The Renaissance, spanning the time from the 14th to 17th century, is often noted for its contributions to the arts, music, science, and architecture. Although there is truth in this statement, the impact of the Renaissance reaches far past these disciplines. The humanistic movement fostered in this time set the foundation for the current culture regarding caring for children and in the development of an ethical approach in their care. In considering the period’s contributions to children’s rights, it becomes essential to examine the history and role of the Ospedale degli Innocenti in fostering a child-centered culture.

With over 570 years since its establishment, the Ospedale degli Innocenti in Florence is the oldest public institution in …show more content…
Prior to its inception, many unwanted children’s fate, primarily girls, were left to chance when abandoned in public streets and institutions. Most were the illegitimate offspring of high-ranking families or from families that could not afford to care for them properly. Nearly 90% of the infants abandoned at the Spedale were just a few hours to a few weeks old at the time of admission (UNICEF 2015). Children were received under a practice of anonymity through a basin or revolving container (rota) located in a wall near the main entrance. Upon admission, children were immediately baptized and breastfed by resident wet nurses. Annually, hundreds of children were admitted with one of the greatest number of residents of the Ospedale being in 1681 with nearly 3,467 children (UNICEF, 2015). These crowded conditions were often accompanied with a high mortality rate, approximately 15-20% in 1445 and 90% in the 1480s (Kahn, 2002). The Ospedale alleviated these conditions by sending infants to wet nurses in the countryside and placing them under foster care until the age seven when they would be readmitted. For boys, adoption and apprenticeship contracts provided the promise of a brighter future and ensured that the child’s caretaker would treat the child as if they were their own. For girls, the Ospedale degli Innocenti acted as their “father” providing a dowry via a lottery, which without they could never hope to marry and would live out a life as a nun or laborer (UNICEF,