History · Art · Culture
~ Introduction to the Italian Renaissance ~
The Italian Renaissance Part I : The Patrons
Duration
90 minutes
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Take-Aways
After this seminar, you'll know all there is to know about : the Medici, Lorenzo il magnifico, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Florence, Rome, Renaissance popes, Early Renaissance, High Renaissance.
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The Italian Renaissance : An exciting period of artistic renewal that shook the foundations of European art to its core and rebuilt it anew, hoisting its artists up to higher heights of genius, expertise, and talent than ever before.
During this lecture, we'll take a look at the patrons of the Italian Renaissance in Florence and Rome, and see how this remarkable movement came into being. We'll look at the main historical figures that had a hand in bringing this movement to life, by funding ambitious art projects and supporting the artistic genius that made it happen. We'll also look at the two main stages of the Italian Renaissance, and see how they developed over time : from the Early Renaissance in Florence (1401 - 1495) to the High Renaissance in Rome (1495 - 1527). Join us as we explore the world of the Italian Renaissance and delve into the why's and wherefore's of this remarkable period in history.
Florence
During the first part of the seminar, we will hear about the House of Medici, the wealthiest and most powerful family in Florence, who poured their immense fortune into an ambitious plan to beautify the city and glorify their own name, bringing artists and intellectuals under their wing and transforming the city's artistic scene in the process. We'll hear about Cosimo de' Medici the Elder, who created the Florentine Academy and commissioned the first great works of art, and his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent, who continued his ancestor's plan of transforming Florence into the 'new Athens'.
Rome
In Rome, we'll take a look at the papacy and the role that it played in supporting and funding the Renaissance, through the patronage of highly gifted artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael. We'll discuss three popes in particular who were instrumental in their patronage : Pope Sixtus IV, who built the Sistine Chapel and commissioned the painting of its walls ; Pope Julius II, who commissioned the painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the Raphel Rooms ; and Pope Leo X, who continued the Raphael Rooms after Julius II's death.
Early Renaissance versus High Renaissance
Lastly, we'll explore the development of the Renaissance in Italy, and look at the stylistic differences between the Early Renaissance and the High Renaissance. See how artistic ideals developed over the course of the 15th century, and how the focal point and epicentre shifted from Florence -- stronghold of the Medici -- to Rome, the home of the papacy.
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