The Renaissance era began earlier than others. Stages of the Renaissance

What is the Renaissance?

Renaissance is a globally significant era in the cultural history of Europe, which replaced the Middle Ages and preceded the Enlightenment. It falls - in Italy - at the beginning of the 14th century (everywhere in Europe - from the 15th-16th centuries) - the last quarter of the 16th centuries and in some cases - the first decades of the 17th century.

The term Renaissance is already found among Italian humanists, for example, Giorgio Vasari. In its modern meaning, the term was introduced into use by the 19th century French historian Jules Michelet. Nowadays, the term Renaissance has become a metaphor for cultural flourishing.

The distinctive features of the Renaissance are anthropocentrism, that is, an extraordinary interest in man as an individual and his activities. This also includes the secular nature of culture. Society is becoming interested in the culture of antiquity, and something like its “revival” is taking place. This, in fact, is where the name of such an important period of time came from. Outstanding figures of the Renaissance include the immortal Michelangelo, Niccolo Machiavelli and the ever-living Leonardo da Vinci.

Renaissance literature is a major movement in literature, an integral part of the entire culture of the Renaissance. Occupies the period from the 14th to the 16th centuries. It differs from medieval literature in that it is based on new, progressive ideas of humanism. A synonym for Renaissance is the term "Renaissance", of French origin.

The ideas of humanism first emerged in Italy and then spread throughout Europe. Also, the literature of the Renaissance spread throughout Europe, but acquired its own national character in each individual country. The term Renaissance means renewal, the appeal of artists, writers, thinkers to the culture and art of antiquity, imitation of its high ideals.

In addition to humanistic ideas, new genres emerged in the literature of the Renaissance, and early realism was formed, which was called “Renaissance realism.” As can be seen in the works of Rabelais, Petrarch, Cervantes and Shakespeare, the literature of this time was filled with a new understanding of human life. It demonstrates a complete rejection of the slavish obedience that the church preached.

Writers present man as the highest creation of nature, revealing the richness of his soul, mind and the beauty of his physical appearance. Renaissance realism is characterized by the grandeur of images, the ability for great sincere feeling, poeticization of the image and a passionate, most often high intensity of tragic conflict, demonstrating the clash of a person with hostile forces.

The literature of the Renaissance is characterized by a variety of genres, but still some literary forms dominated. The most popular was the novella. In poetry, the sonnet is most clearly manifested. Also, dramaturgy, in which the Spaniard Lope de Vega and Shakespeare in England became most famous, is gaining great popularity. It is impossible not to note the high development and popularization of philosophical prose and journalism.

Coming to replace the Middle Ages and preceding the Enlightenment and the New Age. It falls - in Italy - at the beginning of the 14th century (everywhere in Europe - from the 15th-16th centuries) - the last quarter of the 16th centuries and in some cases - the first decades of the 17th century. A distinctive feature of the Renaissance is the secular nature of culture, its humanism and anthropocentrism (that is, interest, first of all, in man and his activities). Interest in ancient culture is flourishing, its “revival” is taking place - this is how the term appeared.

Term Renaissance already found among Italian humanists, for example, Giorgio Vasari. In its modern meaning, the term was introduced into use by the 19th century French historian Jules Michelet. Currently the term Renaissance became a metaphor for cultural flourishing.

general characteristics[ | ]

The growth of city-republics led to an increase in the influence of classes that did not participate in feudal relations: artisans and craftsmen, merchants, bankers. The hierarchical system of values created by the medieval, largely church culture, and its ascetic, humble spirit were alien to all of them. This led to the emergence of humanism - a socio-philosophical movement that considered a person, his personality, his freedom, his active, creative activity as the highest value and criterion for evaluating public institutions.

Secular centers of science and art began to emerge in cities, the activities of which were outside the control of the church. The new worldview turned to antiquity, seeing in it an example of humanistic, non-ascetic relationships. The invention of printing in the mid-15th century played a huge role in the spread of ancient heritage and new views throughout Europe.

