The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-01
RENAISSANCE.

Gus awakening which Ia known as the
Renaissance 1t was like every mag
nificent sunrise, gradual develop
ment, yet in its elimination a sudden
glory; like every fresh creation, a
wonderful miracle based upon natural
laws. But the adequate tracing of
these causes which produced such
measureless results passes beyond the
power of the ordinary student. We
do well if we grasp its most important
factors.
The first of these is the Christianiz,
ing of the European nations. The
Church had been despot, but the
vitality of the Christian religion had
transformed the lives OF the people in
spite of the bonds which held them
and the corruption of their teachers.
Men were vet subservient to the
Church, but 1t was new kind OF
fealty in which the rights of the in
dividual began to have some proper
consideration. The spirit of human
ism pervaded the atmosphere, and
out of the lethargy so long unbroken
all sorts of eager activities and inven-
lions opened a myriad of pathways
into the regions of prolific thought
and deed, The physical world re-
vealed itself through the most aston
ishing discoveries ana the revival of
learning brought in fresh treasures
with every passing hour.
The whole atmosphere was ether
lied, if one may use such term, with
the passionate desire for knowledge
aud this produced new era in art in
two ways. The fresh impetus came
to Italy because she had been pre-
pared for 1t by essential evolution.
Literature, there, burgeoned rapidly,
and through its appropriation of all
sorts of classic lore brought the spirit
of classic art to the architects and
painters who were called to the SER
vice of wealthy mobiles as well as that
of the Church. This resulted in
course of time I'm the restoration of the
antique, but 1t was well that the early
artists of this period had no classic
models, for they were obliged to
"look within the heart" and to go to
nature.
This is our third great factor, the
study,ofnature Scientific investigati
had made great progress through the
persistent effort to understand the
curious things that made up the
curious world, and the artist found
that the most effective methods Of
portrayal must be based upon natural
longer be made by rule or pattern,
but by insight into personality as af-
fected by natures setting. And even
saints and angels could not be created
according to the old fixed plans but
were to be created out of the imagi-
nation as inspired by substantial
realities.
These thing, of course, were mat
ter of experiment and growth, but as
early as the thirteenth century
Cimabue 80 far surpassed his prede.
eessors that he is known as the
"'Father of Modern Painting" In
stead of the Byzantine system of color
he introduced warm flesh-tints, with
tender shadows and light undertones.
His draperies expressed much finer
grace and texture, his eyes were
much more natural and his faces had
an expression OF sweetness instead of
the seventies of the earlier virgins
and saints. He had little knowledge
of perspective, and like the others
made hands and feet (which 1t were
Kindness not to speak Of" But the
soul began to appear, and this is the
thing to remember.
Another significant fact Is that tho
people rejoioed in his skill. When
his great Madonna was carried to
the church of Santa Maria Norella it
was accompanied by an enthusiastic
procession with floating PLANNERS and
triumphant music and left in its
place with a joyous solemnity that in
tpired him to greater things. He did
some marvellous work in the church
of st. Francis of Assist, selecting his
subjects from the Old Testament and
the life of Christ, giving special inn
portance to scenes from the betrayal,
and the deposition from the cross.
But the debt we owe him can emily be
measured by the larger accomplish
ments of Giotto whom he found as a
shepherd boy and instructed in his
art.
The friend of Dante, Petrarch and
Caccaceio, Giotto was distinguished
by the balance and proportion of his
development. His literary attain
ments may still be considered be-
cause of his poem on poverty" His