Introduction
Historical Context: During the late Middle Ages, Europe suffered from both war and plague. Those who survived wanted to celebrate life and the human spirit. They began to question institutions of the Middle Ages, which had been unable to prevent war or to relieve suffering brought by the plague. Some people questioned the Church, which taught Christians to endure suffering while they awaited their rewards in heaven. In northern Italy, writers and artists began to express this new spirit and to experiment with different styles. These men and women would greatly change how Europeans saw themselves and their world.
Source: This excerpt comes from Baldassare Castiglione in The Courtier. Baldassare describes the type of accomplished person who will later be described as a Renaissance man.
"Let the man we are seeking be very bold, stern, and always among the first, where the enemy are to be seen; and in every other place, gentle, modest, reserved, above all things avoiding ostentation [showiness] and that impudent [bold] self-praise by which men ever excite hatred and disgust in all who hear them… I would have him more than passably accomplished in letters, at least in those studies that are called the humanities, and conversant not only with the Latin language but for Greek, for the sake of the many different things that have been admirably written therein. Let him be well versed in the poets, and not less in the orators and historians, and also proficient in writing verse and pose."
1. List 4 things Castiglione believes a man should possess to be accomplished.
2. How is this different than people during the Middle Ages?
The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, 1550 Giorgio Vasari (Writing about Leonardo da Vinci)
"The richest gifts are occasionally seen to be showered, as by heavenly influence, on certain human beings, they sometimes supernaturally and marvelously congregate in one single person; beauty, grace, and talent being united in such a manner, that to whatever the man thus favored may turn himself, his every action is so divine as to leave all other men far behind him, and manifestly to prove that he has been especially endowed by the hand of God Himself, and has not obtained his talent by human teaching, or the power of man. This was seen and acknowledged by all men in the case of Leonardo da Vinci... who had besides so rare a gift of talent and ability, that to whatever subject he turned his attention, however difficult, he presently made himself absolute master of it."
1. How does Giorgio Vasari praise Leonardo da Vinci? Use examples from the excerpt as support.
2. Would da Vinci be considered a Renaissance man according to Castiglione's description?
3. How does this view potentially show the Fall?
Letter from Isabella d’Este, 1504 to Leonardo da Vinci
"Master Leonardo—Hearing that you are staying in Florence, we have conceived the hope that something we have long desired might come true: to have something by your hand. When you were here and drew our portrait in charcoal, you promised one day to do it in color. But because this would be almost impossible, since it would be inconvenient for you to move here, we beg you to keep your good faith with us by substituting for our portrait another figure even more acceptable to us: that is, to do a youthful Christ of about twelve years old, which would be the age he was when he disputed with the doctors in the Temple, and executed with that sweetness and soft ethereal charm which is the peculiar excellence of your art. If we are gratified by you in this strong desire of ours, you shall know that beyond the payment, which you yourself shall fix, we shall remain so obliged to you that we shall think of nothing else but to do you good service, and from this very moment we ofer ourselves to act at your convenience and pleasure. Expecting a favorable reply, we ofer ourselves to do all your pleasure."
1. Why couldn’t da Vinci create a color portrait of the d’Este family? What did Isabella d’Este request in place of the color portrait?
2. Toward the end of the letter, how does d’Este show confidence in da Vinci’s artistic abilities?
Notes on the Cosmos, 1515 Leonardo da Vinci
"If you look at the stars without their rays (as may be done by looking at them through a small hole made with the extreme point of a fine needle and placed so as almost to touch the eye), you will see these stars to be so minute that it would seem as though nothing could be smaller; it is in fact the great distance which is the reason of their diminution, for many of them are very many times larger than the star which is the earth with the water. Think, then, what this star of ours would seem like at so great a distance, and then consider how many stars might be set in longitude and latitude between these stars which are scattered throughout this dark expanse. I can never do other than blame many of those ancients who said that the sun was no larger than it appears; among these being Epicurus; and I believe that he reasoned thus from the efects of a light placed in our atmosphere equidistant from the center; whoever sees it never sees it diminished in size at any distance."
1. How was Leonardo da Vinci able to look at the stars? In what way does he explain the size of the stars in this excerpt?
2. According to da Vinci, how were the “ancients” incorrect?
3. How are these notes a reflection of da Vinci’s intelligence?
4. Given this quote, would you consider da Vinci a believer in Christ? Why or why not?
***Come up to my desk and ask me about a picture of Pieta*** Bring your iPad to take a picture and then answer the following questions:
1. What techniques and materials might Michelangelo have used in order to create the Pieta?
2. Justify why the Pieta has gained admiration in present-day and Renaissance societies.
3. Why, in your opinion, would Michelangelo, sculpt Jesus and Mary this way?
The Life of Michelangelo, 1553 Ascanio Condivi
"While he was painting, Pope Julius often wanted to go and inspect the work; he would climb up by a ladder and Michelangelo would hold out a hand to him to help him up onto the scafolding. And, being one who was by nature impetuous and impatient of waiting, as soon as the work was half done, that is from the door to midway on the vault, he wanted Michelangelo to uncover it while it was still incomplete and had not received the last touches. The opinion and the expectation which everyone had of Michelangelo brought all of Rome to see this thing, and the pope also went there before the dust raised by the dismantling of the scafold had settled."
1. Why did Michelangelo receive a visit from Pope Julius?
2. Which phrase in the passage describes Michelangelo’s popularity in Italy?