Renaissance periods[ | ]

The revival is divided into 4 stages:

Proto-Renaissance (2nd half of the 13th century - 14th century)
Early Renaissance (beginning of the 15th - end of the 15th century)
High Renaissance (late 15th - first 20 years of the 16th century)
Late Renaissance (mid-16th - 1590s)

Proto-Renaissance[ | ]

The Proto-Renaissance is closely connected with the Middle Ages; in fact, it appeared in the Late Middle Ages, with Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic traditions; this period was the forerunner of the Renaissance. It is divided into two sub-periods: before the death of Giotto di Bondone and after (1337). The most important discoveries, the brightest masters live and work in the first period. The second segment is associated with the plague epidemic that struck Italy. At the end of the 13th century, the main temple building was erected in Florence - the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the author was Arnolfo di Cambio, then the work was continued by Giotto, who designed the campanile of the Florence Cathedral.

The earliest art of the proto-Renaissance appeared in sculpture (Niccolò and Giovanni Pisano, Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea Pisano). Painting is represented by two art schools: Florence (Cimabue, Giotto) and Siena (Duccio, Simone Martini). Giotto became the central figure of painting. Renaissance artists considered him a reformer of painting. Giotto outlined the path along which its development took place: filling religious forms with secular content, a gradual transition from flat images to three-dimensional and relief ones, an increase in realism, introduced the plastic volume of figures into painting, and depicted the interior in painting.

Early Renaissance[ | ]

The period of the so-called “Early Renaissance” covers the time in Italy from 1500. During these eighty years, art has not yet completely abandoned the traditions of the recent past (the Middle Ages), but has tried to mix into them elements borrowed from classical antiquity. Only later, and only little by little, under the influence of increasingly changing conditions of life and culture, did artists completely abandon medieval foundations and boldly use examples of ancient art, both in the general concept of their works and in their details.

While art in Italy was already resolutely following the path of imitation of classical antiquity, in other countries it long adhered to the traditions of the Gothic style. North of the Alps, and also in Spain, the Renaissance does not begin until the end of the 15th century, and its early period lasts until about the middle of the next century.

High Renaissance[ | ]

The third period of the Renaissance - the time of the most magnificent development of his style - is usually called the “High Renaissance”. It extends in Italy from approximately to 1527. At this time, the center of influence of Italian art from Florence moved to Rome, thanks to the accession to the papal throne of Julius II - an ambitious, courageous, enterprising man who attracted the best artists of Italy to his court, occupied them with numerous and important works and gave others an example of love for art . Under this Pope and under his immediate successors, Rome becomes, as it were, the new Athens of the time of Pericles: many monumental buildings are built there, magnificent sculptural works are created, frescoes and paintings are painted, which are still considered the pearls of painting; at the same time, all three branches of art harmoniously go hand in hand, helping one another and mutually influencing each other. Antiquity is now studied more thoroughly, reproduced with greater rigor and consistency; calm and dignity replace the playful beauty that was the aspiration of the previous period; memories of the medieval completely disappear, and a completely classical imprint falls on all creations of art. But imitation of the ancients does not drown out their independence in artists, and with great resourcefulness and vividness of imagination they freely rework and apply to their work what they consider appropriate to borrow for themselves from ancient Greco-Roman art.

The work of three great Italian masters marks the pinnacle of the Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) and Raphael Santi (1483-1520).

Late Renaissance[ | ]

The late Renaissance in Italy spans the period from the 1530s to the 1590s to the 1620s. The art and culture of this time are so diverse in their manifestations that it is possible to reduce them to one denominator only with a large degree of convention. For example, the Encyclopedia Britannica writes that "The Renaissance, as an integral historical period, ended with the fall of Rome in 1527." In Southern Europe, the Counter-Reformation triumphed, which looked warily at any free thought, including the glorification of the human body and the resurrection of the ideals of antiquity as the cornerstones of Renaissance ideology. Worldview contradictions and a general feeling of crisis resulted in Florence in the “nervous” art of contrived colors and broken lines - mannerism. Mannerism reached Parma, where Correggio worked, only after the artist’s death in 1534. The artistic traditions of Venice had their own logic of development; until the end of the 1570s, Titian and Palladio worked there, whose work had little in common with the crisis in the art of Florence and Rome.

Northern Renaissance[ | ]

The Italian Renaissance had virtually no influence on other countries before BC. After BC the style spread across the continent, but many late Gothic influences persisted even into the Baroque era.

