Discuss how Renaissance ideals of humanism are expressed in the Italian art of the period, referring to specific works and artists. During the fourteenth century Italy witnessed notable changes, which throughout the next couple of centuries extended towards northern Europe. This was later described as the "Renaissance", "the cultural achievements through sixteenth centuries; those achievements rest on the economic and political developments of earlier centuries". (Western Society, 413) This was an era in which Europe emerged from the economic downfall of the Middle Ages and was followed by a time of financial growth, later leading to the Renaissance. But also, most importantly, the Renaissance was a period for artistic, social,
This was the painting of the walls of the Vatican Palace through his vision of the world of Humanist thought. Within the walls there is one setting in which Raphael displays "portraits of his contemporaries to represent the major figures of classical wisdom and science." (www.ancientworlds.net) It is Plato (holding on of his few books written by himself, "Timaeus", where he explains how the universe was created by "demiurge" taken by the Renaissance as a divine architect) and Aristotle discussing the merits of Idealism vs. Realism. Another section shows two different groups, a group of students around the stooped figure of Euclides (or might be Archimedes), who's demonstrating them geometry with a pair of compasses. Behind him, in yellow robes, stands the Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy, holding his globe of the earth. Behind him is the Persian astronomer and philosopher Zoroaster, holding a sphere of the fixed stars". (www.ancientworlds.net) Standing right to them is Raphael himself, the only figure in the School of Athens who's looks directly back at the viewer. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Raphael, all had great influence upon the ideals of humanism expressed in the Italian art within the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci with his drawing of a human