Andrea Del Verrocchio's Bartolommeo Colleoni

What does the ideal person look like? What traits are desired, and which are not? Hundreds of years ago, during the italian Renaissance, certain traits in men, women, and leaders were heavily sought after. Men were desired to be well educated and masculine, women to be tender and intelligent, and princes were to be strong militaristic leaders. The term “Renaissance man” has many different connotations to it, with the main meaning being a man who is gifted in many arts. In several way, this is a true definition of what the ideal man would have been during this time period. Men were raised from infancy to study the “liberal arts,” which contained several different areas of knowledge. “It is, then, of the highest importance that even from infancy …show more content…
But what makes the optimal ruler? Depicted in Andrea del Verrocchio’s Bartolommeo Colleoni, a strong leader is to be militaristic: strong and powerful, educated in the art of war and precise with his commands. They are to be wise in their decisions and swift in their actions. These are a few traits that were highly sought after in royalty during the renaissance. One main characteristic of a great leader were his skills in war. “The first and true profession of the courtier must be that of arms; and this above everything else i wish him to pursue vigorously.” It was thought that if a man cannot lead an army, that he should not lead a kingdom. For this reason and for the protection of the people, militaristic knowledge and wisdom were the greatest traits among commanders. “A prince should therefore have no other aim or thought, nor take up any other thing for his study, but war and its organization and discipline, for that is the only art that is necessary to one who commands.” Though knowledgeable in many areas, a leader could not be strong without a strong army. If one became too engrossed in their pursuit of other knowledges, they risked their entire kingdom. “When princes think more of luxury than of arms, they lose their state. The chief cause of their loss of state, is the contempt of this art, and the way to acquire them is to be well versed in the