A key component of the Renaissance was the intellectual movement known as Humanism. Humanism was based on the study of classical Greek and roman cultures.
End of the Middle Ages
People in the Middle Ages did not find life beautiful or intriguing. Peasants and serfs lived in miserable conditions, hardly better than livestock, with little hope of improving their social station. If you were born a peasant, you would most likely die a peasant, as would your children and grandchildren. Their main goal in life was finding eternal salvation. Life on Earth was a journey to suffer through, in order to reach Heaven. The Black Death and the Hundred Years War helped bring an end to the Middle Ages. As Western Europe slowly emerged from the Middle Ages, new ideas and beliefs about life and its purpose began to spread. This school of thought, known as humanism, was based on the belief that life on Earth had a point of its own. It did not have to be a miserable layover on the way to Heaven. According to humanists, life was full of beauty, waiting to be enjoyed.
A New Outlook on Life
The attitude of humanists focused on individual merit. It is not what you are born (serf, peasant, lord) but rather what you accomplish in life that is important and defines you. This idea appealed greatly to the new merchant class, who were tired of being considered less important than ruling nobles.
Education
Humanists had great interests in history, philosophy, art and literature. They looked backwards, at the cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. Scholars embraced the humanist philosophy, and soon wealthy merchants and nobles began educating their children in accordance with a humanist curriculum. According to Humanism, education should stimulate student’s creative powers. Students were taught poetry, history, and rhetoric (public speaking). They also studied the works of Homer, Virgil, Petrarch, and Cicero.
Humanism and Art
New techniques in art were employed with astounding results. Perspective, making distant objects in a painting small than those close to the viewer, made scenes appear three dimensional. Careful shading make objects look round and real, rather than flat. Using human models helped artists portray the human body far more accurately than in Medieval art. In fact, Renaissance art glorified the human body, again emphasizing the importance of the individual. Oil paints were also introduced at this time. Because oil paint take much longer to dry than water based paint, artists could play with the color and shading, creating incredibly realistic pieces.
The works of the four great masters, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello set the standard for Renaissance art. Each of these men were a student of humanism, and their works reflect the ideals of the time, especially focus on the individual. Leonardo’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, does not portray a famous queen or religious figure (that we know of); she is a simple woman, wearing a simple smile. Five hundred years later, she still fascinates the world. Leonardo recognized the allure of the plain and ordinary. He found the beauty in everyday life.
