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what was venice famous for during the renaissance

by Prof. Vella Stanton I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Venice made a significant contribution to art, architecture, and sculpture especially in the 16th century and it is regarded as one of the great centers of the Renaissance, the equal of Rome and Florence. Moreover, the city was to become one of the centers of European art until the 18th century.

Full Answer

What is Venice famous for?

In fact, the city of Venice is still world renown today for its famous canal system. Historians believe that people had been living in the region since ancient history but it became a much more significant area in the timeframe of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Why was Venice so important to the Renaissance?

Venice was, in fact, so prosperous and healthy that it took someone named Napoleon to undo its empire status... but, that was quite a while after the Renaissance had faded away and had nothing to do with art. The important part is, Venice (again, like Florence) had the economy to support art and artists, and did so in a big way.

What type of government did Venice have during the Renaissance?

As with other city-states of the time, Venice during the Renaissance is referred to as a republic. Traditionally, a republic is a form of government in which the people of the state have a great deal more power and influence than they previously did under an absolute monarchy, which was the common form of government in Middle Ages Europe.

Who were the famous artists in Venice during the Renaissance?

Giovanni and Gentile Bellini, Tintoretto, Tiziano, Paolo Veronese, Cima da Conegliano, Taddeo Zuccari, Vittore Carpaccio, Giorgione, Lorenzo Lotto…the quantity – and quality – of artists working in Venice during the Renaissance is impressive.

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How was Venice important to the Renaissance?

The wealth and power that Venice gained throughout the Middles Ages and Renaissance, helped grow a strong merchant class who benefitted greatly from trade. These merchants used their wealth to commission Renaissance art and artists, which came to symbolize the main impacts of the Renaissance in Italy.

What was medieval Venice known for?

The Republic of Venice was a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important centre of commerce (especially silk, grain, and spice) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century.

What is Venice known for?

Venice, known also as the “City of Canals,” “The Floating City,” and “Serenissima,” is arguably one of Italy's most picturesque cities. With its winding canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges, Venice is a popular destination for travel.

What did Venice produce during the Renaissance?

manufacturing, and silk was one of the most important industries in Italy. any major Italian city. Thus, Mol?'s book is especially welcome....The Silk Industry of Renaissance Venice.Subject(s):Industry: Manufacturing and ConstructionGeographic Area(s):EuropeTime Period(s):16th Century

Why was Venice so successful?

Venice was the most successful of the North Italian city states in creating and maintaining a republic dominated by a merchant capitalist elite. Thanks to its geographic position and willingness to defend itself, it was able to guarantee its autonomy and freedom from exactions by feudal landlords and monarchs.

Why was Venice important in the 16th century?

In the sixteenth century, Venice was at the heart of the grand tour. It was, in a sense, the capital of Europe. It was exciting and modern, a centre of art and music. It was a place of wealth and pleasure.

Is Venice known as the city of love?

The Italian city of Venice surely makes it onto every traveller's must-see list. It is a destination unlike any other, with a reputation for romance that surpasses even that of the Italian capital, or Venice's near neighbour that was the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

What is the history of Venice?

Uniquely among Italy's chief cities, Venice came into being after the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. The Lombard hordes, whose incursions into northern Italy began in ad 568, drove great numbers of mainlanders onto the islands of the lagoon, previously the homes of itinerant fishermen and salt workers.

What type of industry did Venice support during the Renaissance?

How 16th century Venetian silk manufacturers met the challenge of demand for lighter and cheaper fabric. The manufacture of luxury textiles, such as silk, was central to an Italian Renaissance economy based on status and conspicuous consumption.

What are four characteristics of Venetian painting in the Renaissance?

STYLEfree brushwork. interest in reflecting light.use of rough weave of the canvas.colorism, harmony of colors.oily pigments.complicated glazing/layering of paint.rich modeling, shading.EXAMPLES: Giovanni Bellini, Titian.

Why was the Venetian Renaissance different?

The Republic of Venice was topographically distinct from the rest of the city-states of Renaissance Italy as a result of their geographic location, which isolated the city politically, economically and culturally, allowing the city the leisure to pursue the pleasures of art.

What was Venice known for in the 1500s?

The Venice of 1500 was almost the first virtual economy, an offshore bonded warehouse with no visible means of support.

What is the history of Venice?

Uniquely among Italy's chief cities, Venice came into being after the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. The Lombard hordes, whose incursions into northern Italy began in ad 568, drove great numbers of mainlanders onto the islands of the lagoon, previously the homes of itinerant fishermen and salt workers.

What was Venice like 1450?

In 1450, Italy was divided into city/states vying for dominance. Venice was in the perfect location for trade, and goods from the eastern and western world entered its harbours. Venice had a rich economy, and used its powerful navy and strategic alliances to protect it. Not all was positive, however.

Why was Venice built on water?

Originally, it was thought that 5th century Venetians were forced to flee from the mainland because of conquerors and invaders. The idea was that building Venice on top of its lagoons provided protections that the original settlers sought after.

