Italian Renaissance
Renaissance was a cultural movement that began in 14th century in Florence, in the Late Middle Ages, and lasted three centuries, spreading to all Europe. It probably arised from the rediscovery of Greek, Roman and Arabic classical texts on natural sciences, philosophy and mathematics, leading to a sudden flowering of literature, science, art, religion, education and politics. Renaissance brought progress in many areas, even if it is better known by its artists. The Renaissance scholars employed the humanist method of study, and searched for realism and human emotion in art.
Science and art were intermingled in the early Renaissance, with artists such as Leonardo da Vinci studying anatomy to improve the quality of his paintings and sculptures. Dissections of human cadavers were strictly prohibited by the Roman Catholic Church, but Da Vinci performed them. The illustration depicted here shows one of his anatomical drawings. It is quite possible that Michelangelo did the same. The “secret books” of Michelangelo, however, were never found, while Da Vinci left us many texts, notes and illustrations. Some of the drawings that were studies for paintings or sculptures showed nude persons. The clothes were added later so that the perfect anatomical posture could be preserved. Da Vinci, besides being a painter and sculptor, was a very innovative scientist, setting up experiments in water flow, motion and aerodynamics.
Renaissance had its contributions to Medicine as well. We already talked about Paracelsus and Ambroise Paré. We will now talk about two important Italian physicians.
Gerolamo Cardano, who lived from 1501 to 1576, was an Italian Renaissance mathematician, physician and astrologer. He was also a gambler and a pioneer in the field of mathematical probability. He seems to be the first person to state unequivocally that deaf children can be educated. The moment was ripe, Renaissance brought a revival of interest in all types of education. During the Middle Ages deaf people were classified together with the mentally deficient and had no civil rights. The Talmud, the extensive philosophical treaty of the Jewish rabbis, establishes that deaf people could not play any part in the Synagogue and could not pray. Some Catholic priests said that they were not entitled for Salvation. It is difficult to understand these feelings in the age of cochlear implants.
His disciple Gaspare Tagliacozzi (1546-1599) was a Professor of Surgery in Bologna and is considered the father of Plastic Surgery. There is evidence that plastic surgery was performed by Sushurata, an Indian doctor who lived in 800 BC, but Tagliacozzi’s “Italian method” was entirely original and more practical than the “Indian method.” Tagliacozzi’s “Italian method” is shown here in an old drawing.
Tagliacozzi was condemned by the Catholic church for “attempting to improve the work of God.” In fact, he was trying to correct deformities caused by syphilis, a disease that became known in 1530.
This is one example of the controversies between Science and Religion that the became more widespread during Renaissance. Humanist thinking also began to be employed to look at the Catholic church, leading to discussions that helped to change old conducts, to Reformation and Counter-Reformation.
Illustrations from Wikimedia Commons
Science and art were intermingled in the early Renaissance, with artists such as Leonardo da Vinci studying anatomy to improve the quality of his paintings and sculptures. Dissections of human cadavers were strictly prohibited by the Roman Catholic Church, but Da Vinci performed them. The illustration depicted here shows one of his anatomical drawings. It is quite possible that Michelangelo did the same. The “secret books” of Michelangelo, however, were never found, while Da Vinci left us many texts, notes and illustrations. Some of the drawings that were studies for paintings or sculptures showed nude persons. The clothes were added later so that the perfect anatomical posture could be preserved. Da Vinci, besides being a painter and sculptor, was a very innovative scientist, setting up experiments in water flow, motion and aerodynamics.
Renaissance had its contributions to Medicine as well. We already talked about Paracelsus and Ambroise Paré. We will now talk about two important Italian physicians.
Gerolamo Cardano, who lived from 1501 to 1576, was an Italian Renaissance mathematician, physician and astrologer. He was also a gambler and a pioneer in the field of mathematical probability. He seems to be the first person to state unequivocally that deaf children can be educated. The moment was ripe, Renaissance brought a revival of interest in all types of education. During the Middle Ages deaf people were classified together with the mentally deficient and had no civil rights. The Talmud, the extensive philosophical treaty of the Jewish rabbis, establishes that deaf people could not play any part in the Synagogue and could not pray. Some Catholic priests said that they were not entitled for Salvation. It is difficult to understand these feelings in the age of cochlear implants.
His disciple Gaspare Tagliacozzi (1546-1599) was a Professor of Surgery in Bologna and is considered the father of Plastic Surgery. There is evidence that plastic surgery was performed by Sushurata, an Indian doctor who lived in 800 BC, but Tagliacozzi’s “Italian method” was entirely original and more practical than the “Indian method.” Tagliacozzi’s “Italian method” is shown here in an old drawing.
Tagliacozzi was condemned by the Catholic church for “attempting to improve the work of God.” In fact, he was trying to correct deformities caused by syphilis, a disease that became known in 1530.
This is one example of the controversies between Science and Religion that the became more widespread during Renaissance. Humanist thinking also began to be employed to look at the Catholic church, leading to discussions that helped to change old conducts, to Reformation and Counter-Reformation.
Illustrations from Wikimedia Commons
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