What Is The Role Of Individualism In The Italian Renaissance

The Renaissance began in the 1300’s and brought with it many new ideas and ways of thinking. The main one of these ideas being humanism, or that the best that a man can be is greater than the idea of theology. The Italians began to spread this idea and it began to grow. The Italians decided that the best way to express and spread the idea of humanism during the Renaissance was through their sculptures and paintings. This can be seen in many works of art from this time period such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, The School of Athens by Raphael, and Michelangelo's David.

The Trinity, by Masaccio (1428) renders the crucifixion in a fresco in the Church of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy. The context of this early Italian Renaissance work demonstrates the innovations that embodied the contemporary concerns and influences of the early fifteenth century and would become an influential reference for generations to come. Masaccio’s amalgamation of religion and science influenced the artistic foundation of the early Italian Renaissance. In the early fifteenth century the papacy was the governing force and was very common to have religious subject matter commissioned.

Art during the Italian Renaissance differed from art during the Middle Ages. The two have contrasting characteristics and concepts. To the people in the medieval world, religion was their life. Everything in daily life focused around the church and God (Modern World 164). Medieval culture influenced the arts; this was evident in the religious themes. During the Italian Renaissance, painters and other artists focused on the portrayal of a more humanistic way of life. Renaissance artists’ work portrayed realism with “lifelike human figures in their paintings” (Modern World 164). Renaissance artists wanted to express ancient Greek and Roman cultures in their work (Modern World 162). Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance was a period of great cultural changes and achievement throughout Europe. It spanned from the end of the 13th century up to about the 1600’s. It marked the transition of Europe from the medieval period to the Early Modern Europe. The term renaissance is a modern term that was coined by historians many years after the Renaissance had already ended.

During the Renaissance, all that changed. Artists then included an emphasis on human beings and the environment, which shown that this is indication of changes in their culture at the time. "Renaissance individualism and realism found their greatest and most lasting representation in the visual arts" (Walker 77).

Italian Wealth and the Renaissance (Draft) The Renaissance was an intellectual and artistic movement from roughly the 14th to the 17th century centered around humanism and individualism. After starting in Italy, the Renaissance and its humanistic ideas spread North to places like Germany, Flanders, and England. Italy's wealth, caused by its extensive trade, market economy, and elite-ruled political structure, served as a medium for the dawn of the Renaissance.

During the European Renaissance, knowledge was an eternal fountain for many countries. The most beautiful and renowned art was being created. The study of Math and Science will forever be changed as new advances mature. Technology was advancing and countries were in a race to see who would have the next innovative war strategy or genius inventor. In modern comparison, it was like the United States against Russia in the Arms Race. However, in Italy something truly innovative was happening.

The renaissance or “rebirth” was a cultural awakening which spanned from the fourteenth to sixteenth century. A growing interest in humanist traits and classical ideas heavily influenced the art during the renaissance. A growing community of artists provided much needed competition for their profession. The renaissance introduced many different and modern ideas but also remained obedient to classical belief. The unique art of the renaissance spread throughout Europe. Northern European art differed tremendously from Italian art.

renaissance individuals chose that the individual was more imperative than the congregation. As more individuals were mindful of this they began to take after their strides and turned out to be more mindful as themselves as people.

During the shift from the middle ages into the Renaissance period new conceptions of the individual and the human mind quickly came to light. Although art in the Middle Ages was centered predominantly on religion and faith, the incoming art of the Renaissance underwent a drastic change. A vast amount of these changes mainly focused on individualism, secularism, and humanism. Following the collapse of the feudal system, thoughts of individualism quickly rose when people realized that they didn’t have to adhere to a specific group.Throughout the beginning of the Renaissance, religious figures and the Catholic Church began to lose authority which conducted in new ideas of secularism. Comparably, humanistic art and notions became preeminent when individuals focused on glorifying the human body, learning more about it and inclined more towards realistic art.

A key factor as to why the Renaissance was later in arriving in northern Europe is due to its location. Northern Europe was further removed from the centres of trade in the Mediterranean. As a result trade and progressive ideas that come with wealth developed more slowly in the north of Europe. The cities of Milan, Florence, and Venice had become very successful during the end of the Middle Ages. Northern Italy was able to lead the Italian Renaissance due to the Mediterranean, the central location for trade. They controlled trade with Asia mostly through the silk road and also through importing spices

Before the Renaissance, Italy & most of Europe were entrenched in the Middle Age idea that man is tarnished and unworthy. The viewpoint of the Middle Ages led to obsession with political and religious hierarchies, which greatly contrasted the individualistic mindset of the Renaissance. The Renaissance allowed people became less absorbed in religious hierarchy and more curious about the capabilities of man. The idea of individualism is essentially linked to humanism and the desire to pursue education in the arts and the humanities. The concept of the individualism gave use to the idea of the Renaissance man, or the all sided man, which is someone who is capable and knowledge of all things.

Art created during the Renaissance was revolutionary for its time. Main themes of the Renaissance itself, specifically increased awareness of individualism, a new outlook on life with particular emphasis on secular themes, and rapidly spreading humanist beliefs drastically affected the methods and styles Renaissance artists brought to their work. (Britannica) The Renaissance brought about concepts years ahead of its time period, especially compared to the previous narrow-minded mentality of the Middle Ages. Secularism, humanism, and individualism were ideas which surfaced and grew throughout the Renaissance, ultimately being widely recognized as central themes of the Renaissance itself.

By studying particular art works or architectural works we are introduced into the history of that specific era, and how the Church played a part in people’s lives. We are able to see this in a work by Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, also known as Masaccio called The Holy Trinity which was created during the Renaissance period. Masaccio’s childhood, adolescent and adult years had a major influence on his art, and he also ultimately tried to convert people that had lost faith in the Church during the catastrophes such as the 14th century crisis that occurred prior to Masaccio’s birth (Thesis).

Along with the different kinds of techniques of art, a shift in artistic themes occurred due to a change in the artist’s perception of life and their values. The Renaissance is an era that was home to some of the most influential artists of all time – Michelangelo Buonarotti, Raffaello Sanzio, and Leonardo di Vinci were few of the many. One main characteristic