A New Secularism


	A New Secularism

Arnolfo di Cambio?
Palazzo Vecchio
about 1300
Florence, Italy

While much art and architecture of the Renaissance is connected with religion --and for the glory of God-- the Renaissance nonetheless accelerated a trend toward secularism emerging in the late Middle Ages. Pride in cities led not only to the building of cathedrals but to new civic buildings, often decorated with murals celebrating secular themes. These buildings are similar in function to county courthouses or state capital buildings. They were meant to inspire respect for the city's power and success.

Michelozzo
Palazzo Medici-Ricardi
begun 1444
Florence, Italy

By the fifteenth century wealthy Italian citizens built city palaces -- this one for the powerful Medici family. By the sixteenth century beautiful country villas also dotted the countryside as rich city-dwellers escaped the crowds and heat of the city.

Jan Van Eyck
Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride
1434

Secularization is evident in other art forms as well. While many Renaissance paintings did depict religious subjects (though perhaps in a less spiritual way) new secular subject matter becomes important. In medieval works actual people had rarely been depicted. Going back to the Roman tradition of portraiture, Renaissance artists rediscovered the portrait. This double marriage portrait of an Italian banker and his wife was painted by a Northern Renaissance artist.

All images marked ^MAS were photographed on location by Mary Ann Sullivan. All other images were scanned from other sources or downloaded from the World Wide Web; they are posted on this password-protected site for educational purposes, at Bluffton College only, under the "fair use" clause of U.S. copyright law.

Page maintained by Gerald W. Schlabach, gws@bluffton.edu. Last updated: 19 April 1999.

	Arnolfo di Cambio? Palazzo Vecchio about 1300 Florence, Italy
	While much art and architecture of the Renaissance is connected with religion --and for the glory of God-- the Renaissance nonetheless accelerated a trend toward secularism emerging in the late Middle Ages. Pride in cities led not only to the building of cathedrals but to new civic buildings, often decorated with murals celebrating secular themes. These buildings are similar in function to county courthouses or state capital buildings. They were meant to inspire respect for the city's power and success.
	Michelozzo Palazzo Medici-Ricardi begun 1444 Florence, Italy
	By the fifteenth century wealthy Italian citizens built city palaces -- this one for the powerful Medici family. By the sixteenth century beautiful country villas also dotted the countryside as rich city-dwellers escaped the crowds and heat of the city.
	Jan Van Eyck Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride 1434
	Secularization is evident in other art forms as well. While many Renaissance paintings did depict religious subjects (though perhaps in a less spiritual way) new secular subject matter becomes important. In medieval works actual people had rarely been depicted. Going back to the Roman tradition of portraiture, Renaissance artists rediscovered the portrait. This double marriage portrait of an Italian banker and his wife was painted by a Northern Renaissance artist.