Early Italian Renaissance: Medici Family and

Renaissance Italy
and the Medici Family
Made by Liesl at homeschoolden.com
Note: We used many of these pages for reference only (saving on printer ink).
We used this material to supplement our history textbook, The
Story of the Renaissance (affiliate link), Chapter 3: The Italian
City-States and Chapter 4: The Era of the Medici
We also watched Empires - The Medici: Godfathers of the
Renaissance, (affiliate link) which did a fabulous job explaining
how the Medici family influenced the events of early Renaissance
period. This is also available from Amazon streaming here: The
Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance (affiliate link)
Feel free to make as many copies as you need for your kids or the students in your classroom
and may be projected onto a screen for classroom use.
This file may not be uploaded into any file sharing website.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this packet above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I
will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.
Italian City-States and Papal States
In the late Middle Ages, Italy was divided into smaller city-states and territories. There were
five major centers of power:
the city-states of Venice, Milan and Florence
the Papal States
and the Kingdom of Naples
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Venice, Italy
The Ca' d'Oro was a palace on the Grand Canal in Venice, northern Italy between 1428-1430. By
the Contarini family, who provided the city with 8 Doges.
Venice was ruled by a Doge, Duke,
and a Great Council.
Doge's Palace Palazzo Ducale established in 1340
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Milan Cathedral (was begun in 1385). It is the third largest in Europe.
St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St.
Peter's is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture and one of the largest churches in the
world. One method employed to finance the building of St. Peter's Basilica was the granting of
indulgences in return for contributions.
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Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance
The engraving by Stefan du Pérac was published in 1569, five years after the death of
Michelangelo
Florence, Italy
Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296. The dome was engineered by
Filippo Brunelleschi.
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The Medici
The ___________________ first settled in Florence in the _________ century as cloth
merchants.
The Medici were always active in local _______________. Florence
became the ________________ center of Europe in the late 14th and
15th centuries.
Giovanni di Bicci de Medici (right) founded a __________________ with
his wife's dowry in 1397. His bank became the largest in Florence.
Giovanni spent much of his wealth on the construction of
______________, support of __________, and contributions to
______________________.
Cosimo de Medici was Giovanni's son and Lorenzo's grandfather. He was a
patron of _______________________ and ___________________
among others
Lorenzo de' Medici was ruler of Florence and ____________ of the arts. Lorenzo commisioned
art from Florence's leading artists, including Leonardo
__________________, Sandro _______________________, and
____________________________ Buonarroti. He died in 1492.
After Lorenzo's death, Michelangelo spent time in Rome, but then
returned to Florence in 1499 and worked on his famous statue of
__________________.
Michelangelo was commissioned for the Pope's tomb and was then commissioned to paint the
________________________ of the Sistine Chapel.
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The Medici
The Medici first settled in Florence in the 13th century as cloth merchants.
The Medici were always active in local politics. Florence became the banking
center of Europe in the late 15th and 16th centuries.
Giovanni di Bicci de Medici founded a bank with his wife's dowry in 1397. His
bank became the largest in Florence.
Giovanni spent much of his wealth on the construction of churches, support of
art, and contributions to charity.
Cosimo de Medici was Giovanni's son and Lorenzo's grandfather. He was a
patron of Donatello and Brunelleschi among others
Lorenzo de' Medici was ruler of Florence and patron of the arts. Lorenzo
commisioned art from Florence's leading artists, including Leonardo da Vinci,
Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangelo Buonarroti. He died in 1492.
After Lorenzo's death, Michelangelo spent time in Rome, but then returned to
Florence in 1499 and worked on his famous statue of David.
Michelangelo was commissioned for the Pope's tomb and was then commissioned
to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
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Which artist did the pieces below?
Donatello
Ghiberti
Brunelleschi
Masaccio
Botticelli
___________________________ He portrayed Cosimo and Lorenzo Medici as wise men
kneeling before the infant Jesus.
___________________________ He was one of the first to use the contrapposto pose again.
___________________________ He was one of the first to use linear perspective in his
painting, employing techniques such as vanishing point in art for the first time.
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Which artist did the pieces below?
Donatello
Ghiberti
Brunelleschi
Brunelleschi
Massaccio
Botticelli
Donatello
Ghiberti
Masaccio
Donatello
Ghiberti
Botticelli
Botticelli
Masaccio
Botticelli: He portrayed Cosimo and Lorenzo Medici as wise men kneeling before the infant
Jesus.
Donatello: He was one of the first to use the contrapposto pose again.
Masaccio: He was one of the first to use linear perspective in his painting, employing techniques
such as vanishing point in art for the first time.
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Masaccio - used linear perspective in his paintings. His most famous works are frescoes in the
church of Santa Maria Novella
The Expulsion of Adam and Eve
The Tribute Money (Apostles are gathered in a circle around Christ as they are confronted by a
tax collector)
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Botticelli -- Cosimo and Lorenzo Medici are portrayed as wise men kneeling before the infant
Jesus.
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Botticelli -- The Birth of Venus
the goddess of love and beauty arises from a clam shell
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Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X was second son of _______________________
the Magnificent, ruler of the Florentine Republic. He was
born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici.
