Introduction
The rebirth of art and culture occurred in the 14th century in Italy when the medieval was shifted by the Renaissance, which gave its roots to the modern era. The epoch has significantly influenced the course of history and changed the direction of art and culture. From its prime to its decay, the Renaissance has changed due to the emergence of new sciences and other developments. Therefore, it is vital to trace the development of the Renaissance and trace how it impacted society and people.
Main body
It all began in Italy in the 14th century when the state was economically thriving due to separate economies in each city-state. Having prosperous conditions, the country established international trade with various regions and solidified its position in the Mediterranean. Despite Italy’s stability, the Black Death, which spreads across Europe in the 1340s, has influenced its art: it promoted the commissioning of devotional images and religious endowments. Later, the Great Schism was the reason for the societal upheaval. As a result, all these changes resulted in the emergence of vernacular literature, which further impacted Italy’s cultural life. Moreover, its culture and art were affected by the Renaissance, which proclaimed the ideas of humanism. This phenomenon represented a civil conduct system promoting human values and interests, non-contradictory to religious views, as its chief concern (Gardner et al. 522). The proponents considered classical cultures eulogistic; hence, the humanists managed to recover Greek and Roman literature that was lost or unnoticed. What is more, the representatives did not wait for monetary rewards but instead wanted fame for their art. Humanism was a characteristic feature of the Early Renaissance but later changed, including the shift from antique art.
The medieval ages brought the Byzantine style to Italian art, which was recognizable in every work. The technique was also named maniera greca, which was vividly displayed in Berlinghieri’s painting Saint Francis (Gardner et al. 523). His work of art depicted the features of the Greek style and revealed the aspects of the culture’s religious influence. Berlinghieri’s altarpiece was created right after Saint Francis of Assisi’s death and was commissioned to the church to make the conceived visible. The other prominent architect of that time, Brunelleschi, did not take part in the palace building due to Cosimo’s rejection. In the early 15th century, Giovanni di Medici established family fortune were expulsed from Italy and later returned there. Cosimo wanted to soothe public perception, but there was no residence for the Medici. A young architect, Michelozzo di Bartolommeo, was commissioned to build the palace (Gardner et al. 594). Yet, he was incredibly inspired by Brunelleschi and reflected his style in the palazzo. The castle Medici-Riccardi is the best example of how the Renaissance was transformed. Finally, the Medici palazzo was complemented by the perspectival systems that stood for the rationalism of vision which greatly appealed to humanists.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it seems reasonable to state that the Renaissance period displayed art in a variety of forms and shapes. It has significantly altered from its emergence in Italy to its recess. Numerous artists and architects were pursuing humanistic ideas, which presumed to express oneself in art and culture to receive fame and not fortune. Many prominent families, including the Medici, also influenced the course of the Renaissance. They left people a legacy to trace the movement’s development and get acquainted with eminent artists.
Work Cited
Gardner, Helen et al. “Gardner’s Art Through the Ages.” From Gothic to Renaissance: 14th-Century Italian Art, Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005, pp. 521-596.