Italian Renaissance Unique Facts

The Medici family commissioned many artists to make art for them. By the family commissioning them it basically made the artist’s name. In the early time of the Medici family when they were just building up their empire commission artists would help them to build their political prestige and their reputation in the community. Initially in the time of Lorenzo Medici the church wanted nothing to do with the Medici family’s art patronage because they believed that the works that they had commissioned were crude or inappropriate due to nudity or sexual scenes. About 70 years later right before Pope Julius died the Medici art patronage was brought into the church when he commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. By Michelangelo being brought into the light of the Catholic Church it opened doors for the Medici family to

Lorenzo de Medici was born on January 1, 1449 in Florence, Italy. "Lorenzo The Magnificent” as he was called by the people of the place he resided was a statesman, ruler, and patron of the arts. "The Magnificent" was truly a common title of respect in Italy at the time, but it was Medici who raised it to special status. The merchant prince Lorenzo de' Medici, came to be the baron of florence at a young age tragically his father Piero died on Dec. 5, 1469, and 2 days later the 20-year-old Lorenzo was asked to become the newest authority figure in Florence. And In 1472 he won the hearts of all Florentines by saving the city from a famine that was imminently deadly. When there was also a bad harvest of that year, it threatened the population

Florence is home to many wonderful painters and artists during the renaissance. The one who did the ceiling of the cathedral that is shown is Giorgio Vasari. he was a renaissance painter, architect, and author. This artifact shows how extravagant they had gotten with their art, using perspective, shading and the influences of humanism to paint. This shows the true art of this time period.

Giovanni De Bicci De Medici: Giovanni established political and financial power of the Medicis and was one of the richest bankers in Italy because he was also the Medici bank founder. Giovanni was the first Medici to really like the looks of art and decorate his house with it and support

During most of the Renaissance in Italy, the Medici family controlled Florence. They were most known for their success in banking and commerce. In these ways they were one of the main reasons for the political development of Florence. They were also known to be one of the biggest patrons of the arts of the time. Giovanni de Medici established in 1397 that Florence would be the Medici’s home. Giovanni was an influential, wealthy citizen, who was also the banker to the papal court. There was even a point in his life that he had even held every political office in Florence. He like most of his family, supported the arts and was a well-known patron. In 1429

In the crucible of the fourteenth-century, the turbulent politics contributed to the growth of a different way of doing art, finances, literature, religion, and technology. It led the growth of new ideas. Continuous warfare among the states brought skilled leaders. In fourteenth-century Italy constituted the Renaissance. This period was characterized by a return to the sources of knowledge and standards of beauty that had created the great civilizations of classical Greece and Rome. It was an age that spread new ideas more fast than ever before. Painters, writers, and politicians focused on ambitious individualism, realism, and activism. They insisted on optimistic faith in the human potential. Florence was a birthplace of the Renaissance.

These structures are famous landmarks in Florence that are great additions to the cultural richness of the city-state. It is impossible to learn about Florence without recognizing the Medici’s. They undoubtedly played a major role in the political, economical, and cultural growth of Florence. For a long period of time, the Medici’s were not even official political leaders because of the fact that Florence was a republic, but they were so powerful that they managed to rule the city without official titles.

An example of the Medici support to artists involves The Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. The dome of the chapel was built so large that no architect knew how to complete the rooftop structure and was a humiliating point in Florentine history. A contest to see who could develop a solution to complete the dome was won by a Florentine engineer named Brunelleschi, who felt he had found the solution. With the successful completion of the chapel, support from Cosimo de Medici and the holy consecration performed by the Pope, a great structure was once again a source of pride to the Florentines and the

Although the origins of the Italian Renaissance can be traced to many different locations, it is important to note that different aspects of Italian culture and society remained largely medieval during the time of the Renaissance; the Renaissance did not come into full swing until the end of the century. The word Renaissance means “rebirth”, and the era is best known for the renewed interest in the culture of classical antiquity (Greece and Rome) after the period that Renaissance humanists labeled the Dark Ages. These changes, while significant, were concentrated in the elite, and for the vast majority of the population life was little changed from the Middle Ages.

“Lorenzo de' Medici, byname Lorenzo the Magnificent, Italian Lorenzo il Magnifico (born January 1, 1449, Florence [Italy] died April 9, 1492, Careggi, near Florence), Florentine statesman, ruler, and patron of the arts and letters, the most brilliant of the Medici. He ruled Florence with his younger brother, Giuliano, (1453-78), from 1469 to 1478 and, after the latter's assassination, was sole ruler from 1478 to 1492” (Encyclopedia Britannica).

The House of Medici, or the Medici family, was a very influential and extremely powerful family during the time of the Renaissance in Italy. The Renaissance took place starting in the late 14th century. During this time, the people started to take interest in and have an appreciation for the classical times. The beginning of this powerful family really begins with Giovanni di Bicci deˈ Medici. He was born in the year 1360 in Florence, Italy. Originally from the Tuscan hillside, the Medici family immigrated to Florence during the 12th century. Giovanni di Bicci deˈ Medici was the man who really got the family moving. He founded the Medici Bank and began using money to gain influence. The Medici Bank eventually became the official bank of

The powerful Medici family controlled Florence, Italy, from late-14th to mid-18th centuries. The person who placed this family in power was Cosimo de’ Medici. He was able to gain influence because of the wealth he earned through the Medici bank. His wealth allowed him to be a major influence in various aspects of society. Early in his career, in the 1430s, he became a significant patron of learning. Cosimo sponsored artists from different parts of Italy and with a wide variety of styles, and paid to represent his family through paintings, sculpture, and architecture. Many of those works of art were placed in places for lower classes of people to observe, and thus admire him. Works of art in his palace were primarily intended for the admiration of people of high status. In addition, through his support of the guilds and their artistic commissions, he gained recognition as a good citizen and supporter of the arts. Much of the art that Cosimo sponsored aimed to show his greatness that of the Medici family. The “Adoration of the Magi” was a fresco that Cosimo commissioned for the monastery of San Marco, and was on one of the wall of his cell. The artist who created the fresco was Benozzo Gozzoli, who incorporated the portraits of the family and their allies in scene of the artwork. Cosimo had his own cell where he went to pray very frequently. Because religion played a very

The start of the Medici family dynasty initiated in 1296 when Ardingo de Medici was elected Gonfaloniere of Italy. This position was put in place to protect the people’s interest against the dominant magnet class. A person that possessed this position was considered the most important person of the council in Florence. This was the first taste of power given to the Medici family. Nonetheless, Ardingo’s position in the council did not give the family their fame. After Ardingo, two more family members would take this same position as Gonfaloniere. Even then though, the Medici family still would not begin to gain fame until the time of Giovanni di Bicci de'

The renaissance or “rebirth” was a cultural awakening which spanned from the fourteenth to sixteenth century. A growing interest in humanist traits and classical ideas heavily influenced the art during the renaissance. A growing community of artists provided much needed competition for their profession. The renaissance introduced many different and modern ideas but also remained obedient to classical belief. The unique art of the renaissance spread throughout Europe. Northern European art differed tremendously from Italian art.

This source is a picture showing the San Lorenzo church, which was known as the Medici chapel. The San Lorenzo Church is originated in Florence in 1419. It also is the Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici. Michelangelo makes an imprint on the San Lorenzo church by adding architectural designs and