He was Pope from 9 March _____________ to his death in
1521. He is known for having said, "Since God has given us
the papacy, let us enjoy it" and spent money lavishly on art,
music, and on personal luxuries.
He is also known for granting ________________________ for those who
donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica, which practice was challenged by
Martin Luther's _______________________________.
Pope Leo X and Michelangelo:
Pope Leo commissioned Michelangelo to reconstruct the façade of the
Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence and to adorn it with sculptures. In 1520
the work was abruptly cancelled by his financially strapped patrons before
any real progress had been made. The basilica lacks a façade to this day.
In 1520 the Medici came back to Michelangelo with another grand proposal,
this time for a family funerary chapel in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Fortunately for posterity, this project, occupying the artist for much of the
1520s and 1530s
Pope Clement VII
He was born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, _______________
to Pope Leo X. His father, Giuliano de' Medici, was
assassinated. His mother also died, leaving him an orphan. He
was the nephew of Lorenzo the Magnificent, who educated
him in his youth.
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He was Pope from 19 November 1523 to his death in 1534.
Shortly before his death in 1534 Pope Clement VII commissioned
Michelangelo to paint a fresco of _______________________________
on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. His successor, Paul III was
instrumental in seeing that Michelangelo began and completed the project.
Michelangelo ignored the usual artistic conventions in portraying Jesus, and
showed him a massive, muscular figure, youthful, beardless and naked. After
it was completed, the depiction of Christ and the Virgin Mary naked was
considered sacrilegious. Shortly before Michelangelo's death in 1564, an
artist was commissioned to cover parts of the painting.
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Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X was second son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, ruler
of the Florentine Republic. He was born Giovanni di Lorenzo
de' Medici.
He was Pope from 9 March 1513 to his death in 1521. He is
known for having said, "Since God has given us the papacy,
let us enjoy it" and spent money lavishly on grand meals.
He is also known for granting indulgences for those who
donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica, which practice was challenged by
Martin Luther's 95 Theses.
Pope Leo X and Michelangelo:
Pope Leo commissioned Michelangelo to reconstruct the façade of the
Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence and to adorn it with sculptures. In 1520
the work was abruptly cancelled by his financially strapped patrons before
any real progress had been made. The basilica lacks a façade to this day.
In 1520 the Medici came back to Michelangelo with another grand proposal,
this time for a family funerary chapel in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Fortunately for posterity, this project, occupying the artist for much of the
1520s and 1530s
Pope Clement VII
He was born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, cousin to Pope Leo
X. His father, Giuliano de' Medici, was assassinated. His
mother also died, leaving him an orphan. He was the nephew
of Lorenzo the Magnificent, who educated him in his youth.
©Made by Liesl at homeschoolden.com
He was Pope from 19 November 1523 to his death in 1534.
Shortly before his death in 1534 Pope Clement VII commissioned
Michelangelo to paint a fresco of The Last Judgment on the altar wall of
the Sistine Chapel. His successor, Paul III was instrumental in seeing that
Michelangelo began and completed the project.
Michelangelo ignored the usual artistic conventions in portraying Jesus, and
showed him a massive, muscular figure, youthful, beardless and naked. After
it was completed, the depiction of Christ and the Virgin Mary naked was
considered sacrilegious. Shortly before Michelangelo's death in 1564, an
artist was commissioned to cover parts of the painting.
©Made by Liesl at homeschoolden.com
Photo Credits:
Italian City-States, 1494
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Italy_1494_v2.png
Venice:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ca'_d'Oro_facciata.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photograph_of_of_the_Doges_Palace_in_Venice.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice#/media/File:Gaspar_van_Wittel__View_of_the_San_Marco_Basin.JPG
Milan Cathedral:
"876MilanoDuomo" by MarkusMark - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:876MilanoDuomo.JPG#/media/File:876MilanoDuomo.J
PG
St Peter's Basilica:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Basilica#/media/File:Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_ge
sehen.jpg
Florence Cathedral
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Florence_Cathedral.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_over_florence_1.jpg
Medici
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giovanni_di_Bicci_de'_Medici.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lorenzo_de_Medici2.jpg
Donatello
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donatello,_maria_maddalena_02.JPG
Ghiberti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Florenca146.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lorenzo_ghiberti,_porta_del_paradiso,_142552,_08_giosu%C3%A8.JPG
Brunelleschi https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_the_Duomo's_dome,_Florence.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duomo_visto_dalla_terrazza_dell'hotel_medici,_tram
nonto,_giugno_2014,_01.JPG
Massaccio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Masaccio__The_Expulsion_from_the_Garden_of_Eden_%28detail%29_-_WGA14180.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Masaccio7.jpg
Botticelli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sandro_Botticelli_-_La_nascita_di_Venere__Google_Art_Project_-_edited.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Botticelli__Adoration_of_the_Magi_%28Zanobi_Altar%29_-_Uffizi.jpg
Popes
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raffaello_Sanzio__Pope_Leo_X_with_Cardinals_Giulio_de'_Medici_and_Luigi_de'_Rossi_-_WGA18876.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sebastiano_del_Piombo_%28Italian%29__Pope_Clement_VII_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg