X Speak on the topic using the following words and word-combinations:

history of art; to survey; cultures; masterpieces; civilization; Egypt; Greece; Rome; India; China; characteristic style of art; biblical truths; mosaics; Medieval art; sculpture; manuscripts; stained glass; valuable materials; Byzantine art; be characterized; silk; textiles; art historians; Impressionism; Modernism; Postmodern art.

TEXT B

I Read and remember:

1. to span охоплювати

2. to be viewed розглядатися

3. profoundly серйозно

4. to contend стверджувати

5. prominence вигідне становище

6. prevailing домінуючий

7. to unravel розгадати

8. pinnacles вершини

9. to diversify варіювати, урізноманітнювати

10. spirit дух

11. require потреба

ІІ Read the text and define the main idea of it:

Renaissance

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14^th to the 17^th century, beginning in Florence in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. This intellectual transformation has resulted in the Renaissance being viewed as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and contributions of such Great Men as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

The Renaissance, being a cultural movement, profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period, literature, philosophy, art, politics, science, religion.

It remains much debated why the Renaissance began in Italy, and why it began and when it did. Accordingly, several theories have been put forward to explain its origins.

Some historians have postulated that Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance as a result of luck, i.e. because “Great Men” were born there by chance. Da Vinci, Botticelli and Michelangelo were born in Tuscany.

Other historians have contended that these “Great Men” were only able to rise to prominence because of the prevailing cultural conditions at the time.

One of the distinguishing features of Renaissance art was its development of highly realistic linear perspective. It was part of wider trend towards realism in the arts. To that end, painters also developed other techniques, studying light, shadow, and famously in the case of Leonardo da Vinci, human anatomy.

These changes in the artistic method showed a desire to depict the beauty of nature and to unravel the axioms of aesthetics with the works of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael representing artistic pinnacles. Other notable artists include Sando Botticelli, Donatello and Titian, among others.

In the 15^th century, the Renaissance spread great with speed from its birthplace in Florence, first to the rest of Italy, and soon to the rest of Europe. The invention of the printing press allowed the rapid transmission of these new ideas. As it spread, its ideas diversified and changed, being adapted to local cultures.

In England the Elizabethan era marked the beginning of the English Renaissance with the work of writers William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, Sir Thomas More, Francis Bacon, as well as great artists.

French writers such as Francois Rebelais, Pierre de Ronsard, Michel de Montaigne, painters such as Jean Clouet and musicians such as Jean Mouton also borrowed from the spirit of the Italian Renaissance.

It was also during the northern Renaissance that Flemish brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck perfected the oil painting technique, which enabled artists to produce strong colours on a hard surface that could survive for centuries.

As a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period, beginning in Italy and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16^th century influence of the Renaissance affected literature, philosophy, art, politics, religion and other aspects of intellectual require.