Florence Kelley

Art is constantly changing. Styles come in and out of favor, subject matter old and new are painted and explored, and new techniques are developed. One major development and new technique that vastly changed art was the use of linear perspective during 15th Century Italy. As with any new technique, the use of linear perspective took a while to advance and become the mathematically based depth cue that people now know it as. In the beginning, it was simply the slight convergence of lines, not…

In The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli’s understanding of virtue and effective rule emphasizes the maintenance of political power and the disregard for morality, differing from the ideology of the classic political philosophers. Machiavelli’s concept of virtue is centered around the glorification of a ruler, facilitated by behavioural traits such as bravery, cleverness, deceptiveness, and ruthlessness. Effective rule requires these attributes, as the successful application of these characteristics…

sometimes referred to as “the first realist in politics,” wrote The Prince (1513) in an attempt to ingratiate himself to the ruling Medici family. The Medici family had dismissed him, suspected him of conspiracy, and banished him from the city of Florence only the year prior (1512). It is my contention that although, Machiavelli’s ideas do seem to be thrown – as accusations – in the politics of modernity, the charges are over-exaggerated. Further, most of the claims of Machiavellianism, when…

Renaissance Art and Era The Renaissance era began in Italy, however the time period that it began and ended in are highly debatable. Historians have an estimate that it lasted about 200 to 400 years, and either lasted between 1400 and 1600 or 1300 and 1700. The Renaissance era was heavily influenced by ancient Greece and Rome. Many new philosophies were developed during this time and many old philosophies aided this era in developing over time. The modern age was preceded by the Renaissance era…

David is one of Michelangelo’s most prized prices of work. David is a gigantic marble sculpture that was created by him during the years of 1501 through 1504 after returning to Florence. The purpose of David was to be a patriotic symbol of a hero because of the time period Florence was going through with the threats towards them. David showed a model or heroic courage and expressed that his inner spiritual strength can overcome anything that comes his way. Also as well, Michelangelo…

In Florence 1389, a boy is baptized, he was not of noble birth. He was the son of a local merchant. His name was Cosimo De Medici. According to the book “Culture & Values: A survey of the Humanities” by Lawrence S. Cunningham, John J. Reich, and Louis Fichner-Rathus, “ Cosimo de’ Medici (de facto ruler of Florence from 1434 to 1464) was an astute banker and a cultivated man of letters” (382). From humble beginnings, his dynasty would seek for power and influence and not stop until they secured…

The Medici family was the facilitator for Renaissance and played a large part in the patronage of the arts and the political development of the city. Rich merchants, specifically the Medici, commissioned the most talented artists to do their most inspired work. the Medici family influenced some the greatest artists in during the Renaissance, possibly even the world through patronage. Arguably, the greatest person the Medici family provided patronage to was an inventor, artist, engineer, and…

Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, written in 1513, stands out as the one advice book that transcended all others. In The Prince, Machiavelli argued against the humanist ideal for its insistence on the prince’s virtues as he, instead, provided a synthesis of rational deployment of force as well as the exercise of virtue. Perhaps due to his encouragement for a prince to dissemble, in other words, to make all his actions appear virtuous, whether they are so or not, Machiavelli’s political…

used during the time mainly originating from mainly Greek and Roman times and styles. During the Renaissance time period, numerous architects such as Bartolommeo Bandinelli were known for the design of dome creations used mainly in cathedrals in Florence, these design were now larger and more extravagant than ever previously created before. The exterior elements of the dome during the Renaissance architecture period were impressive to many by themselves, the interior elements were unique as…

Niccolò Machiavelli, a prominent figure during the Italian Renaissance, is often referred to as the founder of modern political science. Machiavelli 's cynical approach to ruling and politics even gave birth to a special term used when a ruling parties employ his worldview – Machiavellian-ism. This style of politics is known for being opposing what some refer to as the “ideal” form of ruling and emphasizes a “politics of reality” in which ethics are secondary to results and function (Machiavelli…