People of art and culture of the Renaissance. Outstanding figures of the Renaissance: a list

The era of the Renaissance (Renaissance) came to replace the Middle Ages and lasted until the Enlightenment. It is of great importance in the history of Europe. It is distinguished by the secular type of culture, as well as by humanism and anthropocentrism (in the first place man comes out). The Renaissance figures also changed their views.

basic information

A new culture was formed thanks to the changed social relations in Europe. Particularly affected by the fall of the Byzantine state. Many Byzantines immigrated to European countries, and with them they brought a huge number of works of art. All this was not familiar to medieval Europe, and Cosimo de 'Medici, impressed, created the Academy of Plato in Florence.

The spread of city-republics led to the growth of estates, which were far from feudal relations. These included artisans, bankers, merchants and so on. They did not consider the medieval values that were formed by the church. As a result, humanism was formed. Under this concept is meant the philosophical direction, which considers man as the supreme value.

In many countries, secular scientific and research centers began to be formed. Their difference from the medieval became separation from the church. A big shift was made in the XV century book printing. Thanks to this, the outstanding figures of the Renaissance began to appear more and more often.

Formation and flowering

The first was the Renaissance in Italy. Here, its signs began to appear in the XIII and XIV centuries. However, he was not able to win popularity then, and only in the 20s of the XV century it was able to gain a foothold. In other European countries, the Renaissance spread much later. It was at the end of the century that this flow flourished.

The next century became a crisis for the Renaissance. The result was the appearance of Mannerism and Baroque. The entire Renaissance is divided into four periods. Each of them is represented by its culture, art.

Protorenaissance

It is a transition period from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. It can be divided into two stages. The first continued during the life of Giotto, the second - after his death (1337). The first was filled with great discoveries, during this period the brightest Renaissance figures worked. The second was parallel to the deadly plague that was tormenting Italy.

The artists of the Renaissance of this period expressed their skill mainly in sculpture. Especially it is possible to distinguish Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea Pisano, as well as Niccolo and Giovanni Pisano. The painting of that time is represented by two schools, which were located in Siena and Florence. A huge role in the painting of that period was played by Giotto.

Renaissance figures (artists), in particular Giotto, began to touch on their paintings in addition to religious themes and secular.

In literature, the revolution was made by Dante Alighieri, who created the famous "Comedy". However, the descendants, admiring, called it "Divine Comedy." Sonnets of Petrarch (1304-1374), written in that period, gained immense popularity, and his follower was Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375 gg.), The author of "Decameron."

The most famous figures of the Renaissance became the creators of the Italian literary language. The works of these writers gained fame beyond the borders of their native state even during their lifetime, and subsequently were even ranked among the treasures of world literature.

Early Renaissance Period

This period lasted eighty years (1420-1500). The early Renaissance people did not abandon the usual recent past, but began resorting to the classic of antiquity in their works. Gradually, they moved from medieval principles to the ancient. This transition was influenced by changes in life and culture.

In Italy, the principles of classical antiquity were already fully manifested, while in other states they still adhered to the traditions of the Gothic style. Only by the middle of the XV century the Renaissance penetrates to Spain and north of the Alps.

In painting, first of all, they began to show the beauty of a person. The early period is mainly represented by works by Botticelli (1445-1510), and also by Masaccio (1401-1428).

Especially famous sculptor of that period is Donatello (1386-1466). In his works, the portrait type prevailed. Also Donatello for the first time since antiquity created a sculpture of a naked body.

The most important and famous architect of that period was Brunelleschi (1377-1446). He managed to combine in his works the ancient Roman and Gothic styles. He was engaged in the construction of chapels, churches and palaces. Also returned the elements of the ancient architecture.

High Renaissance Period

This time became the heyday of the Renaissance (1500-1527). The center of Italian art is located in Rome, and not in the usual Florence. The reason for this was the newly-made Pope Julius II. He had an enterprising and decisive character, during his period on the papal throne, the best Renaissance cultural figures came to the court.

In Rome, the construction of magnificent buildings began, the sculptors create numerous masterpieces, which are the pearls of world art in our time. There is a writing of murals and paintings, which fascinate with their beauty. All these branches of art develop, helping each other.

The study of antiquity is becoming more profound. The culture of that period is reproduced with greater accuracy. At the same time, the tranquility of the Middle Ages is replaced by playfulness in painting. Nevertheless, the figures of the Renaissance, whose list is extensive, borrow only some elements of antiquity, and the foundation is created independently. Each has its own distinctive features.

Leonardo da Vinci

The most famous figure of the Renaissance is, perhaps, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). This is the most versatile personality of that period. He was engaged in painting, music, sculpture, science. During his life, Da Vinci was able to invent many things that have firmly entered our life today (bicycle, parachute, tank and so on). Sometimes his experiments ended in failure, but it happened because some inventions, one might say, were ahead of time.

Most of it is known, of course, thanks to the painting "Mona Lisa". Many scientists are still looking for a variety of secrets in it. After himself, Leonardo left several students.

The period of the Late Renaissance

It was the final stage in the Renaissance (from 1530 to 1590-1620, but some scholars extend it until 1630, because of this, there are constant disputes).

In southern Europe, at that time, a movement (Counter-Reformation) began to manifest itself, the purpose of which was to restore the greatness of the Catholic Church and the Christian faith. All the chanting of the human body for him was unacceptable.

Numerous contradictions resulted in the fact that the crisis of ideas began to manifest itself. As a result of the instability of religion, Renaissance figures began to lose harmony between nature and man, between the physical and the spiritual. The result was the appearance of Mannerism and Baroque.

Revival in Russia

The culture of the Renaissance in some areas had an impact on our country. However, its impact was limited to a fairly long distance, as well as the attachment of Russian culture to Orthodoxy.

The first ruler who paved the way for the Renaissance in Russia was Ivan III, who during his time on the throne began to invite Italian architects. With their arrival, new elements and technologies of construction have appeared. However, a huge coup in architecture did not happen.

In 1475, the restoration of the Assumption Cathedral was carried out by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti. He adhered to the traditions of Russian culture, but added space to the project.

By the 17th century, due to the influence of the Renaissance, Russian icons acquired realism, but at the same time artists follow all the ancient canons.

Soon Rus could master and printing. However, it received a special distribution only in the 17th century. Many of the technologies that appeared in Europe were quickly imported to Russia, where they improved and became part of the traditions. For example, according to one of the hypotheses, vodka was imported from Italy, afterwards its formula was finalized, and in 1430 a Russian version of this drink appeared.

Conclusion

The Renaissance gave the world many gifted artists, researchers, scientists, sculptors, architects. Of the huge number of names can be identified those that are most famous and glorified.

Philosophers and scientists:

• Bruno.
• Galileo.
• Pico Della Mirandola.
• Nikolay Kuzansky.
• Machiavelli.
• Campanella.
• Paracelsus.
• Copernicus.
• Münzer.

Writers and poets:

• F. Petrarch.
• Dante.
• J. Boccaccio.
• Rabelais.
• Cervantes.
• Shakespeare.
• E. Rotterdam.

Architects, painters and sculptors:

• Donatello.
• Leonardo da Vinci.
• N. Pisano.
• A. Rosselino.
• S. Botticelli.
• Raphael.
• Michelangelo.
• Bosch.
• Titian.
• A. Durer.

Of course, this is only a small part of the Renaissance figures, but it was these people who became its embodiment for many.