Italian Renaissance

Italian Renaissance

Jan 1, 1400

Actual date unknown. The Italian Renaissance started during the 1400s and continued on until about 1620.

Leonardo da Vinci

Apr 15, 1452

Da Vinci was one of the most remarkable individuals of the Italian Renaissance after he established himself as a painter, sculptur, engineer, and scientist.

Johann Gutenberg- printing press

Jan 1, 1454

Actual date unknown. Gutenberg is credited with the invention of the printing press making literature more accessible to the world. Plays can now be printed and lines can be learned through scripts.

Niccolo Machiavelli

May 3, 1469

On May 3, 1469, Niccolo Machiavelli was born. He was one of Italy's greatest known men and playwrights.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

Mar 6, 1475

One of the most famous painters, sculptors, architects, poets, and engineers of all time was Michelangelo. One of his most famous sculpures is David. Michelangelo also worked on the walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

The Prince is published

Jan 1, 1513

Actual date unknown. Niccolo Machiavelli published his most well known work in 1513 called 'The Prince'. This work outlines the argument that it is better for a ruler to be feared than loved.

commedia dell'arte

Jan 1, 1545

Actual date unknown. Commedia dell'arte is the 'comedy of the trade' and means professional actors are within the production. There were no scripts in this type of theater and all lines were improvised. There is record of such a company performing in Italy in 1545.

Shakespeare

Apr 26, 1564

Shakespeare was baptized on this day and his actual birthday is unknown. Shakespeare was the greatest playwright of all time in any renaissance period. Among his greatest works are Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet.

Italian Opera

Jan 1, 1600

Actual date unknown. Italian opera originated in about 1600 and is still playing a dominant role in theatre today.

Teatro Farnese

Jan 1, 1618

Actual date unknown. The Teatro Farnese was the first theater in Italy during the renaissance with a permanent proscenium arch.

Carlo Goldoni

Feb 25, 1707

Carlo Goldoni was an Italian dramatist who brought regular comedy in Italy back to life. He began his career by writing opera librettos, and then started to get into writing plays. Goldoni wrote about 160 plays in his lifetime.

Regio di Parma

Jan 1, 1829

Actual date unknown. Opened in 1829, it was one of the very first playhouses in Italy to adopt a gas lighting system and the Parisian-built, great bronze chandelier is still in perfect working order. Today, the theater is considered the home of Italian melodrama.