ONLINE LECTURE RESPONSE #3 / HOMEWORK #4

 

 

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance- Part One: Birth of a Dynasty

 

 

1. Why was the Medici family so important in the development of the renaissance?

           The Medici family was an important family to the birth of the renaissance because they bought Florence, Italy out of the medieval times. They did this by using new knowledge and technology. They took great risks in fields such as art and architecture to advance there family and there city. It started with the merchant Giovanni Medici and his son Cosmo Medici, they ran a small bank in the back of a wool shop. There clients were picked very carefully and based strongly on there loyalty. They took on a client who was a pirate and who the Medici family invested in who later down the line became the pope. This gave them recognition and they became the bankers of Florence funding almost every commercial business in the city. During the building of a temple the dome couldn't be finished and again they invested in someone that no one would help.  This gave them more power because with there money and there new artist Brunoleske they were able to complete the first dome shaped temple in all of the city and in it various artist who's paintings are still admired to this day. These events, artist and business that were able to thrive because of the Medici family took there city out of the dark ages and gave them new life, new recognition and new ways of thinking.

 

 

    2. Why was Donatello's David so revolutionary?

 

        Donatello's David was very revolutionary in the 15th century. This is because no one had attempted to create a free standing bronze sculpture of nude man since the ancient romans. It was also a very daring art piece because in that time especially in Florence art work of that nature was not admired or excepted.

 

   3. Describe this sculpture in detail.

 

      The sculpture of David is of a free standing nude bronzed man. He is stepping on a helmet with Goliaths head in it as a sign of victory. There is also a very long feather that goes from the helmet up the thigh in a sort of sexual manner. David's also holding a sword down toward the helmet.