humanism during renaissance
HUMANISM IN RENAISSANCE
Renaissance is a term used to describe ‘rebirth’ (in French), which began in Italy in late middle age and then spread to other parts of Europe. During the Renaissance people to question the Scholastic methods of that time and their questioning resulted as the birth of humanism.
Humanism goes along with secularism in the sense that it makes humans beings, not God, the centre of attention. People began to do things because they enjoyed them rather than for God’s glory. It was responsible for the change in the medieval education system, emphasizing on rational and practical thinking. Humanism emphasizes on the importance of knowledge, as well as on the potential of the individual and civil responsibility. This concept of humanism became the core of renaissance style. It was in this age that people began to reason and think rationally. Even the term used for the Renaissance philosophers, ‘humanists’, shows how the focus of the people’s attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. Individualism takes humanism a step further by saying that individual humans were capable of great accomplishments. Renaissance philosophers saw humans as intelligent creatures capable of reasoning (and questioning the authority) rather than being mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God.
Humanism profoundly affected the artist community and how artists themselves were perceived. The medieval mind viewed artists as humble servants whose talent and ability were meant to honour God. This is evident in the work of medieval artists adoring churches and cathedrals. Renaissance artists, in contrast, were trained intellectuals – well versed in the classical and mathematical principles. And the art that they created reflected this newfound perspective. In art, linear and aerial perspective developed and artists considered their canvases to be windows to the natural world. Their task became to portray the natural world as realistically as
Renaissance is a term used to describe ‘rebirth’ (in French), which began in Italy in late middle age and then spread to other parts of Europe. During the Renaissance people to question the Scholastic methods of that time and their questioning resulted as the birth of humanism.
Humanism goes along with secularism in the sense that it makes humans beings, not God, the centre of attention. People began to do things because they enjoyed them rather than for God’s glory. It was responsible for the change in the medieval education system, emphasizing on rational and practical thinking. Humanism emphasizes on the importance of knowledge, as well as on the potential of the individual and civil responsibility. This concept of humanism became the core of renaissance style. It was in this age that people began to reason and think rationally. Even the term used for the Renaissance philosophers, ‘humanists’, shows how the focus of the people’s attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. Individualism takes humanism a step further by saying that individual humans were capable of great accomplishments. Renaissance philosophers saw humans as intelligent creatures capable of reasoning (and questioning the authority) rather than being mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God.
Humanism profoundly affected the artist community and how artists themselves were perceived. The medieval mind viewed artists as humble servants whose talent and ability were meant to honour God. This is evident in the work of medieval artists adoring churches and cathedrals. Renaissance artists, in contrast, were trained intellectuals – well versed in the classical and mathematical principles. And the art that they created reflected this newfound perspective. In art, linear and aerial perspective developed and artists considered their canvases to be windows to the natural world. Their task became to portray the natural world as realistically as