How did the Renaissance begin in Italy? 

A monumental period in the history of mankind, the Renaissance can be defined as a flowering of ideas in various fields, such as art, literature, science and philosophy. The period is so called because it was marked by the revival of classical Roman ideas from Antiquity. The Renaissance began in Italy and gradually spread throughout Europe. This movement influenced many centuries of culture to come. Let's delve into the history of the Renaissance to find out how it began.

Italy, synonymous with the cradle of Antiquity

Italy is the cradle of the Roman Empire, so the Renaissance was inspired by this to become a real movement. Following the fall of the empire in the IVᵉ century and the subsequent Dark Ages, Roman art had been temporarily forgotten and lost. It was not until the XIIᵉ century that this Roman art was rediscovered and gave rise to the Renaissance movement. Thanks to Italian writers such as Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch, that ancient texts were studied and contributed to a growing fascination with antiquity throughout Italy. These studies and their ideas then spread to various areas of society, including art, philosophy, literature, science, mathematics and so on, gradually forging the Renaissance.

The Black Death in Italy

Did the Black Death really contribute to the Renaissance? During the Dark Ages, the plague had a devastating effect on Italy, decimating a large part of its population. Unfortunately, few people managed to resist it... but there was still a glimmer of hope! The economy gradually picked up again and fewer people were competing for jobs and work opportunities, so it was easier to get rich at the time.

Italy, a rich and prosperous nation

If the Renaissance came about, it was also thanks to the wealth and prosperity of this country. Throughout the 14th, 15th and 15th centuries, Italy concluded fruitful trade agreements with a large part of Asia, as well as with Eastern Europe, thereby increasing its capital. Various wealthy Florentine merchant families, like the Medici family, enjoyed the financial freedom that came with trusting the country's best artists. Indeed, these wealthy families commissioned numerous works, both private and public, from these famous artists. This allowed the artists to exploit their potential to the full. But the artists also, and above all, wanted to impress their clients so that they could earn a living from their art. Artists' lives sometimes depended on their art, and this pushed them to produce the best work possible.

The Vatican, a rich and powerful patron

As the Renaissance developed, it moved from Florence to Rome, leading to a period that is often referred to as the "High Renaissance". At the time, the Vatican was one of Rome's most powerful patrons. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Roman Empire, many of Rome's most powerful popes sought to restore Rome to its glory days as a creative city. In this way, decade after decade, the popes commissioned works of art from various artists of the time, devoting huge sums of money to the task. Among the greatest Roman artists were Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaelo and Michelangelo. Perhaps if Italy had not been such a rich country, and no one had supported Renaissance art, we might never have seen Michelangelo's David, dating from 1504, or Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, painted between 1494 and 1498.