How many buildings are there in the Veneto?

The World Heritage Site of the City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto includes 23 buildings in the city, and 24 country villas. Vincenzo Scamozzi (1548–1616) from Vicenza only moved to Venice in 1581, the year after Palladio's death.

What is the symbolism of the lion in Venice?

Depictions of lions in paintings represented the significance of the saint as the patron of the city of Venice.

What is the Venetian school?

In music history, the "Venetian School" was the body and work of composers working in Venice from about 1550 to around 1610, many working in the Venetian polychoral style. The Venetian polychoral compositions of the late sixteenth century were among the most famous musical works in Europe, and their influence on musical practice in other countries was enormous. The innovations introduced by the Venetian school, along with the contemporary development of monody and opera in Florence, together define the end of the musical Renaissance and the beginning of the musical Baroque .

What is the major European centre for all book printing publishing?

Architectural publishing. Venice was a major European centre for all book printing publishing, and became the major centre for architectural publishing. Vitruvius is the only significant classical writer on architecture to survive, and his work De architectura was keenly studied by all Renaissance architects.

What was the most important book publisher in the Renaissance?

Though by no means an important centre of Renaissance humanism, Venice was the undoubted centre of book publishing in Italy, and very important in that respect; Venetian editions were distributed across Europe. Aldus Manutius was the most important printer/publisher, but by no means the only one.

How did the Venetian community develop during the Renaissance?

The Venetian community in the Renaissance was constructed on the emphasis on the relationships between neighbours, ritual brothers and kinsmen all living together in equality from the upper and lower social class. Many scholars believe that the stability, prosperity and political security was significantly due to their notion of working together and communal action. Petrarch, in the mid-fourteenth century, described Venice as "solidly built on marble but standing more solid on a foundation of civil concord." The stability of Venice was escalated through the system of guilds. Dennis Romano wrote in his book, Patricians and Popolani: "Nowhere in Venetian society was the emphasis on community and solidarity more pronounced than in the guilds." By the mid-fourteenth century, Venice had founded more than fifty guilds that helped to achieve cooperation from both members of the government and the guild. The government was shrewd to practice fair justice equally to all social levels, which prevented riots or political protests. Depending on the artisan 's trade and specialty, individuals joined the corresponding guild group upon a pledge of allegiance to the doge. There were many types of guilds such as the stonemasons, woodcarvers, glassmakers, furriers and wool industries.

What was the Venetian Renaissance?

The Venetian Renaissance had a distinct character compared to the general Italian Renaissance elsewhere. The Republic of Venice was topographically distinct from the rest of the city-states of Renaissance Italy as a result of their geographic location which isolated the city politically, economically and culturally allowing the city ...

When did the Venetian School Arise?

The Venetian School arose in the mid to late 15th century. Pioneers of the Venetian School were the Bellini and Vivarini (descendants of those marvelous Murano glassworkers) families. The Bellini were of particular importance, for it is they who are credited with bringing the Renaissance "style" to Venetian painting.

Why is Venice considered the most beautiful city in the world?

To the present day, Venice is one of the most beautiful cities on earth because of this building campaign.

What is the main word in Impressionism?

The main word here is "light." Four hundred years prior to Impressionism, the Venetian painters were keenly interested in the relationship between light and color. All of their canvases clearly explore this interplay.

What was the purpose of the Scuola?

Scuola (Schools) Artisan guilds—wood carvers, stone carvers, painters, etc.—helped ensure that artists and craftsmen were properly compensated. When we speak of the Venetian "School" of painting, it's not just a handy descriptive phrase.

What was Venice's geographical isolation?

It seems, too, that Venice's geographic isolation allowed for a somewhat relaxed attitude toward the subject matter. A great deal of painting dealt with religious themes; there was no getting around that. Certain wealthy Venetian patrons, however, created quite a market for what we refer to as "Venus" scenes.

What made Venice unique?

Venice's geographic location made it less susceptible to outside influences—another factor which contributed to its unique artistic style. Something about the light in Venice, too, made a difference. This was an intangible variable, to be sure, but it had an enormous impact.

Who were the most important artists in the Venetian schools?

The most important artists of the Venetian schools were the Bellini and Vivarini families, as mentioned. They got the ball rolling. Andrea Mantegna (1431–1506), from nearby Padua was also an influential member of the Venetian School during the 15th century.

What is Titian known for?

Especially known for his use of color, Titian would largely influence both painters of the Italian Renaissance and future generations of Western artists.

Where did Tintoretto live?

Tintoretto lived and worked most of his life in Venice and was deeply influenced by Titian. After Titian’s death, Tintoretto became, along with Veronese (see below), one of the leading painters in the city, in charge of a large workshop. He was hired for a number of commissions for the Doge's Palace, and for an exceptional cycle of paintings for the Scuola di San Rocco.

Who trained Titian?

