People of the Renaissance. Characteristic features of the Renaissance

The period of the highest cultural and ideological development of the countries of Europe is called the Renaissance (14-16th centuries, Renaissance), and the term was invented by Giorgio Vasari. The new trend changed the Middle Ages. It was the time of the development of art and commerce, the modern science was born, many discoveries and inventions were made. Italy became the center of culture. There was printing, which accelerated the process of obtaining knowledge. The main features of the Renaissance are the secular nature of culture and the focus on the activities of man and himself. There is an increasing interest in the history of antiquity, a kind of revival is taking place (hence the name of the new era). At this time, Western Europe captured leadership in science, technology, and culture. Let us consider this period of changes and creative take-off in more detail.

Characteristic features of the Renaissance

1. Exalted person, mostly humanistic outlook.
2. Denial of the privileges of the upper class, antifeudalism.
3. A new vision of Antiquity, an orientation toward this direction.
4. Imitation of nature, a preference for naturalness in everything.
5. People of the Renaissance neglected scholasticism and law (as its variety).
6. The intelligentsia begins to form as a social stratum.
7. Moral nihilism, religious anarchism (the fact is that Renaissance people preached immoral behavior).

Changes in society

Trade developed, cities grew, new classes began to form in society. The knights were replaced by a mercenary army. Due to geographical discoveries , widespread exploitation of slavery began. About 12 million Negroes from Africa were exported to America and Europe. Social ideals and worldview have changed. The image of a man in the Renaissance has changed, now he has turned from a humble servant of God into a center of worship. The belief in the boundless possibilities of the human mind, in beauty and strength of mind prevailed. Satisfaction of all natural (natural or natural) needs is the ideal of man in the Renaissance.

Creation

At this time, art was separated from the craft. Architecture, painting, sculpture - everything has changed.

Architecture

What are the characteristic features of the Renaissance in this form of art, what has changed in comparison with the Middle Ages? Now they began to actively build and decorate not only church buildings. The "order system" of Antiquity widely spread, bearing and bearable constructions, beams or racks, were made in the form of sculptures or decorated with ornament. The architecture was dominated by Gothic. A vivid example is the cathedral in Siena, Giovanni Pisano.

Painting and sculpture

People of the Renaissance brought to the art of painting a spatial and linear perspective, knowledge of the proportions and anatomy of the body. There were pictures depicting stories from Ancient Mythology, everyday and everyday illustrations, as well as topics of national history. Oil paints helped artists to translate their designs.

Kinds of art intertwined with each other. Many geniuses devoted themselves to several species, and did not stop at development only in one thing.

Literature

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) is the most famous poet of this era. He was born in a family of feudal lords in Florence. It is considered the founder of modern literary Italian. Sonnets of Dante, who sang love not for God, but for the simple girl Beatrice, were brave, bold and unearthly beautiful.

His passionate sonnets he wrote in the common people's dialect, making this language the word of high poetry. The best work in art is "Divine Comedy", which is called the encyclopedia of the human soul. The poet was a rebel, because he was twice sentenced to death, but he escaped such death, and as a result died of disease and poverty.

The science

Knowledge became above all. A kind of cult of science. During the Renaissance, excavations, searches for ancient books, museums, excursions, libraries were actively conducted. Ancient Greek and Hebrew begin to teach in schools. The scientists discovered the heliocentric system, the first substantiation of the infinity of the universe appeared, the knowledge of geometry and algebra was enlarged, a lot of transformations and discoveries were in the field of medicine.

Famous people of the Renaissance

This time gave a lot of famous geniuses. The article wanted to mention those without whom there would simply not have been a Renaissance.

Donatello

The great man (the real name of Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi) created a new type of round statue and sculptural group that later became a classic of the form and form of Renaissance architecture. Donatello has many merits. This man came up with a sculptural portrait, solved the problem of stability of the setting of figures, invented a new type of gravestone, cast a bronze monument. Donatello was the first to show a man naked in stone, made it beautifully and tastefully. The best works: David the winner, the statue of George, the beautiful Judith, the equestrian monument of Gattamelate, Mary Magdalene.

Masaccio

The real name is Tommaso di Giovanni di Simone Cassay (1401-1428). The artist, obsessed with painting, was scattered, careless and indifferent to everything except art. In his works can be traced the main features of the Renaissance.

In the frescoes painted in Florence for the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, for the first time a system of linear perspectives was used. New for that time were: expressiveness of persons, laconism and almost three-dimensional reality of forms. In depicting a miracle, the artist deprived him of mysticism. The most famous works are: "Expulsion from Paradise", "Fall".

Johann Gutenberg

One of the greatest achievements of this man was the invention of printing. Thanks to this discovery, the bold ideas of humanists spread, the literacy of the population increased.

Leonardo da Vinci

This genius was admired at all times. The Italian was so multifaceted that it is surprising how many talents were united in one person. Born Leonardo April 15, 1452 near Florence (Vinci market town), he was the son of a notary Pierre da Vinci and a simple peasant woman. At the age of 14, the boy entered to study with the sculptor and painter Verrocchio, and was engaged for about 6 years. The most popular works: "Madonna with a flower", "Last Supper", "Madonna of Litta", "Mona Lisa". He considered mathematics to be his favorite science, he said that there is no certainty where it can not be accurately calculated. At times Leonardo's perfection scares everyone, he has unusual abilities, has made thousands of discoveries, which even now are difficult to understand. He was a great man. Leonardo studied the flight of birds, which inspired him to new discoveries. He invented a steam engine, a jack, an alarm clock, a pyramidal parachute, designed the first aircraft, an airplane (made it only in the 20th century), and much more. Leonardo said that even the most courageous plans of man will someday be embodied in reality, and he was right. The contribution of a genius to the development of society is great. The young man was handsome, strong, witty. They say that he was a fashionista. Thus, Leonardo is simply unique, brilliant and ideal in everything.

Ideas

The teaching of the Renaissance boiled down to the fact that human existence can be explained not only by religious dogmas.

Leonardo Bruni defended the republican form of government. It was no longer believed that politics was connected with the church, they began to devote much time to questions of human freedom.

Niccolo Machiavelli was the first to abandon the idea of granting God's authority to his deputy on earth. This idea is revealed in his famous work "The Emperor". Students of law universities are now obliged to get acquainted with this work.

Jean Bodin also rejected the idea of God granting power, but he saw the strength of the state in the monarchy. The ruler must take care of the people, and if the people are against the rule of the tyrant, then he can overthrow him or kill him.

The Renaissance gave humanity a lot of talented people, useful discoveries, cultural development, because this topic is always interesting and in demand.