EARLY RENAISSANCE HUMANISM IN ROME

Papacy in Rome v. Conciliarism

1309-1377 Papacy in Avignon

Great Schism (1378-1417)
         first two Popes (Roman and French) then three;
        efforts to solve Schism lead to:

Conciliar Movement: alternative theory of Church government
     highest authority in Church is a council of bishops, not Pope;
     new theory directed against Papal claims of supreme authority

Martin V (Oddone Colonna, Roman noble)
    elected by Council of Constance (1414-1417),
    1420 enters city of Rome: beginning of Renaissance in Rome

15th C Popes: Power struggle between Papacy and Conciliarism:
    begin propaganda campaign against conciliar theory as heresy
    reflected in various artistic works of mid-15th century in Rome

Roman Humanism (Curial Humanism)

Affirmation of Papal primacy / restoration of Roman Church
stress on doctrine of Primacy of St. Peter (against conciliarist views)

Matthew 16:17-19: “You are Peter [Petrus]; upon n this rock [petram] I will
build my Church and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it.  I will give
 to you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”


Distinctive aspects of Roman humanism

Ruins / Archeological treatment of antiquity

    Flavio Biondo: Roma instaurata (1444-46):
      correct identification and classification of the city’s ancient buildings
      epigraphy: study of inscriptions carved on rock monuments

   Archeological treatment of early Christian Rome (paleo-Christian era)
       Rome as site of early Christian martyrs

Dual apostolate: Roman and Christian themes overlap and fuse
          papal assertion of link between Roman Empire’s historical mandate &
          Church’s divine mandate; Popes as Christian Caesars restoring Rome

Biblical exegesis (interpretation of Scripture)
    recurring parallels between Old Testament and New Testament events
       Moses prefigures Christ and becomes a typus Papae (type of the Pope)
      Jerusalem prefigures Rome, therefore Rome is New Jerusalem
      Solomon’s Temple prefigures St. Peter’s basilica

EARLY RENAISSANCE ART IN ROME

Early Renaissance Art (1420-1500)
High Renaissance Art (1500-1520)
Late Renaissance Art (Mannerism) (1520-1600)

Transition from medieval to early Renaissance in art

1) Theological / spiritual viewpoint gives way to realist / humanist viewpoint
     Man occupies center stage / Classical forms recuperated
    Use of running narratives with attention to background details

 2) Mathematics & rediscovery of linear perspective
      Leon Battista Alberti, Della pittura [On painting](1436)
        “vision makes a triangle, and from this it is clear that a
         very distant quantity seems no larger than a point”

3)   Changing Status of the Artist: from artisan, mechanic to artist
       Mechanical Arts vs. Liberal Arts: artist should now be learned in the
          new studia humanitatis [classical curriculum] and in
          study of science and mathematics

 

Rome 250—Week Six, Slide list for  Early Renaissance in Rome

1)     Masolino da Panicale,  Central Altarpiece for Santa Maria Maggiore (1425)
     commissioned by Pope Martin V; on one side the Assumption of the Virgin,
     on other side The Miracle of the Snow:  shows Pope Liberius in 4th C
         founding of the church after miraculous August snow storm

2) Melozzo da Forli’ Pope Sixtus IV nominates Platina Vatican Librarian (1476-77).        
     Figures of four papal nephews along with kneeling librarian Bartolomeo Platina;
     important depiction of  Renaissance papal nepotism (favoring one’s nephews):
     tallest central nephew is       Giuliano della Rovere the future Pope Julius II (1503-1513)

    At the bottom of the fresco we read the inscription in Latin, to which Platina is pointing:
    “Rome, once full of squalor, owes to you, Sixtus, its temples, foundling hospital, street
     squares, walks, bridges, the restoration of the Acqua Vergine at the Trevi fountain,
     the port for sailors, the fortifications on the Vatican Hill, and now this celebrated library.”

3)     Sistine Chapel, (1475-1482), architect Baccio Pontelli,
      commissioned by Sixtus IV; cycle of wall paintings begins 1480's

4)     Sandro Botticelli, Punishment of Korah (O.T.) (1480-82), in Sistine Chapel

5)     Pietro Perugino, Christ Consigns the Keys to St. Peter (N.T.)(1480-1482),
                  in Sistine Chapel. Subtext of anti-conciliar agenda.

6)  Donato Bramante, New St. Peter’s Cathedral.  Coin showing Bramante’s
      original design.  Work begun in 1506 under papacy of Julius II.