Marsilio Ficino Marsilio Ficino

If we are to call any age golden, it is beyond doubt that age If we are to call any age golden, it is beyond doubt that age which brings forth golden talents in different places. That which brings forth golden talents in different places. That such is true of this our age [no one] will hardly doubt. For such is true of this our age [no one] will hardly doubt. For this century, like a golden age, has restored to light the this century, like a golden age, has restored to light the liberal arts, which were almost extinct: grammar, poetry, liberal arts, which were almost extinct: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, painting, sculpture, architecture, music . . . and all rhetoric, painting, sculpture, architecture, music . . . and all this in Florence. Achieving what had been honored among this in Florence. Achieving what had been honored among the ancients, but almost forgotten since, the age has joined the ancients, but almost forgotten since, the age has joined wisdom with eloquence, and prudence with the military wisdom with eloquence, and prudence with the military art. . . . This century appears to have perfected astronomy, art. . . . This century appears to have perfected astronomy, in Florence it has recalled the Platonic teaching from in Florence it has recalled the Platonic teaching from darkness into light. . . . and in Germany . . . [there] have darkness into light. . . . and in Germany . . . [there] have been invented the instruments for printing books.been invented the instruments for printing books.

Jacob BurkhardtJacob Burkhardt

In the Middle Ages both sides of human consciousness – In the Middle Ages both sides of human consciousness – that which was turned within as that which was turned that which was turned within as that which was turned without -- lay dreaming or held awake beneath a common without -- lay dreaming or held awake beneath a common veil. The veil was woven of faith, illusion, and childish veil. The veil was woven of faith, illusion, and childish prepossession, through which the world and history were prepossession, through which the world and history were seen clad in strange hues. Man was conscious of himself seen clad in strange hues. Man was conscious of himself as a member of a race, people, party, family, or corporation as a member of a race, people, party, family, or corporation -- only through some general category. In Italy this veil first -- only through some general category. In Italy this veil first melted into air; an objective treatment and consideration of melted into air; an objective treatment and consideration of the state and of all the things of this world became the state and of all the things of this world became possible. The subjective side at the same time asserted possible. The subjective side at the same time asserted itself with corresponding emphasis; man became a spiritual itself with corresponding emphasis; man became a spiritual individual, and recognized himself as such. In the same individual, and recognized himself as such. In the same way, the Greek distinguished himself from the barbarian.way, the Greek distinguished himself from the barbarian.

Machiavelli Machiavelli

My intention being to write something of use to My intention being to write something of use to those who understand, it appears to me more those who understand, it appears to me more proper to go to the real truth of the matter than to proper to go to the real truth of the matter than to its imagination; and many have imagined republics its imagination; and many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done from what ought to be abandons what is done from what ought to be done, will rather learn to bring about his own ruin done, will rather learn to bring about his own ruin than his preservation.than his preservation.

MoreMore

And yet besides this the rich men not only by private fraud, And yet besides this the rich men not only by private fraud, but also by common laws, do every day pluck and snatch but also by common laws, do every day pluck and snatch away from the poor some part of their daily living. So away from the poor some part of their daily living. So whereas it seemed before unjust to recompense with whereas it seemed before unjust to recompense with unkindness their pains that have been beneficial to the unkindness their pains that have been beneficial to the public weal, now they have added to this their wrong and public weal, now they have added to this their wrong and unjust dealing given the name of justice, yea, and that by unjust dealing given the name of justice, yea, and that by force of law. Therefore when I consider and weigh in my force of law. Therefore when I consider and weigh in my mind all these commonwealths, which nowadays anywhere mind all these commonwealths, which nowadays anywhere do flourish, so God help me, I can perceive nothing but a do flourish, so God help me, I can perceive nothing but a certain conspiracy of rich men procuring their own certain conspiracy of rich men procuring their own commodities under the name and title of the commodities under the name and title of the commonwealth. commonwealth.

ErasmusErasmus They carry on the most sordid business and by the most corrupt They carry on the most sordid business and by the most corrupt

methods. Whenever it is necessary, they will lie, perjure themselves, methods. Whenever it is necessary, they will lie, perjure themselves, steal, cheat, and mislead the public. Nevertheless, they are highly steal, cheat, and mislead the public. Nevertheless, they are highly respected because of their money. There is no lack of flattering friars respected because of their money. There is no lack of flattering friars to kowtow to them, and call them Right Honorable in public. The to kowtow to them, and call them Right Honorable in public. The motive of the friars is clear enough: they are after some of the loot.motive of the friars is clear enough: they are after some of the loot.

The philosophers are reverenced for their beards and the fur on their The philosophers are reverenced for their beards and the fur on their gowns. They announce that they alone are wise. The fact that they can gowns. They announce that they alone are wise. The fact that they can never explain why they constantly disagree with each other is sufficient never explain why they constantly disagree with each other is sufficient proof that they do not know the truth about anything. They are ignorant proof that they do not know the truth about anything. They are ignorant even of themselves.even of themselves.

