What was the Renaissance?

The term ‘Renaissance’ comes from the French meaning ‘re-birth’, and refers to a renewed interest in classical antiquity in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (sometimes referred to as the quattrocento and cinquecento). It focuses around the theory of humanism, which was interested in the potential of man, science, the natural world and the writing of Antiquity, especially Pliny and Vitruvius. Vitruvius wrote the only surviving treatise on architecture from Antiquity, which designated the rules of architecture and placed man at the centre, claiming him to be a perfectly proportioned being. This theory is visualised in Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. As a result of this interest in Antiquity art and architecture began to borrow classical motifs, such as an interest in perfect proportions and perspective. The Renaissance is most closely associated with Italy, where rivalry between city states and wealthy patrons encouraged the development of an art market, and as the Renaissance progressed the status of artists increased significantly. The church were also major patrons at this time, with the Popes hoping to emulate the glory of ancient Rome. This was especially evident during the papacy of Julius II (Pope from 1503-1513) who saw himself as a second Julius Caesar, and therefore commissioned art to reflect this. However, the Renaissance also developed in Northern Europe, though retaining more elements of the gothic style. Oil paint was a major development in the north, and this was highly influential on the development of art in the south. The Northern Renaissance also had a greater focus on religious reform, culminating in Martin Luther’s ’95 Theses’ of 1517, which triggered the Protestant reformation. This had a significant effect on the catholic church, who reacted with the ‘counter-reformation’ which reasserted their principles. Art was a major factor in the counter-reformation. Developments in literature were also made in the Renaissance, again borrowing from the classical precedent. Writers such as Shakespeare emerged who included references to the developments of the time in their work. The Renaissance, therefore, does not solely relate to the emergence of classical forms in art and architecture. Instead it can be seen as a close link being established between religion, the arts and the advancement of learning.