Renaissance is a French word that literally means “Rebirth” and is referring to the rebirth of learning in northern Italy after there was hardly learning in the middle ages. During the Renaissance, there was a great renewal of education and ancient times. But, the Renaissance was more than just studying works of ancient scholars; it influenced sculpture, architecture and painting. In Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the mysterious smile reflects the newly emerging Renaissance values of Humanism and The Renaissance man.
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Renaissance.”)
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Leonardo da Vinci.”)
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Mona Lisa”)
Humanism was a new philosophical outlook that rejects religious beliefs and centers on humans and their values, capacities, and worth. For example some human achievements and concerns were the study in philosophy, culture, human needs, desires, and experiences. Humanism not only influenced the Renaissance, it also assisted the creation of art during the Renaissance. For example most of history’s famous painters lived during the Renaissance. In Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, humanism is shown by her mysterious facial expression, which gives an indication that she’s keeping a secret. Humanism was key to the Renaissances success in art and learning because it got peoples minds off religious beliefs and allowed them to focus on human values like artwork.
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Humanism.”)
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Leonardo da Vinci.”)
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Mona Lisa”)
The Renaissance man was a major title during the Renaissance and almost every man wanted this title. The Renaissance man is a flawless individual who tried to master all areas of study. For example Leonardo da Vinci was considered a Renaissance man because he was a musician, architect, sculptor, painter, scientist, engineer, mathematician, geologist, inventor, cartographer, anatomist, botanist and writer. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was an example of Leonardo da Vinci’s title of a Renaissance Man because this artwork showed how talented he was by creating her mysterious smile. Today, the Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile is being debated why Leonardo da Vinci made it that way. The Renaissance man is a value of the Renaissance because this encouraged more scholars to learn and study so they have something to earn.
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Renaissance Man.”)
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Leonardo da Vinci.”)
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Mona Lisa”)
In Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the mysterious smile reflects the newly emerging Renaissance values of Humanism and The Renaissance man. The realizations of the Mona Lisa demonstrated how much art had changed compared to the middle ages. Renaissance art was a huge contribution to the Renaissance and in fact expressed the values of it. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Leonardo da Vinci.”) (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s.v. “Mona Lisa”)
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