The very concept of “Renaissance” (rinascita) arose in Italy in the 14th century as a result of understanding the innovation of the era. Traditionally, Dante Alighieri is considered the founder of the Renaissance in literature. It was he who first turned to man, his passions, his soul in his work called “Comedy,” which would later be called the “Divine Comedy.” It was he who was the first poet who clearly and adamantly revived the humanistic tradition. Northern Renaissance is a term used to describe the Renaissance in northern Europe, or more generally throughout Europe outside Italy, north of the Alps. The Northern Renaissance is closely related to the Italian Renaissance, but there are a number of characteristic differences. As such, the Northern Renaissance was not homogeneous: in each country it had certain specific features. In modern cultural studies, it is generally accepted that it was in the literature of the Renaissance that the humanistic ideals of the era, the glorification of a harmonious, free, creative, comprehensively developed personality, were most fully expressed.

The Renaissance period in the Netherlands, Germany and France is usually identified as a separate style movement, which has some differences with the Renaissance in Italy, and is called the “Northern Renaissance”.

The most noticeable stylistic differences are in painting: unlike Italy, the traditions and skills of Gothic art were preserved in painting for a long time, less attention was paid to the study of ancient heritage and knowledge of human anatomy.

Revival in Russia[ | ]

The Renaissance trends that existed in Italy and Central Europe influenced Russia in many ways, although this influence was very limited due to the large distances between Russia and the main European cultural centers on the one hand, and the strong attachment of Russian culture to its Orthodox traditions and Byzantine heritage on the other hand.

The science [ | ]

In general, the pantheistic mysticism of the Renaissance prevailing in this era created an unfavorable ideological background for the development of scientific knowledge. The final formation of the scientific method and the subsequent Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. associated with the Reformation movement opposed to the Renaissance.

Philosophy [ | ]

Renaissance philosophers

Literature [ | ]

The true founder of the Renaissance in literature is considered to be the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), who truly revealed the essence of the people of that time in his work called “Comedy”, which would later be called “The Divine Comedy”. With this name, descendants showed their admiration for Dante’s grandiose creation. The literature of the Renaissance most fully expressed the humanistic ideals of the era, the glorification of a harmonious, free, creative, comprehensively developed personality. The love sonnets of Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) revealed the depth of man's inner world, the richness of his emotional life. In the XIV-XVI centuries, Italian literature experienced a heyday - the lyrics of Petrarch, the short stories of Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), the political treatises of Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), the poems of Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533) and Torquato Tasso (1544-1595) brought it forward among the “classical” (along with ancient Greek and Roman) literatures for other countries.

The literature of the Renaissance was based on two traditions: folk poetry and “book” ancient literature, so it often combined the rational principle with poetic fiction, and comic genres gained great popularity. This was manifested in the most significant literary monuments of the era: Boccaccio's Decameron, Cervantes' Don Quixote, and Francois Rabelais' Gargantua and Pantagruel. The emergence of national literatures is associated with the Renaissance - in contrast to the literature of the Middle Ages, which was created mainly in Latin. Theater and drama became widespread. The most famous playwrights of this time were William Shakespeare (1564-1616, England) and Lope de Vega (1562-1635, Spain)

art[ | ]

Renaissance painting is characterized by the artist's professional gaze turning to nature, to the laws of anatomy, life perspective, the action of light and other identical natural phenomena.

Renaissance artists, working on paintings of traditional religious themes, began to use new artistic techniques: constructing a three-dimensional composition, using the landscape as a plot element in the background. This allowed them to make the images more realistic and animated, which showed a sharp difference between their work and the previous iconographic tradition, replete with conventions in the image.

Architecture [ | ]

The main thing that characterizes this era is the return in architecture to the principles and forms of ancient, mainly Roman art. Particular importance in this direction is given to symmetry, proportion, geometry and the order of its component parts, as clearly evidenced by surviving examples of Roman architecture. The complex proportions of medieval buildings are replaced by an orderly arrangement of columns, pilasters and lintels; asymmetrical outlines are replaced by a semicircle of an arch, a hemisphere of a dome, niches, and aedicules. Five masters made the greatest contribution to the development of Renaissance architecture:

Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) - the founder of Renaissance architecture, developed the theory of perspective and the order system, returned many elements of ancient architecture to construction practice, created for the first time in many centuries the dome (of the Florence Cathedral), which still dominates the panorama of Florence.
Leon Battista Alberti (1402-1472) - the largest theorist of Renaissance architecture, the creator of its holistic concept, rethought the motifs of early Christian basilicas from the time of Constantine, in the Palazzo Rucellai he created a new type of urban residence with a facade treated with rustication and dissected by several tiers of pilasters.
Donato Bramante (1444-1514) - pioneer of High Renaissance architecture, master of centric compositions with perfectly adjusted proportions; the graphic restraint of the Quattrocento architects is replaced by tectonic logic, plasticity of details, integrity and clarity of design (Tempietto).
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) - the main architect of the Late Renaissance, who supervised the grandiose construction work in the papal capital; in his buildings, the plastic principle is expressed in dynamic contrasts of seemingly floating masses, in majestic tectonics, foreshadowing art

Culture became the predecessor of modern culture. And the Renaissance ended in the 16th-17th centuries, since in each state it has its own start and end date.

Some general information

The Renaissance (the main features are briefly described in our article) left its ideological and cultural imprint on all European states. But for each individual country there are individual historical boundaries of the era. And all because of unequal economic and social development.

The Renaissance arose in Italy. Here its first symptoms were noticeable in the 13th-14th centuries. But the era took firm root only in the 20s of the 15th century. In Germany, France and other powers, the Renaissance arose much later. The end of the 15th century marked the peak of the Renaissance. And already in the next century there is a crisis of ideas of this era. As a result of the incident, Baroque and Mannerism emerge.

What was this era like?

The Renaissance is the period when the transition from medieval to bourgeois begins. This is precisely that stage of history when bourgeois-capitalist relations have not yet been formed, and the social-feudal foundations have already been shaken.

During the Renaissance, a nation begins to form. At this time, the power of the kings, with the support of ordinary townspeople, managed to overcome the power of the feudal nobles. Before this time, there were so-called associations that were called states solely for geographical reasons. Now large monarchies are emerging, the foundations of which are nationalities and historical destinies.

The Renaissance is characterized by the incredible development of trade relations between different countries. During this period, grandiose geographical discoveries were made. The Renaissance was the period when the basics of modern scientific theories were laid. Thus, natural science appeared with its inventions and discoveries. The turning point for the described process is the discovery of printing. And it was precisely this that perpetuated the Renaissance as an era.

Other achievements of the Renaissance

The Renaissance is briefly characterized by high achievements in the field of literature. Thanks to the advent of printing, it acquires distribution capabilities that it could not afford before. Antique manuscripts, which rose like a phoenix from the ashes, are beginning to be translated into different languages and republished. They are traveling the world faster than ever. The learning process has become much easier thanks to the ability to reproduce a wide variety of scientific achievements and knowledge on paper.

The revived interest in antiquity and the study of this period were reflected in religious mores and views. From the lips of Caluccio Salutatti, Chancellor of the Florentine Republic, a statement was made that the Holy Scriptures are nothing more than poetry. During the Renaissance, the Holy Inquisition reaches the peak of its activity. This was due to the fact that such a deep study of ancient works could undermine faith in Jesus Christ.

Early and High Renaissance

Features of the Renaissance are indicated by two periods of the Renaissance. Thus, scientists divide the entire era into the Early Renaissance and the High Renaissance. The first period lasted 80 years - from 1420 to 1500. During this time, art had not yet completely gotten rid of the remnants of the past, but was already trying to combine them with elements borrowed from classical antiquity. Only much later and very slowly, thanks to the influence of radically changing conditions of culture and life, do artists abandon the foundations of the Middle Ages and begin to use ancient art without a twinge of conscience.

But all this happened in Italy. In other countries, art was subordinated to Gothic for a long time. Only at the end of the 15th century did the Renaissance begin in Spain and in the states located north of the Alps. Here the early stage of the era continues until the middle of the 16th century. But nothing worth noting was produced during this period.

