Italian Renaissance
“How was the Italian Renaissance an age in which life was a work of art?”
The Renaissance was an important time. It was a time when new ideas were formed,
worldly places became more important, and great people became known. All of
which paved the way to future inventions, philosophies, and life as we know it.
During the Renaissance, new possibilities were explored. One of which was a
group of people who called themselves Humanists. Humanism was a movement based
on the literature and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome. Humanists focused on
secular themes, rather than those that were religious. They also believed that
individualism, human improvement and that people should develop their talents
through many activities. Humanism was influential in that more attention was
paid to literature, the arts and education. Because education was becoming more
important, more schools were opened. Students were taught all that was taught in
classical Greek schools such as Greek, Latin, history and philosophy. The
humanists strongly believed that education could help people to improve
themselves. Humanism also inspired literature to become more universal. Many
authors were discovered. Also, a form of poetry, called a sonnet, was developed.
The humanists were very important to the Renaissance, without their teachings
much would have been left undiscovered. The city stated of Florence, Rome and
Venice were also important parts of the Renaissance. Florence was ruled by a
line of successful and wealthy rulers. Florence produced many great things.
Great rulers, great architects, great sculptors and great painters. Thus leading
the way through art. Rome was the leading renaissance city during the 1500’s.
Many artists and scholars went to Rome to be taught by master craftsmen. Rome
also became a site of great religious increases. Venice was a city of great
trading. It linked Asia and Western Europe in trade routes, also drawing traders
from the rest of the world. Venice was also known for it’s artistic
achievements. Florence, Rome and Venice were three of the most influential
powers during the Renaissance. The arts were extremely important to the
Renaissance, and very influential. Architecture was modeled after classical
Greek and Roman stylings. The greatest Italian architect was Filippo
Brunelleschi, who was best known for his completion of a cathedral in 1436.
Sculpture, as did architecture, reflected ancient Greek and Roman ideas. The
best known sculptors were Donatello, Michelangelo and Ghiberti. Donatello was
the first sculptor to cast free standing figures. Michelangelo was best known
for his free standing figure of David, and Ghiberti for his ten biblical scenes
on Florence cathedral’s walls. During the Renaissance, painting acquired a
more realistic style. Some famous painters of the time are Giotto, Michelangelo,
and probably the most famous of all, Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci is best known
for his works of The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. During the Renaissance,
boundaries were explored, new heights were discovered and a whole new way of
life was found. The renaissance truly was an age in which life was a work of art
not only because art was so important to that time period, but because
everything was original and new. Without the renaissance, and the people who
lived during it, such as Da Vinci, modern life may not have been so modern.
