Early Renaissance in the history of Europe

Revival is an era in the history of Europe, which replaced the Middle Ages and preceded the new era. Historians define different frames for this period. Most often this is the beginning of the XIV - the last quarter of the XVI centuries, in England and Spain - this The first decades of the XVII century. Its distinctive features were the secular nature of culture and anthropocentrism.

Each period of the Renaissance brings something of its own. Thus, the Protorenaissance is a preparation for change, the Romanesque and Gothic traditions are still strong. It was during this period that the transition to realism and volumetric images was made. Early Renaissance was marked by attempts to come up with something new. Gradually, artists abandon medieval norms and are completely based on antiquity. Next was the High Renaissance, the hallmark of which was the emergence of new monumental buildings, frescoes and sculptures. Completes all later Renaissance.

Early Renaissance refers to Italy in the period from 1420 to 1500. It was at this time that the country played a dominant role in the artistic life of Europe. Here the direction of humanism appears. Its difference was that it was dedicated to a person and his problems. Earlier the works of the masters concerned only church stories.

It is believed that the foundations of humanism were laid in Florence. According to historians, several richest families exerted influence on the city. For many years they only did that they competed with each other. As a result, the Medici family won. Its head, Cosimo de 'Medici, became the unofficial ruler of Florence. In the future, it was to him that various creators flocked: artists, writers, sculptors, singers, musicians and so on.

With the coming to power of Cosimo Medici, the architecture of the city began to drastically change. Many techniques were adopted from the Middle Ages. The masters carefully studied the ancient buildings, paying attention to their decorations. During this period, rules were formed and Classical ornament and architecture. For medieval buildings, the distinctive feature was the subordination of parts of the intuition master's structure. Early Renaissance was marked by the arrival of clear geometric forms, it became important in proportions to see logic and consistency.

Therefore, the architecture of the early Renaissance sought to combine classical elements with medieval traditions. Before the masters was the task of organically combining them. They focus on Greco-Roman monuments, trying to create exactly the same free and vast space inside buildings.

The art of the early Renaissance also has a number of characteristics. First of all, the artists finally leave the Gothic. In their creations they elevate a person over ordinary life. Early Renaissance was marked by an important event - a return to the ancient sources. Artists, poets, sculptors in search of ideas for their creations turn to Greek mythology and history. In the further development of the era in the visual arts there are two new genres: landscape - the imprint of nature, and a portrait - the capture of a person or a group of people.