High Renaissance

The second era of the Renaissance is considered the most grandiose time of its existence. The High Renaissance also lasted 80 years (1500-1580). During this period, Rome, not Florence, became the capital of art. All this became possible due to the accession to the throne of Pope Julius II. He was an ambitious man. He was also famous for his honesty and enterprise. It was he who attracted the best Italian artists to his court. Under Julius II and his successors, a huge number of monumental sculptures were built, unsurpassed sculptures were sculpted, frescoes and paintings were painted, which are still considered masterpieces of world culture today.

Renaissance art periods

The ideas of the Renaissance were embodied in the art of that period. But before talking about the art itself, I would like to highlight its main stages. Thus, the Proto-Renaissance or introductory period (approximately 1260-1320), Ducento (XIII century), Trecento (XIV century), as well as Quattrocento (XV century) and Cinquecento (XVI century) are noted.

Naturally, the sequence of centuries' boundaries does not entirely coincide with specific stages of cultural development. The Proto-Renaissance marks the end of the 13th century, the Early Renaissance ends in 1490, and the High Renaissance ends before the beginning of the 1530s. Only in Venice does it continue to exist until the end of the 16th century.

Renaissance Literature

The literature of the Renaissance includes such immortal names as Shakespeare, Ronsard, Petrarch, Du Bellay and others. It was during the Renaissance that poets demonstrated the victory of humanity over its own shortcomings and mistakes of the past. The most developed literature was from Germany, France, England, Spain and Italy.

English literature was greatly influenced by the poetry of Italy and classical works. Thomas Whyatt introduces the sonnet form, which quickly gains popularity. The sonnet created by the Earl of Surrey also receives attention. The history of English literature is in many ways similar to the literature of France, although their external similarity is minimal.

German Renaissance literature is famous for the appearance of Schwanks during this period. These are interesting and funny stories that were first created in the form of poetry and later in prose. They talked about everyday life, about the everyday life of ordinary people. All this was presented in a light, playful and relaxed style.

Literature of France, Spain and Italy

French literature of the Renaissance is marked by new trends. Margaret of Navarre became the patroness of the ideas of reformation and humanism. In France, folk and urban creativity began to come to the fore.

The Renaissance (you can see it briefly in our article) in Spain is divided into several periods: early Renaissance, high Renaissance and Baroque. Throughout the era, the country has seen increased attention to culture and science. Journalism is developing in Spain, and book printing is appearing. Some writers intertwine religious and secular motives

Representatives of the Renaissance are Francesco Petrarca and Giovanni Boccaccio. They became the first poets who began to express sublime images and thoughts in frank, common language. This innovation was received with a bang and spread in other countries.

Renaissance and art

The peculiarity of the Renaissance is that the human body became the main source of inspiration and subject of study for artists of this time. Thus, the emphasis was placed on the similarity of sculpture and painting with reality. The main features of the art of the Renaissance period include radiance, refined use of the brush, the play of shadow and light, care in the work process and complex compositions. For Renaissance artists, the main images were from the Bible and myths.

The resemblance of a real person to his image on a particular canvas was so close that the fictional character seemed alive. This cannot be said about the art of the twentieth century.

The Renaissance (its main trends are briefly outlined above) perceived the human body as an endless beginning. Scientists and artists regularly improved their skills and knowledge by studying the bodies of individuals. The prevailing view then was that man was created in the likeness and image of God. This statement reflected physical perfection. The main and important objects of Renaissance art were the gods.

Nature and beauty of the human body

Renaissance art paid great attention to nature. A characteristic element of the landscapes was varied and lush vegetation. The blue-hued skies, pierced by the sun's rays that penetrated the white clouds, provided a magnificent backdrop for the floating creatures. Renaissance art revered the beauty of the human body. This feature was manifested in the refined elements of the muscles and body. Difficult poses, facial expressions and gestures, a harmonious and clear color palette are characteristic of the work of sculptors and sculptors of the Renaissance period. These include Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and others.

During its existence, human civilization passed through several eras, which had a great influence on its entire development. Some milestones in history were sad and bloody; they set humanity back several decades. But others brought spiritual light with them and contributed to an unprecedented creative surge that affected absolutely all spheres of life and art. The Renaissance - the Renaissance era, which gave the world great sculptors, painters and poets - is so important in the history of mankind.

What does the term "Renaissance" mean?

The Renaissance cannot be characterized by dry statistics or a brief listing of great people born during this period of time. But it is necessary to understand what this name includes.

