Activity: “The World of the Renaissance”

Source One: “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli, circa 1485

What is the subject matter of this artistic creation?

–Roman goddess Venus  goddess of love and beauty

  • Born out of a sea shell  rising out of water
  • Going back to Roman Antiquity for his subject matter  no allusions to Christianity

What is meant by secular?

–Not concerned with religious matters
Is the subject matter secular?

–b/c birth of Roman goddess (mythology and not religion)

–Artist has decided to forego Roman Catholic subject matter and instead concentrate on “pagan” subject matter
Are proportion and perspective evident in this work of art?

–Perspective  is a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface (things get smaller along a straight line until they get smaller)

  • Artist has studied the human body some argue that the body parts are in proportion (some disagree)
  • Perspective exists in the depiction of Venus and the use of background in the painting
Source 2: The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli’s (1532)

The following excerpt it from Niccolo Machiavelli’s book, The Prince, published in 1532, in which Machiavelli speaks about the attributes of a successful politician in the world of Italian politics during the Renaissance.

Therefore a prince, so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies….

Since it is necessary for the prince to use the ways of beasts, he should imitate the fox and the lion, because the lion cannot defend himself from snares and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Therefore, it is important to be a fox in order to understand the snares and a lion in order to terrify the wolves. Those who choose only to be a lion do not really understand. Therefore, a prudent leader will not and should not observe his promises, when such observance will work against him and when the reasons for making the promise are no longer valid. If all men were good, this precept would not be good; but since men are evil and will not keep their word with you, you shouldn't keep yours to them. Never has a prince lacked legitimate reasons to break faith. I could give you an infinite number of examples from modern times, and show you numerous peace treaties and promises that have been broken and made completely empty by the faithlessness of princes: these knew well how to use the ways of the fox, and they are the ones who succeed. But it is necessary to know how to hide this nature and to simulate a good character and to dissimulate: for the majority of men are simple and will only follow the needs of the present, so that the deceiver can always find someone he can deceive….

Therefore, a prince doesn't need to have all the qualities mentioned earlier, but it is necessary that he appear to have them. I'll even add to this: having good qualities and always practicing them is harmful, while appearing to practice them is useful. It's good to appear to be pious, faithful, humane, honest, and religious, and it's good to be all those things; but as long as one keeps in mind that when the need arises you can and will change into the opposite. It needs to be understood that a prince, and especially a prince recently installed, cannot observe all those qualities which make men good, and it is often necessary in order to preserve the state to act contrary to fidelity, contrary to mercy, contrary to humaneness, and contrary to religion. And therefore he needs a spirit disposed to follow wherever the winds of fortune and the variability of affairs leads him. As I said above, it's necessary that he not depart from right but that he follow evil.

From Chapters XVII and XVIII in The Prince (1513), public domain work found at
Project Gutenberg: The Prince

Religion deals with morality – what is right and wrong. What is Machiavelli’s attitude toward religion and what is Machiavelli’s attitude toward morality?

–In his advice to the Prince, Machiavelli appears to ignore the essence of religion and to use the appearance of religion to achieve political goals

–Machiavelli completely ignores religion’s dictates about what is right and wrong.

–He only focuses on what will work for a politician

Machiavelli offers advice to a person who desires to be successful in politics. On what criteria does Machiavelli base his advice? Do you think that Machiavelli’s advice is still being followed in today’s world of politics?

–Machiavelli bases his advice on results and what he has personally observed

Source 3: The Flagellation by Piero della Francesca (1455-1460)

What might the three persons in the foreground of the painting be talking about?

–May be discussing politics/business/current gossip/ appear wealthy

–They appear oblivious to what is occurring in the background

In the mind of the artist, what is the importance of religion?

–Appears that the artist has deliberately pushed the subject matter of religion into the background emphasizing secular matters in the foreground

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Find out what is meant by the “vanishing point” in art. Note the vanishing point in this painting. What does the use of the vanishing point tell us about the abilities of the artist?