 Renaissance is not a historical period itself, it is not bounded by specific dates, but rather a moment in history during which Europe saw the pace of scientific discoveries, cultural and literary. The origins of this movement are in Italy, Florence, from 1300 (Trecento) and come from the leadership funded by the Medici dynasty, patrons and collectors. The arts are the first affected by this revival will spread to science, architecture, philosophy ....
France, which is emerging from more than one hundred years of war with England, still only knows the flamboyant Gothic style, castles still have a defensive role and the arts are confined to the religious sphere. The flowering of Renaissance art emerged with the castles of the Loire Valley, with King Francis. Back in France after two years of captivity in Italy, he brought Italian artists and architects on French soil.
 The Renaissance in Lyon will lead to an intensive, commercial, financial, urban, intellectual activity. Large families of bankers and traders from Italy, Florence, Lucca, Venice, attracted by this important traffic of money, are in Lyon and are building lavish mansions in the Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul's neighbourhoods. In October 1536, Francis authorizes the city to produce silk. Twenty years later, this activity becomes dominant, allowing 12,000 people to work and live.
For all these reasons, the city of Lyon is an attractive city: in fifty years, the city's population increased by fifty percent. It will go from 40,000 to 60,000 people. |
