Contribution of the Renaissance

The Renaissance is a very well known movement throughout the globe, for artists and non artists. It was a time period right after the Medieval period, and it has contributed so much to the art world. In this essay, we will be talking in detail, about what the Renaissance truly was. To begin, the Renaissance was from the 14th century through the 17th century and began in Italy. There are no well-defined causes for the beginning or end of the Renaissance, but it was rumored to begin because, of Italy’s geography. It was a period of passion for the European cultural, artist, political, and economical “rebirth”, which soon followed after the middle ages. The Renaissance promoted rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art. Despite all these thriving factors of the Renaissance, it was best known for its artistics developments. For example, the printing press was developed in 1440 to apply pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium, such as paper or cloth, thereby transferring the ink. This is a form of an artistic development because, later on they would be able to print art into a stencil, thus making painting so much quicker and more accessible. Moreover, the Renaissance utilized five major themes. Them being: humanism, secularism, individualism, rationalism, and virtu. Humanism emphasized the critical study of the Greek and roman classics in order to better understand human nature and bring new age of intellectual achievement. Renaissance equaled rebirth, which was applicated in the renewed interest in study. Secularism was an emphasis on the value of worldly things, not necessarily on religious things, but also not anti-religious. Some examples would be: art, literature, emphasis on self, and things created for entertainment, rather than religion purposes. Individualism was connected to secularism and humanism. They were linked especially in the area of arts. Individuals always tried to stand out when it came to painting. Rationalism was about focusing on logic, proof, and the beginning of science. Lastly, virtu was about: being the most you can be, trying to do as many things as you can well, and having behavior that demonstrates high moral standards. To continue, the Renaissance had an increased receptiveness to humanist philosophies, a commercial revolution, and the inception of the modern state. Furthermore, some characteristics from the Renaissance was how the Italian Renaissance re-established Western art corresponding to the principles of classical Greek art, especially Greek sculptures and paintings. That remained unchallenged until Pablo Picasso and Cubism came into the picture. Italian artists, as well as thinkers, became fascinated and inspired by the ideas of ancient Greek and Rome. This was ideally aligned with the desire to create a universal, patrician even, form of art. This was a want for the Renaissance and its art, so their fellow artists and thinkers could be able to express the new and more confident emotions of the time. Lastly, there were many important authors from the Renaissance period. As well as, many writers. The top six would have to be: William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, Niccolo Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, and Geoffrey Chaucer. Shakespeare was the greatest write of his era. He was born in 1564. William was an actor and a poet, but is best recognized for his plays. He became one of the most well-known playwrights in England. Miguel was a Spanish influential writer during the Renaissance. He wrote numerous plays and works of fiction. Cervantes became extremely well-known when his novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha, was published in 1604. This novel is about a country gentlemen searching for adventures in life. Machiavelli was a diplomat in Florence. His most famous analysis, The Prince, was written to answer how a ruler could guarantee he would remain in power always. Niccolo claimed humans were greedy and self-centered, and if a ruler had to deceive his subordinates, then so be it. As long as he did so, to protect his kingdom. Dante Alighieri, was a famous Italian poet during the Renaissance. The Divine Comedy is the most famous of his works, and is often considered the greatest literary work in the Italian language. Alighieri, along with other writers, were considered the best Italian writers in history. Geoffrey Chaucer was a famous Italian writer that wrote in the English vernacular. Chaucer is widely recognized for his book The Canterbury Tales. He is an important figure in developing the English vernacular we use today because he English he used in his writing is the ancestor of today’s everyday English language. In summary, the Renaissance contributed a lot to our modern world and the art that it is today. As well as, the many authors who inspired our literature and writings throughout the years. The Renaissance was mostly known for its artists and their paintings, artistic developments too. It was mostly a flourishing time because, nothing unsatisfactory happened.

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