Overview The Renaissance refers to an ideological and cultural movement that arose in Italian cities at the end of the 14th century and later spread to Western European countries. It was an ideological and cultural movement that prevailed in Europe in the 16th century, bringing about a period of scientific and artistic revolution. It marked the beginning of modern European history and is considered the boundary between the medieval era and modern times. Marxist historians believe that it is the dividing line between the feudal era and the capitalist era.

At the end of the 13th century, in commercially developed cities in Italy, some advanced intellectuals among the emerging bourgeoisie used the study of ancient Greek and Roman art and culture to promote the humanistic spirit through literary and artistic creation. Three Heroes of Literature 1 Dante

Alighieri Dante (1265-1321). The pioneer of the Renaissance, the Renaissance movement originated in northern Italy. It is generally believed that the first representative was Dante, whose representative is the "Divine Comedy". His works first implicitly criticized and exposed the corruption and stupidity of medieval religious rule. Composed in regional dialects rather than Latin which was the official literary language of medieval Europe. He believed that the ancient Greek and Roman eras were the most perfect eras of human nature, and that the suppression of human nature in the Middle Ages was against nature. Although he had an in-depth and extensive study of Latin literature, he wrote a large number of lyric poems in the form of sonnets in Italian dialect, which were warmly welcomed by the rulers of various cities and countries.

2 Petrarch

Italian poet. He was born in Arezzo on July 20, 1304 and died in Alqua on July 19, 1374. His representative works include "Song Collection". His father was a lawyer from a prominent Florentine family. He went into exile in France with his father since he was a child, and later studied law. After his father's death, he concentrated on literary activities and traveled around Europe. He also served as a priest, had the opportunity to visit churches and courts, observe life, pursue knowledge, and proposed to replace "God's thoughts" with "human thoughts", and was called the "Father of Humanism."

　3 Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), first translated as Boccaccio, was an outstanding representative of the Italian Renaissance and a humanist. The representative work "The Decameron" criticized conservative religious ideas and advocated "happiness in the world", which is regarded as the manifesto of the Renaissance. Three Masters of Art 1 Leonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) the most famous artist, sculptor, architect, and engineer during the Italian Renaissance , scientists, scientific giants, literary theorists, great philosophers, poets, musicians, and inventors. Because he was an all-rounder, he was also called "the most perfect representative of the Renaissance." He was born in the town of Finch on the outskirts of Florence and died in France. The mural "The Last Supper", the altarpiece "The Virgin of the Rocks" and the portrait "Mona Lisa" are the three masterpieces of his life. These three works are the treasures among the treasures left by Leonardo da Vinci for the world's art treasure house, and are the keystones of European art.

2 Raphael

Raphael Sansi (1483～1520) Italian painter. He was born in Urbino on April 6, 1483 and died in Rome on April 6, 1520. His original name was Raffaello Sangio. His series of Madonna portraits are different from similar themes painted by medieval painters. They all embody humanistic ideas with maternal tenderness and youthful fitness. The most famous among them are "Madonna with Oriole" (collected in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence), "Madonna in the Grass" (collected in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna) and "Madonna in the Garden" (collected in the Louvre Museum). The large-scale oil painting "Sistine Madonna" painted in 1512-1513, the figures are similar to life-size, the triangular composition composed of the Virgin and the saints is solemn and balanced, the Virgin and Jesus have strong and strong postures, showing the power of maternal love. Happiness and greatness. The other, taller one is the "Madonna of Foligno" in the form of an altarpiece, and the "Madonna of the Chair" and the "Madonna of Alba" created later, both of which can be said to be his flawless works. After 1509, he was invited by Pope Julius II to paint murals in the Vatican Palace, among which the murals in the Signature Hall were the most outstanding.

This batch of paintings spread all over the walls and roof of the hall represent four aspects of human spiritual activities: theology, philosophy, poetry and law. In addition to displaying his unique painting style, the works also pay special attention to painting expression and architecture. The full harmony of decoration gives people a solemn, rich and colorful feeling. Important works during this period include "The Expulsion of Eliodoro from the Temple" and "The Mass of Porsina" painted for the Heliodoro Hall, "The Fire Alarm in Borgo" painted for the Fire Hall and "The Triumph of Galatea" painted in the Villa Farnesina, etc. The image shaping and use of light and color in these works have reached a new level, and are known as the pinnacle of ancient and modern mural art. He was also very successful in his portraiture. It is characterized by both form and spirit, and full of charm. Most of them use a slightly sideways posture to hide the background, leaving only the natural and friendly demeanor of the characters standing out in the picture. Representative works include "Portrait of Castiglione" and "Portrait of a Veiled Woman".

David 3 Michelangelo

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), a great Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor and architect , the representative of the highest peak of Renaissance sculpture art. In 1496, Michelangelo came to Rome and created his first representative works, "Bacchus" and "Lamentation of Christ". In 1501, he returned to Florence and spent four years completing the world-famous "David". In Rome in 1505, he was ordered by Pope Julius II to be responsible for the construction of the papal mausoleum. In 1506, after the construction was suspended, he returned to Florence. In 1508, he was ordered to return to Rome and spent four years and five months completing the famous ceiling mural of the Sistine Chapel. In 1513, construction of the Papal Mausoleum resumed, and Michelangelo created the famous "Moses", "The Bound Slave" and "The Dying Slave". From 1519 to 1534, he created the greatest work of his life in Florence - the sculptures of the Medici family tombs in the Church of San Lorenzo. In 1536, Michelangelo returned to the Sistine Chapel in Rome and spent nearly six years creating the great church mural "The Last Judgment". After that, he lived in Rome, engaged in sculpture, architecture and a small amount of painting until his death in his studio on February 18, 1564. Representative Figures Italy and its Representative Figures

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy, has made outstanding achievements in poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture, and music. The famous Medici family in Florence was the most important patron of the arts at the time. The three famous Renaissance masters were all born in Italy.

Representative figures:

Poets: Dante, Petrarch;

Philosophers: Erasmus, Machiavelli;

Writers: Boccaccio, Machiavelli;

Painters: Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian;

Sculptor: Michelangelo;

Architect: Brunelleschi;

Musicians: Palestrina, Lasso, etc.

Spain and its representative figures

In the second half of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, the Spanish Renaissance entered the "golden age" and made remarkable achievements in novels and dramas.

Representative figures: writer Cervantes, dramatist Lobo de Vega

Germany and its representative figures

In Germany: the main achievements are In the religious reformation, peasant wars, satire, and scientific and technological inventions.

Representative figures: Martin Luther, Dürer, etc.

France and its representatives

In France: free thought and skeptical thinking are quite developed.

Representative figures: essayist: Montaigne, novelist: Rabelais, etc.

Britain and its representatives

In Britain: poetry and drama flourished like never before.

Representative figures: Writer Shakespeare, etc. Philosopher: Thomas More

Among them, Shakespeare, Dante, and Leonardo da Vinci are known as the "Three Giants of the Renaissance".