Introduction
In French language, the word ‘Renaissance’ means ‘rebirth’ . And in the context of Europe it means rebirth of Greco-Roman Art and Architecture. A time when people after being illierated and believing blingly the superstition and whatever said by the church. We can see in this time many inventions in science came in this period and a thorough revolution of society took place both culturally and mentally.
Most of the greatest thinkers, authors, philosophers, scientists and artists in history came during this period , along with it many explorers and sailors from europe while exploring the world and colonialism opened up new places and cultures to European commercial society . The merchants and rulers got ti learn the new world ,rich of art and architecture specially in Occidental world
Later the invention of the printing press Made possible to take out as many copies of the texts as required and specially of the holy bible. Which after the common man read it in their own languages of french, german, spannish questioned the church and started exploring the original answer throughout Europe and allowed the ideas to spread among the people. The renaisance started in Florence at Italy, a place of rich cultural importance and whose wealthy citizens could spend a lot to support budding and rising artists.
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Artists and Their Works
In the initial stages CharleVIII invited many artists such as Domenicoda for beautifying the palaces and château of Loire specially . But many years of wars and black death made France poor and it commercial power broke which did not allow it to spend on art and leisures. Later on it only after Francois 1 who after the war of Italy brought with him the true revolution in French society with renaisance art and architecture in a large number. He also invited Leonardo to come and work in France. Leonardo was given château to live.
Thus here he made his workplace and created his amazing works, he brought with him paintings and drawings many of which are still in France today, specially at the Louvre , which has the world’s largest collection of Leonardo’s paintings, including the most famous ,which is known in French as La Joconde name of the woman of whose painting it is. Many Italian artists the other notable artists and who gave their best to spread the Italian renaisance and while giving it a unique and true french touch.
Architecture
Among other European nations and their renaisance period , France saw majestic development in architecture. one of the most magnificent examples of early French renaisance architecture is the royal château made by him, in the Loire valley. This was also pioneering château of Loire valley to be built in the lines of renaisance in France and later on came as the main attraction of that period for today’s people specially for the tourists.
He also rebuild the royal palace at in the south of Paris . In order to decorate his royal residences, he brought and invited many other artists from Italy. Following the ruler, the other nobilities and other aristocratic people made other Loire valley castles either built or rebuilt in the renaisance style. Among the most famous and beautiful of these château built in renaisance style are château of Azay le Rideau and so on.
Therefore we can see that along with Paris, the capital city of France. Along with the construction of the buildings , renaisance had it’s effect also on the interiors as we can see the extensive use of paintings for the ceilings and walls in palaces and Chateau. one of the most important examples of renaisance painting in France for architecture can be felt at the decoration of the ceiling of the Cathedrals, which are painted in the early sixteenth century mostly ordered by the catholic church at that time. one of the greatest accomplishments of the French renaisance was the construction of the Châteaux of the Loire, these are ,no longer conceived of as fortresses by this time and became pleasure palaces of nobilities. these pleasure palaces took advantage of the beauty of the rivers and lands of the Loire region and today they show remarkable architectural skill.
Following it and with the change of time and rulers and their thoughts castles and palaces of the ruler of France in renaissance period was also rebuilt under the direction of many artists. At times it also became a tough competition among the artists that who will be able to please the ruler and whose design would be chosen. Often the royal family members too commission the artists to create something unique instead of the monotonous religions subjects. For example To the west of the Louvre, one can see that the then Queen of France had built for her the Tuileries palace with extensive gardens and a grottes. These new artists were actually the students of the great artists in their workshops.
In French renaisance style gardens very important part of any architecture to make it look more refined and beautiful. Tgere are grottes, labyrinths and statues of mythological figures in the garden. They became a beautiful extension of the châteaux that they surrounded, and were designed soto share the renaisance ideas of measure and proportion in mathematics.
The most effect on Architecture in renaisance period was on Doors, windows and stairways as they were important in featuring. Large chimney places were present with candles on beautiful holders with human figures above them. The stairways too had human figures holding the lights. The beautiful ball rooms took a centre position in the palace. Decoration was concentrated on floors, walls and ceilings of the room. There was very few furniture in the room and more and more the art works .
Fountains were designed in various forms of monuments, grottoes, labyrinths and statues of mythological or biblical figures. They were in renaisance characteristics of perfect measure and proportion as new inventions in the field of mathematics and geometry made these possible.
Socio-Political Effect
During the 14th century,in Europe a cultural movement called humanism began. the invention of the Gutenberg printing press it allowed the improvement in communication throughout Europe and for ideas tospread more quickly which was like catalyst in spreading renaissance.
As a result of these movements in communication, lesser-known texts to people from previous human authors , which promoted the old Greek and Roman culture and values of Roman Empire in Europe started getting printed and distributed in the masses.
Additionally, many people believe advancements and progresses in international trade impacted a lot in culture in Europe and set the stage for the renaisance to grow. Art, architecture and science were closely linked during the renaisance. Actually it was this unique time when these different fields of study fused together among each other seamlessly and perfectly.
For example, artists used their knowledge about scientific principles, such as anatomy into their work, so that they could recreate the human body with extraordinary accuracy including the nerves, hairs and specific organs in correct propertions. Many scientific discoveries led to major shifts in thinking processes of mass. As more and more people started learning how to read, write and interpret the ideas, they began to examine and critique the church and religion as they knew it till far. The printing press allowed the Bible to be easily reproduced and made available to the people in many different languages known to the mass instead of latin which was only understood by the priest in the church.
Luther, actually a german started a revolution against the church which was carried by Calvin in France. The renaisance in France also started the war of religion in between the catholic community and new people against the pope and church known as protestants.Thus we can see renaisance revolutioned the ideas and thoughts of the people from those dark middle ages to modern questioning and debating mass with a love for studies and using those studies in the works of art and architecture.