Perhaps it would be wise to pass over the theologians in silence. That Perhaps it would be wise to pass over the theologians in silence. That short-tempered crew is unpleasant to deal with. They will proclaim me short-tempered crew is unpleasant to deal with. They will proclaim me a heretic. With this thunderbolt they terrify the people they don't like. a heretic. With this thunderbolt they terrify the people they don't like. Their opinion of themselves is so great that they behave as if they Their opinion of themselves is so great that they behave as if they were already in heaven: they look down pityingly on other men as so were already in heaven: they look down pityingly on other men as so many worms. They are full of big words and newly-invented terms.many worms. They are full of big words and newly-invented terms.

The Renaissance:The Renaissance:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Sistine.chapel.entire.500pix.jpg

Rediscovery:Rediscovery:

Roman rediscovery led to a general Roman rediscovery led to a general rediscovery of knowledgerediscovery of knowledge

Rise of Humanities:Rise of Humanities: Rediscovery of Greece stemming from the Rediscovery of Greece stemming from the

late Middle Ageslate Middle Ages Began with Dante’s Divine Comedy: Began with Dante’s Divine Comedy:

rediscovery of the human abilityrediscovery of the human ability

Study of Humanism:Study of Humanism:

The worth of the human beingThe worth of the human being Humankind is god’s greatest creation, a Humankind is god’s greatest creation, a

polar view to the perspective of the Middle polar view to the perspective of the Middle AgesAges

The ability of Humankind was recognizedThe ability of Humankind was recognized OptimismOptimism

Italian Renaissance in LiteratureItalian Renaissance in Literature

DanteDante ErasmusErasmus BoccaccioBoccaccio Machiavelli: The PrinceMachiavelli: The Prince CastiglioneCastiglione

Transfer of Renaissance to Art:Transfer of Renaissance to Art:

Literary ideas take hold and…boom!Literary ideas take hold and…boom! No period with the exception of modern No period with the exception of modern

technology has illustrated such total technology has illustrated such total dominance by one era in World History.dominance by one era in World History.

In other words, the Renaissance is Art. It is In other words, the Renaissance is Art. It is home to the world’s three greatest artists of home to the world’s three greatest artists of all time.all time.

BrunelleschiBrunelleschi

Ghiberti’s Bronze DoorsGhiberti’s Bronze Doors

DonatelloDonatello

DonatelloDonatello

The “Masters”The “Masters”

1. Leonardo Da Vinci:1. Leonardo Da Vinci: 2. Michelangelo2. Michelangelo 3. Rafael Santi3. Rafael Santi

Looking at Art:Looking at Art:

The specific names will be provided, but The specific names will be provided, but what is important is the messages and what is important is the messages and themes that run through the art and the style themes that run through the art and the style in which it is executed.in which it is executed.

Leonardo Da VinciLeonardo Da Vinci

Annunciation:Annunciation:

Head of a young womanHead of a young woman

Madonna with a flowerMadonna with a flower

Portrait of a MusicianPortrait of a Musician

The Adoration of the MagiThe Adoration of the Magi

The Madonna of CreationThe Madonna of Creation

The Virgin and ChildThe Virgin and Child

The Virgin of the Rocks:The Virgin of the Rocks:

WombWomb

Defense:Defense:

GunGun

Rafeal SantiRafeal Santi::

StoryStory ImpactImpact StyleStyle

Three GracesThree Graces

AlbaAlba

Cardinal TomassoCardinal Tomasso

Christ falls on the way to calvaryChrist falls on the way to calvary

God Seperates Light From Darkness:God Seperates Light From Darkness:

Holy Family Below The OakHoly Family Below The Oak

Loggia RafealloLoggia Rafeallo

Madonna dell CardenelloMadonna dell Cardenello

Madonna dell TendaMadonna dell Tenda

Madonna with Beardless Madonna with Beardless JosephJoseph

Madonna with the Book:Madonna with the Book:

Madonna with the BookMadonna with the Book

Moses Saved From the Moses Saved From the WaterWater

Noah and his sons build the Noah and his sons build the arkark

PeruginoPerugino

Saint Michael Trampling Saint Michael Trampling SatanSatan

St. George Fighting the St. George Fighting the DragonDragon

The Dispute of Dante The Dispute of Dante AligheriAligheri

The Prophet IsiahThe Prophet Isiah

The School of Athens: The School of Athens: MichelangeloMichelangelo

School of Athens: Plato and School of Athens: Plato and AristotleAristotle

The Vision of Ezekial:The Vision of Ezekial:

The Master of Masters: The Master of Masters: MichelangeloMichelangelo

Master in many areas:Master in many areas:– ArchitectureArchitecture– ScultptureScultpture– PaintingPainting– Best of all timeBest of all time

ApolloApollo

GiuloGiulo

MadonnaMadonna

Moses:Moses:

Tomb of Giulano De MediciTomb of Giulano De Medici

PietaPieta

The Tomb of Lorenzo De The Tomb of Lorenzo De MediciMedici

The Holy FamilyThe Holy Family

EntombmentEntombment

The Ultimate MasterpieceThe Ultimate Masterpiece The Sistine Chapel:The Sistine Chapel:

Creation of AdamCreation of Adam

Creation of Eve:Creation of Eve:

Creation of Fish:Creation of Fish:

Creation of CelestialCreation of Celestial

Temptation and expulsion from Temptation and expulsion from edeneden

Prophet JoelProphet Joel

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg