IES FRAY PEDRO DE URBINA. GEO.

AND HISTORY DEPARTMENT

THE RENAISSANCE AND THE REFORMATION

1. Humanism.
During the fifteenth century, arose in Italy a different mindset that renewed culture
as it had been known for the past 800 years. This intellectual movement was called
Humanism and spread to Europe in the first half of the sixteenth century.
Its spread was due to several factors: the invention of the printing press by Johannes
Gutenberg in the mid XV allowed to copy books faster, larger and more cheaply; the
emergence of academies, which were centers formed by scholars investigating,
translating and teaching under the patronage of a sponsor; and the development of
universities (Bologna, Florence, Alcal de Henares, etc.).
Humanism was characterized by a conception of man as a rational and free being;
renewed attention to the study of Greco-Roman culture; interest in science, which
spread the scientific method (observation and experiment) and the use of native
languages (French, Italian, Castilian, etc.) as a vehicle of cultural transmission.
The humanistic spirit spread among the bourgeoisie in the cities, causing a more open
mentality based on individualism, the cult of personal effort and secularization (religion
was no longer the center of cultural life). Nobility also abandoned their old feudal
customs and began living in cities and interested in music, literature and art. Some of
them, like Lorenzo de Medici, sponsored with his money a lot of works and artists.

2. Religious Reformation.
In the late Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had betrayed its original spirit and many
people criticized some aspects: high ecclesiastical hierarchy (pope, cardinals, bishops)
lived with an exaggerated luxury style; the lower clergymen had little education and had
relaxed their customs; ecclesiastical offices could be bought and sold and the faithful
could obtain forgiveness of sins buying bulls or indulgences.

In 1515 Pope Leo X ordered to sell indulgences to pay for the new building church of St.
Peter's Basilica. This sparked criticism from a German monk, Martin Luther, who in
1517

published

95

theses

against

the

doctrine

and

the

church

hierarchy.

Luther not only condemned indulgences but proposed a more intimate and personal
religiosity that clashed with Catholic ideas. The Lutheran Reformation was based on
salvation by faith, the universal priesthood and the authority of the Bible. His doctrine
spread throughout central and northern Europe.

In Switzerland, another theologian, John Calvin, held a more radical reform that
advocated the doctrine of predestination (God in Creation had determined who would be
saved) and forced to lead a blameless moral and austere life. Calvinism spread in France
(Huguenots), England (Puritans) and Scotland (Presbyterian).

In England, King Henry VIII started his own church (Anglican Church) when the Pope
refused the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In Anglican Church,
although very similar to the Catholic in dogmas and cults, the supreme leader is not the
pope but the English king.

CATHOLICISM LUTHERANISM CALVINISM

ANGLICANISM

ORIGIN
SALVATION
LEADERSHIP
SACRAMENTS
AUTHORITY

St. Paul
Martin Luther
Faith and works Faith
Pope
None
Seven
Two
Bible and
Bible

John Calvin
Faith
None
Two
Bible

Henry VIII
Faith and works
King of England
Seven
Bible and

BELIEFS AND

tradition
Virgin and Saints Do not believe

Do not believe

tradition
Do not believe

WORSHIP

Lavish

in Virgin and

in Virgin and

in Virgin and

ceremonies

Saints. Simple

Saints. Simple

Saints. Lavish

ceremonies and

ceremonies and

ceremonies

undecorated

undecorated

churches

churches

3. Catholic Counter-Reformation.
The spread of the Protestant Reformation in Europe convinced the Catholic religious
authorities of the need to prevent further expansion. On one hand, the Inquisition was
restored as an ecclesiastical tribunal to prosecute and punish heretics. These were put
on trial, called auto de fe. If not abjure their beliefs they were sentenced to prison or
the stake. An Index of Books, contrary to Catholic doctrine and forbidden to believers,
was also created.
On the other hand, the Church urged a renewal movement known as CounterReformation aimed at correcting the mistakes and defending the dogmas of the
Catholic faith. The Counter-Reformation was held at the Council of Trent (1545-1563),
whose meetings were attended by the highest ecclesiastical hierarchies. The Council
served to reform the errors: the sale of indulgences was banned, seminars were
created to train clergy and priests were urged to lead an exemplary life. But Trent also

reaffirmed the Catholic dogmas: salvation obtained through faith and good works, the
cult of the Virgin and the saints and the seven sacraments.
To share this religious spirit many religious orders were reformed and created some as
the Society of Jesus, founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1537, which extended the
Counter-Reformation by many countries through schools and missions.

4. The Renaissance.
Renaissance art emerged in Italy in the fifteenth century and inaugurated a new style
in front of the medieval art (Romanesque and Gothic) by introducing a series of changes
in the subject matter and technique. The artist signed his works, enjoying prestige and
social recognition.
First, the recovery of the art of ancient Greece and Rome was promoted and artists
opened to new secular subjects from classical mythology and portraits and scenes of
everyday life, but they didnt stop making works of religious content (biblical scenes,
images of saints, etc.).
Secondly, the artists wanted to capture in their works the ideal beauty and were very
concerned for the study of nature and human anatomy, hence the emergence of many
portraits and nudes in paintings and sculptures.
Architectural beauty was assimilated to simple lines and harmonious proportions;
classical canons were recovered in sculpture and perspective was adopted in painting to
provide images of spatial depth.

4.1. The Quattrocento.

The first stage of the Renaissance splendor emerged during the first half of the
fifteenth century in Florence, and is called with the Italian term Quattrocento.
The architecture is based on simple, ordered and shapely elements that create a
rational space, inspired by Greco-Roman models: arch, columns, pediments, etc., and the

addition of domes. Brunelleschi (San Lorenzo and the cathedral dome in Florence) and
Alberti (Santa Maria Novella) stood out.
The sculpture was interested in presenting the human body under the classical canons
through shapely figures (nudes, busts, equestrian portraits, etc.) made in bronze or
marble. The most recognized artists were Donatello (David) and Ghiberti (baptistery
doors in Florence).
Painting introduced the use of perspective and developed the representation of
landscapes and the deepening of the psychology of the characters in the portraits.
Prominent among painters were Fra Angelico (The Annunciation) and Botticelli (Birth of
Venus).

4.2. The Cinquecento.

In the sixteenth century, the art capital was moved from Florence to Rome, where the
stage known as Cinquecento began. The works acquired a more mature and refined
design, and great masters emerged in painting and sculpture.
In architecture, the highlight is the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, whose
dome was a work of Michelangelo. This artist was also a great sculptor and painter. In
sculpture they tried to find a better expression of feelings, as in the works of
Michelangelo himself (David, The Piet, Moses, etc.) or Cellini (Perseus). In painting the
works of Leonardo da Vinci are famous, authentic Renaissance artist model (The
Gioconda, Last Supper); Rafael (School of Athens); Michelangelo (decoration of the
Sistine Chapel: the Last Judgement) and the School of Venice under Titian, Tintoretto
and Giorgione.

4.3. The Renaissance outside Italy.

In Flanders, the new style was characterized by attention to detail, realism, portraits
and the absence of references to classical antiquity. Among the artists stand out for
generations, Roger van der Weyden (The Descent) and Jan van Eyck (The Arnolfini
5

couple); Bosch (The Garden of Delights) or Brueghel the Elder (village Wedding).
In France, the Renaissance stands for building castles such as Fontainebleau. Just a
School was established around that place, with Flemish and Italian influences and
resulting in a very refined and ornamental art.
In Germany, portraits and landscapes became the favorite subjects. Among its artists
Albrecht Drer stands out as draftsman and printmaker, creator of many pictures and
works as Adam and Eve.

Activities
1. Find in the dictionary the words: patron, heretic, indulgence, Dogma, secularization.
2. Comment the text:
43. Should be taught to Christians who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does
better than buying indulgences.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Holy Gospel.
Martin Luther's 95 Theses, 1517.

3. Link with arrows an author with his work:

Michelangelo

The School of Athens

The Bosco

La Gioconda

Leonardo da Vinci

The Birth of Venus

Botticelli

The Garden of Earthly Delights

Rafael

The Piet.