The Renaissance was a period which marked the rebirth of classical antiquity with the transition in the Italian world from Scholasticism to Humanism. After the Great Schism which lasted from 1378-1417, and the Bubonic plague in 1438, the European feudal system collapsed. Not only, but also, the reputation of the Church was put under considerable scrutiny, weakening the influence of the Papal states of Christendom. Furthermore, the omnipresence of death brought by the plague in 1438 caused high demand for pleasurable goods, causing people people to have greater focus on enjoying the material world rather than suffer for the spiritual one; therefore, artisans were quickly in high demand, leading more people to live in the cities causing the middle
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Florence lost the limelight for the Renaissance because of the first campaign on Italy by Charles the VIII of France in 1494 which led Florence and Italy into widespread panic. Fear gripped the city streets as people resorted to listening to Savonarola, a dominican friar who gained influence for criticizing the humanistic culture of Florence and the Medici as the cause for the crisis. As a result, Savonarola was able to overthrow the ruling body, and established a new regime that would fall in 1498. Before his death he delivered a sermon in 1494 for Lent that would criticise the artistic styles of the Italian Renaissance as being indecent, and causing people (especially the women and children) to be more susceptible to perverse corruption. Therefore, it makes sense Savonarola would address the entire Florentine body with this particular subject because one of the main elements behind Savonarola 's hatred toward the Renaissance was his belief that religion must grow, and it grew more quickly when there were not as many arguments, books, discussions, or artistic works trying to make valid points on the meaning of life. However, Michelangelo would later show how art could also lead to a connection with God. Under the commission of Pope Julius II, Michelangelo came to the Vatican where he painted “The Creation of Adam” in the Sistine Chapel in 1511--an iconic image that represents man’s relationship with God, and would solidify Michelangelo 's status as one of the greatest painters in history. Not only, but also, the work shows the evolution of Italian art from the more emotional and proportional style, to the pre-mannerist technique--which gave room for abnormal and strange proportions with symmetrical imbalances--a
Florence lost the limelight for the Renaissance because of the first campaign on Italy by Charles the VIII of France in 1494 which led Florence and Italy into widespread panic. Fear gripped the city streets as people resorted to listening to Savonarola, a dominican friar who gained influence for criticizing the humanistic culture of Florence and the Medici as the cause for the crisis. As a result, Savonarola was able to overthrow the ruling body, and established a new regime that would fall in 1498. Before his death he delivered a sermon in 1494 for Lent that would criticise the artistic styles of the Italian Renaissance as being indecent, and causing people (especially the women and children) to be more susceptible to perverse corruption. Therefore, it makes sense Savonarola would address the entire Florentine body with this particular subject because one of the main elements behind Savonarola 's hatred toward the Renaissance was his belief that religion must grow, and it grew more quickly when there were not as many arguments, books, discussions, or artistic works trying to make valid points on the meaning of life. However, Michelangelo would later show how art could also lead to a connection with God. Under the commission of Pope Julius II, Michelangelo came to the Vatican where he painted “The Creation of Adam” in the Sistine Chapel in 1511--an iconic image that represents man’s relationship with God, and would solidify Michelangelo 's status as one of the greatest painters in history. Not only, but also, the work shows the evolution of Italian art from the more emotional and proportional style, to the pre-mannerist technique--which gave room for abnormal and strange proportions with symmetrical imbalances--a