Piero di Cosimo

Renaissance Observation Paper The painting that I selected was “Forest Fire” by Piero di Cosimo. Piero di Cosimo was a Florentine painter of the Italian Renaissance. He was born on January 2, 1462, and died on April 12, 1522. He created this painting in 1505, at the age of 43, about a decade before his death. He painted “Forest Fire” with an oil panel canvas, similar to most of his paintings at the time. Starting in the left hand corner, I see a bundle of cream, beige, and black birds flying away in a frantic. Then a multi-colored bird sits on the far end branch, almost peacefully, unbothered by the chaos surrounding it. A little below the colorful bird is an ash hawk, with its wings sprung out, kind of looks as if he is controlling the situation. Below him is two small golden deer, one of them is looking at the fire, probably thinking why are we still standing here. The other deer is looking up at the birds as if he is envious that they are able to escaped with…

Within 30 years, this small bank grew into one of the strongest, wealthiest, and the most important banks in all of Europe. With numerous branches all over Europe they were able to influence the economy of Europe while amassing personal wealth and power. With their large fortune, they spent lavishly on art and architecture propelling the progress of Europe as they did their own. Under the leadership of Cosimo, great painters such as Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Alberti, Fra Angelico, and…

who was the gonfaliere during the 14th century, he led a revolt against the ciompi and became the dictator of the city, his ruthless regime led to his banishment in 1382. The family fortune fell until it was restored by Salvestro’s distant cousin Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici who made the Medici the wealthiest family in Italy. With this wealth the family’s political…

Through the Medici Party and many other established connections, the successful Medici leaders controlled the European Economy in the 15th Century. The Medici Family, originally from Mugello, a small, rural town, rose from simple beginnings to rule Florence (Cesati 19). The first ruler, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici, moved a small Roman Bank Branch to Florence in order to utilize the possibility for expansion and investments (“Medici Bank”). After the death of Giovanni, Cosimo de’ Medici, took…

advantage over other banks where individual salary was more important than the actual process of making money and growth for the whole company. New systems of accounting and loaning created new methods of making money, many of which we still use today. Under the leadership of Cosimo, the bank flourished. New branches were built all over Europe, spreading the Medici influence and wealth all throughout Europe. Cosimo built several manufacturing plants that produced wool and silk. This provided…

prisoners. The employee served food in the kitchen and was said to have distributed heroin, marijuana, cocaine and tobacco to five prisoners! This is a popular topic because illegal drugs have become just as common as over the counter drugs. It’s sad that people in prison can still get their hands on things that they shouldn’t be able to have access to. • Rock and Roll Summary: Finding an article on rock and roll was a little more challenging of a task than it was to find articles on drugs and…

upper class. The most influential of the families within Florence during the Renaissance was the Medici “through energy and wisdom in finance, in politics, in generous patronage of artists and philosophers” (2-7). Cosimo Medici was the head of the family in the beginning of the 14th century and observed the importance of powerful and wealthy families in Florence politics. As one of the leading families, the Medici introduced Florentine society to many teachings from the Romans “who had created…

figure. However, very little is known about the backgrounds of these paintings; their patron, provenance, and purpose largely remain a mystery, leaving questions about how Botticelli views Venus and how he intended his audience to view Venus. As a widely discussed figure in art, Venus is sometimes used to repress or shame female sexuality, and she therefore serves as a warning to women. Yet Venus can also be used to empower women, and that seems to be the case with Botticelli’s Venus and Mars.…

His inspiration had come from his family who, having held high up positions in the city’s republic, had become prominent figures in Florence. In 1494 the Medici were driven out of power and replaced by Piero Soderini, “a man Machiavelli characterized as "good, but weak,"” “During this time, Machiavelli thrived under the patronage of the Florentine gonfaloniere (or chief administrator for life)” In 1498 he received the title, Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence and eventually found…

particularly subject to political instability. The city was ruled by the Signoria, composed of nine members chosen from the city 's twenty-one guilds, to serve for two-month long terms. These men 's interests were often unclear, as they were supposed to rule objectively, whilst they had to remain loyal to their friends, patrons and clients.9 These alliances based on clientele and patronage between office-holders were the symptom of a paranoid society, obsessed with conspiracy and where distrust…