Renaissance and Scientific Revolution

Raphael

· Born on April 6th ,1483

· Died on April 6th, 1520

· Painter

· One of his famous paintings in the Stanza Della Segnatura in the Vatican

He was known for his perfection and grace in his paintings and drawings. He didn’t live very long, so a lot of his larger paintings were never finished. He was compared to Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci during that time. He was also known for his printmaking abilities.

Albrecht Durer

· Born on May 21, 1471

· Died on April 6, 1528

· Painter, printmaker, engraver, sculptor and wood carver

· One of his famous works is the Apolcalypse woodcuts

His watercolor paintings make him one Europe’s best landscape artists. His use of wood as a medium revolutionized the potential different mediums. He didn’t just create art but involved principles of mathematics, perspective and ideal proportions in all his works. He has been regarded as the greatest artist of the Renaissance in Northern Europe.

Miguel de Cervantes

· Born September 29, 1547

· Died on April 22, 1616

· Writer

· His most famous writing is Don Quixote

Don Quixote was the first modern novel. It is considered a classic of Western literature. It is also considered to be one of the best novels ever written. His writings are thought to be among the most important in all of literature. His writings show narrative power, considerable humor, a mastery of dialogue and a forcible style. He has had a tremendous influence on the development of prose fiction. Don Quixote alone has been translated into all major languages and has appeared in 700 editions.

Filippo Brunelleschi

· Born 1377

· Died on April 15, 1446

· Architects/ engineering

· One of his famous buildings is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Italy

Filippo is said to be the best architects and engineers of the Renaissance time. In 1398 he started out as a master goldsmith and eventually became an architect. In 1401 he entered a competition to design bronze doors for the Baptistery, but he lost. His success can be attributed to his technical and mathematical genius that he used when designing and building. To help with his building, he invented a new hoisting machine for raising the masonry needed which he received a patent for. He was honored when he died by being buried in the Santa Maria Del Fiore. They also gave him a marble bust, which they say was carved from life.

Nicolaus Copernicus

· Born on February 19th, 1473

· Died on May 24, 1543

· Astronomer

· First to say the Earth was not the center of the universe

Nicolaous was the first astronomer to formulate a scientific reason to show that earth was not the center of the Solar System. He proved that the sun was. He wrote a book called “ De Revolutionibus orbium coelestium . This was the starting point of modern astronomy. His publication of heliocentrism, demonstrated that the motions of celestial objects can be explained without putting the Earth at rest in the center of the universe. This started further scientific investigations and became a huge influence in the history of modern science.