Translated from Italian, the term "Renaissance" is a name created by combining the two words "again" and "to be born." Therefore, the concepts of “Renaissance” and “Renaissance era” are identical. They can be equally applied in explaining a period of European history that produced a mass of geniuses and masterpieces of art.

Initially, the Renaissance era was called a specific time period when artists and sculptors created the largest number of masterpieces. This period is characterized by the emergence of new types of art and changes in attitudes towards them.

Renaissance: The Renaissance Years

For many years, historians argued about which period of history should be attributed to the Renaissance. The fact is that the Renaissance is a certain transitional stage from the Middle Ages to modern times. It was associated with many changes, based on a fusion of old concepts and emerging new trends in philosophy, science and art.

All this manifested itself in each European country at different times. For example, in Italy the Renaissance began to manifest itself at the end of the thirteenth century, but France came under the influence of the new era almost a whole century later. Therefore, today's scientific community understands the Renaissance as the period from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries. Many historians affectionately call it the “autumn of the Middle Ages.”

Philosophy of the Renaissance: the foundations of a new movement

The Middle Ages are characterized by the spread of ideas about the predominance of the spiritual over the earthly. During this period, it was customary to reject all the needs of the body and strive only to cleanse the soul from sin in order to prepare it for life in Heaven. Man did not strive to capture his earthly existence in bright colors, because it was just an expectation of something extraordinary in the future.

The Renaissance significantly changed people's worldviews. Historians attribute this to a certain economic boom that affected European countries at the beginning of the fourteenth century. A person got the opportunity to look at the world from a different angle and appreciate its beauty. Heavenly life faded into the background, and people began to admire each new day, filled with the beauties of ordinary everyday life.

Many art historians believe that the Renaissance is a return to the ideas of antiquity. In a sense this is true. Indeed, during the Renaissance, the ideas of humanism and achieving a balance between man and nature began to spread. Antiquity also appealed to these ideas; the human body was a subject of study and admiration, and not something shameful, as in the Middle Ages.

But despite such similarities, the Renaissance was a completely new stage in art and science. Not only new scientific ideas appeared, but also numerous techniques in painting and sculpture that made it possible to make an image three-dimensional and realistic. Man reached a completely different level of perception of the world around him, which forced him to reconsider all the theories and dogmas of past centuries.

Where did the Renaissance begin?

In the understanding of art historians, the Renaissance is primarily Italy. It was here that new trends were born that spread throughout Europe several centuries later. Even the term “Renaissance” was introduced into use by an Italian, who for some time replaced it with the designation of the era of antiquity.

If you think about it, it is difficult to imagine that the Renaissance could have originated anywhere other than Italy. After all, everything in this country is permeated with the spirit of beauty and worship of this beauty. The Roman Empire once left many historical monuments that inspired sculptors and painters with their perfection. It is believed that Florence, the city of merchants and bohemians, gave birth to the Renaissance and became its cradle.

Until now, it is in this city that you can find the most striking works of the Renaissance, which glorified their creators throughout the world. These include masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Italian philosophy also developed in parallel with art. Over the course of several decades, many scientific works have been written on modern times and humanistic ideas.

Italian and French Renaissance

Since the Renaissance is a rather long historical period, art historians divide it into Italian and French. Inspired and fueled by common ideas, the Renaissance manifested itself in these countries in its own way, ultimately leaving behind completely different monuments of architecture and painting.

Even in Italy it is customary to divide the Renaissance into several periods:

Early Renaissance.
High Renaissance.
Late Renaissance.

Some sources indicate another period - the Proto-Renaissance, which became the very first stage in the formation of a new philosophy. But this is a highly controversial point, which is still refuted by some scholars who include the period from the thirteenth to the end of the fourteenth century in the Early Renaissance.

It is worth noting that the Italian Renaissance was significantly influenced by the heritage of antiquity. But the French Renaissance is absolutely original, it is a mixture of Italian theories with the freethinking of French philosophers, which gave rise to a new round of development of art. The French Renaissance is characterized by a large number specifically architectural structures. The castles in the Loire Valley, built at the behest of the French kings, particularly vividly represent this era.

Renaissance style: appearance of people and costume

It is not surprising that the Renaissance had an impact on all areas of people's lives. Of course, unusual trends were picked up by the nobility and aristocrats, striving to implement everything new in their lives. First of all, people's attitude towards beauty has completely changed. Men and women sought to decorate themselves as much as possible, while simultaneously trying to emphasize naturalness and highlight their natural virtues. This very clearly characterizes the Renaissance. The style adopted during this period gave rise to a lot of rules for creating hairstyles and applying makeup. The woman had to look strong, gentle and surprisingly down to earth.

For example, a woman's costume from the Renaissance is characterized by a certain volume, emphasizing pleasing shapes and charms. It was decorated with many small details and decorations. Representatives of the fair sex, enthusiastically accepting the Renaissance, the style of which was dictated by an insatiable desire for beauty, wore a deep neckline, which tended to slide down one shoulder or suddenly expose the breasts. Hairstyles also became voluminous with a lot of curls and woven threads. Often a thin net with pearls and precious stones was attached to the hair, sometimes it went down to the shoulders and completely covered the hair at the back.

Renaissance men's costume had some elements that came from antiquity. Representatives of the stronger half of humanity wore some kind of tunic with thick stockings. A long cloak with a collar began to serve as an addition to the suit. In the modern world, it is often used as formal wear at scientific symposiums and other events. And this is not surprising, because it was the Renaissance - the Renaissance - that laid the foundations of the intelligentsia as a social class. For the first time in the history of mankind, mental work began to be valued and allowed a comfortable existence.

Renaissance Painting

Especially many masterpieces were created by artists of the Renaissance. They gave rise to a new attitude towards the depiction of the human body, which appeared on canvases in all its glory. But for this it was necessary to know in great detail all the anatomical features of a person. Therefore, all the famous and successful artists of the Renaissance were also scientists, constantly searching for new knowledge and models.

The most prominent representative of the art world is Leonardo da Vinci. This extraordinarily gifted man was at the same time an artist, scientist, sculptor and architect. Many of his ideas were significantly ahead of their time, which gives the right to call him an inventor. The most famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci are The Last Supper and La Gioconda. Many modern scientists boldly call the brilliant da Vinci a “universal man” who more than embodied all the basic ideas of the Renaissance.

Speaking about the Renaissance, one cannot fail to mention the great Raphael, who painted a huge number of Madonnas. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, he was invited to the Vatican and took part in the painting of the Sistine Chapel, where he painted several biblical scenes. One of his most famous works was the so-called “Sistine Madonna”.

Renaissance: literature

The literary genre underwent great changes brought by the Renaissance. The literature of the Renaissance is characterized by denunciation of the church; man becomes the main character in all plots. It is no longer fashionable to use biblical parables and ecclesiastical praises. People's relationships and their feelings come to the fore.

Among the genres, short stories and sonnets are becoming popular. These poems contained a huge meaning and emotional message in just a few lines. The first publicists appeared, writing about the realities of life in the philosophical genre. Dramaturgy takes on great importance. During the Renaissance, Shakespeare and Lope de Vega worked, who are still considered the greatest representatives of their time.

Scientific thought of the Renaissance

The ideas of humanism seriously influenced the science of the Renaissance. Naturally, printing was of great importance. From now on, disseminating your ideas to a wide audience becomes much easier. And now all new trends are quickly penetrating the minds of ordinary people.

The scientific figures of the Renaissance were, rather, not just scientists, but were a fusion of philosophers, public figures and writers. Petrarch and Machiavelli, for example, strove to know the whole person in all his manifestations. The hero of their works was an ordinary city dweller who was supposed to receive a lot of advantages from scientific progress.

Renaissance architecture

Renaissance architecture is characterized by a desire for symmetry and proportions. Arches, domes and niches are in fashion. Architects create buildings that seem to float in the air. Despite their monumentality, they seem light and charming.

Most of the Renaissance monuments have been preserved in Florence and Venice. It is enough just to take one look at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in the city of merchants to understand all the ideas of the new era that inspired the architect to create such a masterpiece.

We can talk about the Renaissance endlessly. This period in the history of mankind can be called one of the brightest and most productive. Until now, modern art historians study the creations of many representatives of that time with great awe and admiration. It is safe to say that the figures of the Renaissance were several centuries ahead of their time.

1. General information

Renaissance, or Renaissance, is a period in the cultural and historical development of the countries of Central Western and Northern Europe that replaced the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, the main preconditionsfor the cultural takeoff of the Renaissance, and the Renaissance itself became, in turn, a powerful impetus for the subsequent development of culture in the era of enlightenment. Despite the locality of the Renaissance, it had a global influence on the subsequent development of culture. Renaissance ideas spread unevenly in European countries, so in the Renaissance it is customary to distinguish several periods.

1.1. Prerequisites for the Renaissance

The Renaissance is primarily a phenomenon of urban culture. The emergence of new bourgeois economic relations in the depths of the feudal system is connected primarily with the city. The erosion of class boundaries and class isolation, the accumulation of material wealth and the growth of political influence of townspeople, manifested in the emergence of city-republics, contributes to the formation of a new civic consciousness. A medieval city dweller is a person far from the aristocracy of the nobility and the asceticism of the church. He builds the material basis of his life thanks to his energy, hard work, business qualities, and knowledge. Therefore, he values the same qualities in other people. At the same time, the majority of townspeople are literate people who know how to appreciate beauty, striving for knowledge and beauty; it is their perception that the beautiful works of art of the Renaissance are oriented towards. A kind of impetus for the beginning of the Renaissance was the acquaintance of European peoples with the works of ancient culture. The term Renaissance itself was understood as an attempt to revive the high achievements of ancient culture, to imitate them, although in fact the results of the Renaissance turned out to be more significant. It is no coincidence that Renaissance ideas first arose in Italy, on whose territory a significant number of ancient monuments have been preserved. Some of the ideas about the era of antiquity were obtained by the Italians, who were actively trading in the Mediterranean from Byzantium, where ancient art was not destroyed by the invasion of barbarians until the 15th century. and developed dynamically.

1.2. Periodization of the Renaissance

1.2.1. Pan-European periodization

In the pan-European periodization of the Renaissance, there are three main periods.

Early Renaissance (1420 to 1500) covers mainly the territory of Italy, characterized by the fact that at this time Renaissance works proper are known only in Italy; in other countries they are still trying to combine traditional techniques with new Renaissance trends; signs of Gothic art are noticeable in many more works.

High Renaissance (1500 to 1580)the peak of the development of Renaissance art in Italy and the beginning of its decline, a powerful flowering of interest in antiquity and new technologies in art in European countries. Talented people from all over Europe flock to Rome as the capital of art.

Late Renaissance (1580-1650) a period when in Italy the ideas of the Renaissance, squeezed by the church, decline, but receive a second wind in the countries of Northern Europe, where they receive new impetus and are refracted in the works of Dutch, German, and English artists, which is why this time is also called the Northern Renaissance. The art of the Northern Renaissance developed under the influence of the Reformation, and is therefore imbued with an anti-clerical spirit and attaches great importance to issues of faith. But unlike Italian art, which sought to embellish and idealize reality, it gravitated more towards reality. At the end of this period, a passion for false picturesqueness, pretentiousness of forms and a haphazard arrangement of ancient motifs appeared, and the organicity and spirit of Renaissance ideas was lost. These trends in art are called mannerism, after which the Baroque style was established.

1.2.2. Italian periodization

The Renaissance in Italy did not last long; it fits into the XIV-XVI centuries. In the development of Renaissance ideas and art, it is customary to distinguish the following periods:

Ducento (XIII century) This is how the name of the 13th century sounds in Italian, marked by the appearance of Renaissance features in art; this period is also called the Proto-Renaissance.

Trecento (XIV century) Italian name of the 14th century. for which Renaissance ideas manifested themselves, primarily in painting. An outstanding painter of this time was Giotto di Bondone (see: 3.1.) At the same time, thanks to the work of Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio (see: 3.2.) there was a turn to humanism in literature.

Quattrocento (XV century) - Italian designation for the era of art of the 15th century, which is the peak, the flowering of the ideas of revival in all areas of art, the time of life and creativity of Botticelli, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Bellini and others.

Cinquecento (XVI century) Italian name for the period of the decline of the High Renaissance and the beginning of the Late Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael Santi and Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, who worked at this time, made an invaluable contribution to the development of not only Italian, but also world culture.