Florence Cathedral

art and education. Although Petrarch was the “father” of Humanism, Dante included characteristics of humanism in his works during the Middle Ages. Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy provides little hints of the Renaissance and humanistic views in Florence during the 1300s. Humanism was viewed as humans in the center of the universe. It also involved a rediscovery of the classics of ancient Greek and Roman writings. Dante Alighieri’s ideas about Humanism influenced later…

There have been many influential historical figures throughout the Renaissance. Nearly all of these figures are credited as a mighty hero or a brilliant human being. While not all of society may acknowledge Christopher Columbus as a spectacular personage, he still has changed the course of the Renaissance significantly. Born in Genoa Italy, 1451, Christopher not only discovered trade winds and how they work, but he also introduced more efficient weapons to the Native Americans. Yet perhaps…

In recent weeks, I had to think a lot about what Spanish film I would like to review. Since I took a class in the history of art, I have had an interest in learning how some works of art are related to historical events. Now I have decided that I would like to talk about the movie: The Last Supper. Directed by Tomas Gutierrez Alea, this film talks about different topics. For example; slavery, history and art. As I think the themes of the film are important, I will talk about the issues more…

Encased in marble, is a man on the verge of giving into temptation. The statue is of Adam, the first man, holding the Forbidden fruit and readying to take a bite. Every inch of Adam shows the mastery of the artist behind the sculpture. In their article, “Adam by Tullio Lombardo,” Luke Syson, Chairman of the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts; and Valeria Cafà, assistant curator, explain that Tullio Lombardo was commissioned to carve a statue of Adam for a Venetian doge (chief…

cultural achievements, like bringing high heels and ballet dancing to France. Catherine de Medici had a lasting impact on the world in two major ways: participation in religious conflict and patronage of the arts. Catherine de Medici was born in Florence, Italy on April 13, 1519 as Caterina de Medici. Her parents were Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino, and…

Wedding Portrait or Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride, Jan van Eyck’s 1434 oil painting on wood panel, is among the most famous paintings in Renaissance art. This painting not only is a double portrait but also visually certifies the wedding of Giovanni Arnolfini, an Italian merchant, and his betrothed in their Flemish home in Bruges. Van Eyck’s composition is filled with elaborate detail and complex symbolism. The use of oil paint instead of tempera paint allowed van Eyck to create the illusion…

This paper will discuss two oil paintings created by Francisco de Zurbarán (Spain, 1650) and Henry Oshawa Tanner (France, 1898) that depict the popular religious scene known as the Annunciation. In the Christian faith, the Annunciation refers to a celebration of when Gabriel appeared before the Virgin Mary to inform her that she would conceive the son of God. Both artists describe the same incident, sharing the same basic subject matter and similar visual arrangement. However, in attempting…

has their own view on what that piece of work means or shows. In Fire In The City, Lauro Martines writes about the events that unfolded in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. He does so by following a particular character, Girolamo Savonarola. Martines decides to write the book this way because he wants to demonstrate the turmoil that was happening in Florence through the indirect use of Savonarola as the central focus. The book is not written only about Savonarola; instead it is of the…

Crime and Punishments in the Renaissance The Renaissance was a very interesting and unique era in history. It’s known for a plethora of different inventions, arts, and ways of life. For example, in the Renaissance, there were multiple different crimes that caused people to be punished in cruel and unusual ways. Much of this is different from today, but some of it is also very similar. For instance, the multiple convictions that caused people to be punished. There were two main types of…

beyond basic reading, writing and mathematics instruction, but his artistic talents were evident from an early age, (Leonardo da Vinci Biography, 2015). At the age of fifteen Leonardo’s father got him an apprenticeship with Andre Del Verrocchio in Florence. Working there he showed an amazing talent at a young age. From 1470 to 1475 he got to help and distributed some artwork under Andre. However, when he was twenty years-old he…