Italy became the birthplace of the Renaissance, which had a far-reaching impact on Europe and made a big step forward in European thought.

/kloc-At the beginning of the 6th century, most of Italy was under the rule of the Habsburg dynasty in Austria. 1796 after Napoleon's invasion, signs of unity that had disappeared for centuries reappeared.

After the Renaissance:

The essence of Renaissance: The original meaning of the word "Renaissance" refers to "the regeneration of classical Greek and Roman culture". In order to get rid of the control of the church on education, Italian humanists also established a new court school with the support of some princes and nobles and local rulers. One of the most famous is the court school named "Happy House" hosted by Vitorino and located in the suburb of Mantova, and the Ferrara court school hosted by Guarino. These two schools had a great influence on early humanistic education. These schools employ famous scholars to recruit students all over Europe and conduct so-called general education. After returning to China, overseas students spread Italian humanism widely.

Milan Cathedral

(Milan Cathedral)

Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral, also known as the Church of the Nativity, is located in the center of Milan, Italy. It was built in 1386, and its vault was completed in 1500. The gilded statue of the Virgin Mary (it is said that her hand has been stolen) was placed on the central tower in 1774. It was finally completed in 1897, which took five centuries. It is not only the symbol of Milan, but also the center of Milan. Napoleon was crowned in Milan Cathedral in 1805.

This hall is dedicated to the body of the Archbishop of Milan in the15th century. The head is made of silver and the body is the bishop's real body. There is a small hole in the roof of the church. At noon, the sun shines on the metal strips in the north-south direction of the floor. The ancients used this to measure time, which was called "sun clock". The square in front of the church was built at 1862. In the middle is the bronze statue of Queen Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. The yellow building on the right side of the square is a palace with neoclassical architectural style, which was built in 1778 and has been turned into a museum of contemporary art.

Foreign rule and enlightenment

Austria later replaced Spain to rule Italy under the norms of the Treaty of Utrecht (17 13) and gained control of the Kingdom of Milan and the Kingdom of Naples. Because the Habsburg emperor accepted the ideas of the Enlightenment, Austria was better governed than the Spanish Empire. Northern Italy, directly controlled by Vienna, gained the impetus of economic growth and maintained the vigorous development of academics. Major cities in Italy, such as Milan, Rome, Turin, Venice, Florence and Naples, have become fertile ground for intellectuals to discuss and think. Some Italian philosophers and literary figures were very active at that time, such as Caesar Begaria, Antonio Genovese and the Grand Duke of Tuscany (or the Holy Roman Empire Leopold II abolished the death penalty and torture in Tuscany).

Italy is an important destination for studying abroad in the18th century, and many foreign writers and artists have been there.

Italy in 1700 was an important stop for people to travel in Europe at that time. During this period, many foreigners, mainly British aristocrats, visited France, Italy and Greece to enjoy their art, culture and historical sites. /kloc-The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum were discovered in 0/748, and the ancient ruins of Rome were also restored. Many famous people such as Goethe, Shelley, Keats and Byron have traveled all over Italy. Some cities, such as Venice and Rome, have also become major attractions. Naples, Florence, Turin and Sicily attract many tourists, and Milan is also popular in some ways. Keats once famously said, "Italy is a paradise for exiles".

1796 The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars (1796 to 18 15) brought the concepts of democracy, sovereignty, law and state into Italy. From 14 to 17 centuries, plagues appeared many times, affecting the whole of Italy. The last large-scale epidemic in Italy occurred in Naples 1656. A report in 1767 pointed out that in the previous 3 16 years, there was a1year famine in northern Italy, and only 16 years had a bumper harvest. The population of Italy also increased by13 from 1700 to 1800, reaching180,000.

An Era in the History of Western Art —— Baroque Period

At this time, there are all kinds of arts, and we must explore their unified characteristics according to the broader cultural tendency of this era. As far as the influence on art is concerned, three cultural tendencies were the most important at that time. The first is the emergence of the anti-religious reform movement, which is expanding both regionally and ideologically. Many immortal works in baroque art, especially many works in Italian painting and architecture, may be directly related to the new propaganda attitude adopted by the church. The second is the consolidation of absolute monarchy, which produced a strong middle class and promoted the development of art. From the construction of Versailles Palace and Gardens by the French dynasty and the development of painting market by the middle class, we can see the influence of some political and social development on art at that time. Thirdly, under the influence of scientific development and exploration of the earth, they have a new interest in nature. These two activities have prompted human beings to have a new view of themselves. On the one hand, they feel insignificant (especially influenced by Copernicus' argument that the earth is not the center of the universe), on the other hand, they feel sacred and great because they have made a major breakthrough in knowledge. In a word, these cultural tendencies, together with their artistic reflections, have formed a basically optimistic new balance of power, which is maintained by what Stecco, an art historian, called religious power and non-religious power.

The emergence of baroque style is related to the abstract characteristics of the academic school that opposes "international stylism". The early baroque painters in Rome mainly included Carazzi and Caravaggio. Italian Baroque sculptor and architect, pioneer of bernini.

Louis XIV's style, that is, "the official style of the royal family", can be said to be a classical copy of Italian Baroque. Pu Sang is the greatest French painter in the17th century. His works are elegant, serious, logical and orderly, faithfully embodying the ancient artistic style and forming the characteristics of French Baroque. To study the Baroque style of Flanders, it is best to start with Peter Paul Rubens's paintings. He created large-scale altar paintings and mythological works, and designed a series of ingenious palace paintings and fable paintings.

Italy has become the main European center of Baroque, and different Baroque architectural styles have emerged, especially in Sicily (see Sicilian Baroque Style). Neoclassical architecture began to appear in Rome, Milan, Turin and Italy in the18th century and19th century.

Ii. 1740s- Florence

Florence is the center of silk, wool, banking and jewelry. Florence is famous for its art, design and handicrafts.

1737, Florence was ruled by the Austrian Empire because of its marriage with the Austrian royal family.

In the 65438+5th century, the Hosta flower in Florence was guarded by the local giant medici family, which lasted for 300 years. The national emblem of medici family became the city emblem of Florence today. From15th century to18th century, Florence's three-century history is closely related to the rise and fall of medici family. At that time, the family held the actual political and economic power in the local area. It was not until 1737 that the last ruler of medici family died that Florence fell under Austrian rule again.

1735, French Herzog von Lothringen Franz Stephen who lost the throne and Polish King stanislav II Lescinsky exchanged Lorraine for Tuscany. 1736, he married Maria Tracy, the grand duchess of Habsburg, Austria. 1737, the medici dynasty ended, and Franz Stephen became the archduke of Francesco II of Tuscany. 1740, Franz Stephens and his wife became the common rulers of Austria, and Tuscany became the territory of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty of the Austrian empire. 1859, the French army defeated Austria; 1860, Tuscany was merged into the kingdom of Sardinia; 186 1 year, Tuscany became a province of the Kingdom of Italy.