of light and shade 3D presence, natural and lifelike Illusionistic approach to representation Devotional realism and portraiture Realism enhanced the devotional mood of the age Crucifixion – focus of Christ’s humanity and suffering CLAUS SLUTER – dutch – 1350- Also big in illuminated manuscripts o Book of Hours
Multiple popes, as many as three o Anticlericalism and the Rise of Devotional Piety Popes refused to limit papal power John Wycliffe – Lollards Jan Hus – accused of heresy People turned to private devotional piety and mysticism Hildegard of Bigen Italy: birthplace of the renaissance o 1300- o Italy – least feudalized, most well connected – trading Accounting – double book model Gold florin – soundest currency in the west o Avignon papacy and great schism – anticlerical feelings o Competitive city states o Condottieri – pro soldiers o Medici family of Florence Fuled for four generations o Petrarch – father of humanism 1304- Classical studies Loved antiquity Letter to Lapo da Castiglionchio Why he wants to preserve “books that are hard to understand” Copying Cicero St Augustine Poety laureate – laurel crown Lara de sade – died of plague 1348 He wrote hundreds of poems about her Wrote poems and songs in Italian Sonnets – her perfected the form Italian Ren Humanism o 1400s – almost all major greek and latin manuscripts of antiquity were available to scholars o Studiolo – small study retreat o Wealthy patrons Encouraged humanistic education o Cicero and Aristotle Exercise of civic responsibility – hallmark of cultivated individual Alberti and Ren Virtu o Leon Battista Alberti 1404- o “on the family” Sociological inquiry into structure, function, and responsibilities of the family Also defends classical education and hard work o Virtu – good qualities associated with human enterprise Self-confident vitality of the self-made Ren individual o “man can do anything he wants” optimism Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Turks – 1453 o Byz scholars moved to Italy o “a golden age” o Plato – platonic love o Ficino Pica o Unity of truth o Individualism o Challenged the church – heresy o “oration of the dignity of man” Manifesto of humanism Assertion of free will Unlimited potential
Self-made individual Castiglione: the well rounded person o Baldassare Castiglione 1478- The Book of the Courtier Qualifications for the ideal Ren man and woman o Medieval warrior o Humanistic education o Latin and greek language o Well-learned, musical Well-rounded person – l’uomo universal Man: Sprezztura o Grace o Strive to perfect the state Women – different qualities o Humanistic education o Soft and delicate tenderness o Should entertain male members of the court Ren Women o Upper class women were more educated o Sexism o When wealthy women’s husbands died they inherited Independence o Careers – service tasks o Increasing number of writers, patrons o Lucretia Marinella “The nobility and excellence of women and the defects of men” Ren Art and Patronage o Commercial cities of Italy and Netherlands Art – increased affluence, proved you had money Not just church patrons Merchant princes, petty despots Middle-class patrons Artists were originally just crafts men With patronage came increased appreciate Their status increased Giorgio Vasari The Lines of the Most Excellent Painters, Architects, Sculptors Early Ren o The Revival of the classical nude Dontatello 1386- Bronze David, first freestanding life-sized nude since antiquity Beauty of human body, opposite of the Medieval view Lucca della Rubbia 1400- Terra cotta religious figures Antonio Pollavivolo One of the first artists to dissect cadavers Painters Botticelli – the birth of venus o Early Ren architecture Original effort to reinterpret Greco-roman Brunelleschi 1377- Il duomo Defended classical principles of symmetry and proportion in architectural design Pazzi chapel Alberti Ten books on architecture Design should come from squares and circles
David – he was 27, the block of marble had been rejected by everyone else Defiant presense Head and hands too big – deliberate Tense and brooding Sistine chapel Creation of adam – focus on hands Dome at east end of new st. pete Elliptically shapped Neoplatonic belief – soul, trapped in body, longed to return to sacred beginnings o High ren in venice Florence suffered from political upheavals in high ren Architecture and patentry Color, not line Giorgine Pastoral concert, finished by titian o Female nude in nature Titan Venus of urbino Sexual Oil painting Machiavelli and Power Politics o Modern notion of progress developed during Ren Improvement of the individual o Ren humanists: leaders must exercise virtu to master fate o Realities of human greed, ignorance, cruelty Gunpowser, aggressive and strong national leaders o Even some of the church of rome led greedy, self-indulgent lives o Niccalo Machiavelli 1469- Lamented italy’s disunity Afraid outside powers might try to take control (they did) Exiled from Florence Wrote the Prince, dedicated to a Medici o The Prince The need for a strong state justified strong rule Secular prince Lion, fox, ruthless, sacrifice morals if need be o Negative view of humankind Have to have a ruthless leader to keep stupid, awful thankless, greedy, dishonest masses in check o Personal morality =/= morality of the state State is amoral o Not idealized, REALISTIC Europe’s first political scientist Medieval books about how princes should rule were idealistic Ren forgot about god, this is how politics works Antiquity, no middle ages, humanistic Secular point of view 16 th^ century literature o Erasmus: the praise of folly 16 th^ century lit – heightened individualism Clear away last rementants of medieval orthodoxy Discrepancies b/w ideals of classical humanism and realities of human behavior, contradict Ren optimism Satire – northern Need to reform Erasmus – learned treatises and letters “the praise of folly” is his most famous Attaced greed, intellectual pomposity, pride Dedicated to More (more = moria = folly
Theme: the vast gulf between human fallibility and perfectability Compares life to a comedy (all the world’s a stage) o More’s Utopia More (1478-1535) Chancellor to King Henry VIII at his break with the catholic church Christian humanist Denounced modern evils of capitalism and religious fanaticism Championed religious tolderance Executed in 1535 – opposed king’s break with the church Utopia 1516 Means “no place” and “a good place” First description of an ideal place since Plato’s Republic Art Notes from in-Class Classicism and New Realism in Italian Art o Classicism Nicola Pisano d.c. 1280 Began in southern Itialy under FREDERICK II o Frederick II was an emperor who was not really a good Christian, he was more like an Egyptian Sultan. He lived in Sicily. He had Jews, Muslims, Byz Greeks, etc in his court. Curious about the natural world. Patron of the arts. Liked CLASSICAL art Learned how to sculpt in classical style After Frederick o Moved to Pisa – Baptistery Pulpit 1259- Sources – classical sarcophagi in Pisa Formal unity of several scenes Strong sense of HUMANITY Especially psychological humanity How people react Bodies not just lines, accurate depiction Classical matron – Mary New Realism in Painting o Byz had really fake backgrounds, none at all, really o 2 nails in foot – byz, 1 nail – roman catholic o Cimabue o Duccio o Giotto First artist of the Italian Ren Away from static realism Tried to paint facial expression, didn’t quite get it 3D, attention to space Florence architecture o Loggia – top of building, get away from the stink of everything, fresher air o Ground floor – our first floor, etc o Walls painted to look like a tapestry o Coat of arms – many merchant families just bought them o Medici Palace – coat of arms=balls Alberti Different layers – finer as it moves up – neoplatonic GF – almost like a fortress 1 st^ – finer, ascler stone, nicely cubed off 2 nd^ – finer still. Painted plaster, no 3D. Painted to look like stone, but it’s flat Overhang – protects plaster on 2nd, also protects sidewalk o Country home Set up like a plantation Looks like a fortress, castle – just the style