Ideal Renaissance Man

The Renaissance man

The Renaissance, also know as a rebirth of culture occurred during the 13th and 14th centuries, it was in this time period, that the image of an ideal Man came about; A Renaissance man. A Renaissance man was one who exceled in almost everything, such as literature, art and science. In his book The Book of Courtier, Baldassare Castiglione shares a similar belief in which an ideal man would be. Along with being intelligent, the ideal Renaissance man had characteristics that included being artistic, social, and also being physically fit. A prime example of the perfect Renaissance man is Leon Battista Alberti. Alberti was known as “a man can do all things if he will.” Fitting the perfect criteria that a basic Renaissance
Da Vinci is most commonly referred to as the perfect man. Like Alberti, Da Vinci also excelled in many fields of expertise, which included being a painter, architect and an inventor. Da Vinci can be credited for many inventions still used today, as his ideas served as a basis in creating things such as the bicycle, airplane and helicopter. While being famous for his intellect, Da Vinci is more known for his artistic works. His most famous paintings include the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. The Last Supper is a religious piece, despite renaissance ideas of humanism. It depicts Jesus’ last meal before being killed on the cross. The Mona Lisa remains a mystery to most, it is said the Mona Lisa is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. But others believe that it is actually a self-portrait of Da Vinci himself. Nonetheless, Da Vinci is of the most well known of the Renaissance
Humanism is the idea that recognizes humans and their importance. Humanism is seen a great deal in Castiglione’s The Book of Courtier. Castiglione believed in the value of the thought over the actual piece of art. In his eyes, true artwork would go unnoticed. “And I remember having read of certain most excellent orators in ancient times who, among the other things they did, tried to make everyone believe that they had no knowledge whatever of letters; and, dissembling their knowledge, they made their orations appear to be composed in the simplest manner and according to the dictates of nature and truth rather than of effort and art; which fact, had it been known, would have inspired in the minds of the people the fear that they could be duped by it” (chapter 25). Castiglione also had his own portrayal of an ideal man, this ideal man was one of great knowledge, very much similar to a renaissance man. The common Renaissance man excelled in almost every subject, for example Da Vinci with his inventions and paintings, or Alberti and his literature. Castiglione believed that men should always have etiquette in everything they did. Like a renaissance man, Castiglione also highlights physical appearance. Through humanism, Castiglione explained that an ideal man should be one with strength and a man of