Analyzing Michelangelo's Pieta

Art and Humanism

• Michelangelo's Pieta: Mary holding Jesus after he comes down from the cross, no wounds on Jesus' body, looks asleep.
• Secularism/Humanism: Emotional and human portrayal of Mary suffering over her fallen son (universal theme).
• Individualism: Shows uniqueness of both Christ and Mary at a unique moment.
• Classicism: Mary's ageless beauty; ideal beauty.
• Michelangelo signed his name across Mary's sash, making a name for himself.

Mona Lisa

• Leonardo da Vinci's most famous portrait in history.
• Subject in a portrait is looking directly at the audience for the first time.
• Focus on who she is, trying to capture her essence.
• Secularism: Non-religious subject, looks alive, and seems to look right at us.
• Classicism: She forms a triangle, her ideal beauty.

Sistine Chapel: Creation of Adam

• Michelangelo's work on the ceiling with over 300 images.
• Adam and Jesus' fingers about to touch, symbolizing God giving life to Adam.
• Secularism/Humanism: Adam's human body and muscles; both glorified in human form.
• Individualism: Unique facial expressions and bodies.
• Classicism: Ideal human forms, heroic, and powerful, God as an Olympian.

David

• Michelangelo's work, showcasing Classicism values: bravery, strength, ideal, arete, powerful, and heroic grandeur.
• Contrapposto stance.
• Humanism: Proudly proclaims the beauty of the human body; ideally muscular.
• Individualism: Honoring the unique moment before he defeats Goliath.
• Secularism: Symbol of power and deterrence of the city of Florence.

Last Supper

• Leonardo da Vinci's famous artwork.
• Jesus turns to his disciples and says, "One of you will betray me."
• Vanishing point is Jesus' right eye, calm in the storm.
• Classicism: Mathematics for Balance and Proportion (BOP), specifically balance.
• 6 disciples on each side of Jesus, groups of 3, triangles everywhere.

Humanism in Literature

Petrarch

• Father of Humanism, called Middle Ages "dark."
• "Ascent of Mount Ventoux" showcases human potential and achievement.
• Humanism: Human potential - struggle to make it to the top; achievement - reaching the top.
• Secularism: Enjoying earth/"relishing earthly enjoyment."

Baldassare Castiglione

• "The Courtier" (Guide to being a Renaissance Man).
• Generalism: Be charming, witty, able to dance and sing, practice with weapons; making a well-rounded person = Renaissance Man.
• Classicism: Well-rounded individual is a Greek value "universal man"/arete.

Machiavelli

• "The Prince" discusses how to get and keep power - an earthly goal.
• Secularism: Morality and religion have no place in politics; "ruler is absolute, answers to no one, not even God."
• "The ends justify the means" = trickery, deceit, all okay, and it is better to be feared than loved.

Pico della Mirandola

• "Dignity of Man" emphasizes the ability of human beings.
• Humanism: Humans to be at the world's center.

Leonardo Bruni

• "History of His Own Times in Italy" emphasizes learning Greek knowledge; Homer, Plato, etc.
• Classicism: whole play takes place in Athens, Pyramus, and Thisbe.

Foreshadowing Northern Renaissance

• "Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare.
• Humanism: Characters have human faults and weaknesses with potential to improve.
• Classicism: Play takes place in Athens, Pyramus, and Thisbe.