Titian trained under Giovanni Bellini and Giorgione. His first major public commission in Venice, the Assumption of the Virgin for the high altar of the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (1516–18), at nearly seven meters high, the largest altarpiece in the city, soon established him as the leading painter in Venice.

Where was the feast in 1573?

The Feast in the House of Levi, 1573, Gallerie dell’Accademia (below)

Who is the oldest painting in Venice?

His earliest signed work is The Blessed Lorenzo Giustinian (1445), one of the oldest surviving oil paintings in Venice, on view at the Accademia Museum. Unfortunately, Gentile's most important paintings, the monumental canvases in the Doge’s Palace, were destroyed by fire in 1577.

Who is Paolo Veronese?

He was influenced by Titian in his approach to composition, narrative, and coloring, but he is more classical and harmonious than both Titian and Tintoretto, placing him close to Mannerism.

Who were the Bellini brothers?

The Bellini brothers, Giovanni and Gentile, were born into an important family of artists. Their father, Jacopo, was one of the founders of the Renaissance style of painting in Venice and northern Italy and influenced the early works of his sons. Andrea Mantegna, court artist to the Gonzaga, was Giovanni’s and Gentile’s brother in law.

What did the Venetians in disguise say?

When these Venetians in disguise crossed paths, they greeted one another saying, “Buongiorno siora maschera,” Good morning, lady mask, and then they continued going their way.

What is the most famous mask in Venetian?

The most classic and famous of Venetian masks is the bauta, which is entirely white; it covers the whole face, and has two holes for the eyes; it also alters the voice of the person wearing it, making for the perfect disguise. The fact that the bauta is open at the bottom, where the chin is, makes it possible to eat and drink without removing it, which means that it could be worn in any occasion.

What decrees restricted the use of masks in Venice?

The Council of Ten that ruled over Venice issued many decrees to restrict the use of masks, but people only followed them in a handful of situations: masks were avoided in churches and sacred places; prostitutes on the streets and their clients in the brothels were forbidden from wearing them; and nobody could wear one during epidemics such as the plague.

What did the Venetians wear in the 16th century?

If you had walked around the calli of Venice in the 16 th century, you would have noticed many Venetians wearing all sorts of masks and long, black, hooded capes. It would have been impossible to know who was behind them: a man or a woman, what their social status was, if it was someone famous or a complete stranger.

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The Rise of Venice

Venice and The Renaissance

Venice and Trade

  • The city was the most important commercial center in Italy, although it had competitors such as Amalfi and later Genoa. The city after the Crusades and the capture of Byzantium was the major commercial power in the region. The trade of Venice helped to create the prosperity that was essential for the Renaissance. The ‘Serene Republic’ and its fleet of trading ships allowed Italian …
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Venice and Print

  • While the printing press was developed in Germany in the late 15th century, Venetians quickly adopted the technology. By the early 16th century, the city had developed an indigenous printing industry. Indeed, it was to become one of the major centers of the early print industry in Europe. The presence of printers was not only important economically but also culturally. The Republic’…
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Venice and The Arts

  • The Republic has a long tradition of workshops which produced works influenced by Byzantine icons. The city’s artists who formed associations came under the influence of those from nearby Padua. They introduced oil painting to the city, and the works of Leonardo were also influential. The Venetians absorbed the new ideas and techniques and developed a new style of painting. J…
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Conclusion

  • Venice was a great commercial center and maritime power. It was instrumental in the economic expansion of Italy that was so important for the artistic and intellectual flourishing, that was the Renaissance. The Venetians enabled city-states to become wealthy and allowed rich merchants and rulers to patronize the humanists’ scholars and artists. The...
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Further Reading

  • Howard, Deborah, Sarah Quill, and Laura Moretti. The architectural history of Venice (Yale, Yale University Press, 2002). Martin, John Jeffries, and Dennis Romano, eds. Venice Reconsidered: The History and Civilization of an Italian City-State, 1297–1797 ( Oxford, JHU Press, 2003). Bernstein, Jane A. Print culture and music in sixteenth-century Venice (Oxford, Oxford University Press on …
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An Economy Supporting Art and Artists

Scuola

Compared to the Renaissance architecture of other Italian cities, in Venice there was a degree of conservatism, especially in retaining the overall form of buildings, which in the city were usually replacements on a confined site, and in windows, where arched or round tops, sometimes with a classicized version of the tracery of Venetian Gothic architecture, remained far more heavily used than in other cities. The Doge's Palace was much rebuilt after fires, but mostly behind the Gothic …

The Key Characteristics of The Venetian School

When Did The Venetian School Arise?

The Important Artists

Sources and Further Reading

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The important part is, Venice (again, like Florence) had the economy to support art and artists, and did so in a big way. As a major port of trade, Venice was able to find ready markets for whatever decorative arts Venetian craftsmen could produce. The whole Republic was crawling with ceramists, glass workers, woodworkers, la…
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