Humanism
Petrarch; Leader of Humanism
Around the 14th century, the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, a new idea became very popular in Italy. That idea was humanism. The people became more concerned about themselves and other human nature such as philosophy, science, music and arts, history, grammar, etc., than the Church and their religion, Christianity. Humanism also suggested each individual focus on their goals and values in life. Many people became humanists. In addition to stressing the importance of human interests, values, and dignity, they studied and understood the ancient Greek and Roman Empires. Petrarch, an Italian poet and scholar, was one of the first humanists and lead many humanistic ideas. He recovered and restored many works of Livy, Cicero, and other important Greeks and Roman writers.
Humanism influenced and changed many things and ideas like who was the most important in society, art, and encouraged many people to be creative and explore new things and ideas. Before humanism, the king and Church representatives were on the very top. After humanism became popular people didn’t care as much about the church and their religion and looked at themselves as an individual so they became more important than kings and high-church representatives. The effects of humanism can be seen in art and how it changed over the time periods of the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
When the Roman Empire accepted Christianity as there one and only religion the arts like painting, sculpting, music, and philosophy were then influenced and inspired by religion. The people high in the Church were generally drawn or painted to appear bigger than everyone else and halos were painted above their heads. The paintings were very abstract and were not realistic and painted with darker more neutral colors. The paintings had a strict appearance and were symbolic and looked otherworldly.
During the humanism change the art lost certain symbols that were usually put into art. Artist even started using a different type paint that mixed an egg yoke to pigment, they used this to create a paint that dries hard and flat. The Halos that were around the higher religion status became faint and soon disappeared, all people were the same size no one was bigger than another showing that everyone is equal, and lastly people started to paint pictures of the poor praising the beauties and spiritual values of nature.
Humanism influenced and changed many things and ideas like who was the most important in society, art, and encouraged many people to be creative and explore new things and ideas. Before humanism, the king and Church representatives were on the very top. After humanism became popular people didn’t care as much about the church and their religion and looked at themselves as an individual so they became more important than kings and high-church representatives. The effects of humanism can be seen in art and how it changed over the time periods of the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
When the Roman Empire accepted Christianity as there one and only religion the arts like painting, sculpting, music, and philosophy were then influenced and inspired by religion. The people high in the Church were generally drawn or painted to appear bigger than everyone else and halos were painted above their heads. The paintings were very abstract and were not realistic and painted with darker more neutral colors. The paintings had a strict appearance and were symbolic and looked otherworldly.
During the humanism change the art lost certain symbols that were usually put into art. Artist even started using a different type paint that mixed an egg yoke to pigment, they used this to create a paint that dries hard and flat. The Halos that were around the higher religion status became faint and soon disappeared, all people were the same size no one was bigger than another showing that everyone is equal, and lastly people started to paint pictures of the poor praising the beauties and spiritual values of nature.
Before Humanism During Humanism
Middle Ages Art Influences Today
Even though after humanism paintings were done more to
scale and painted with more vibrant colors and halos started appearing less and less, the Middle Ages style of art still remains today and is inspiring new artists and sculptors today. One example is John Angel. He has carried on the gothic tradition with the Cathedral of St. Tims the Devine. In his sculpting work done in the Cathedral in New York he made the more important lords and kings larger than the serfs and peasants who are underneath them holding them and appear to be struggling to hold up the higher class.
scale and painted with more vibrant colors and halos started appearing less and less, the Middle Ages style of art still remains today and is inspiring new artists and sculptors today. One example is John Angel. He has carried on the gothic tradition with the Cathedral of St. Tims the Devine. In his sculpting work done in the Cathedral in New York he made the more important lords and kings larger than the serfs and peasants who are underneath them holding them and appear to be struggling to hold up the higher class.
For More Information:
Works Cited
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