Republic of Florence

Michelangelo Buonarroti, also known as "Father and Master of All the Arts", often comes to mind when the Renaissance is the topic of discussion. Michelangelo became wealthy and famous during his lifetime, from growing up with a family in the banking business, to becoming a famous figure in the Renaissance. He was a sculptor, architect, poet, and painter who always strived for perfection in all of his works. Michelangelo contributed to society by supporting the humanist movement during the…

The Roman Catholic Church, being the only universal European institution of the Middle Ages, practically governed every aspect of society. Medieval Europeans viewed the Church as a blessing from God; a humble order which was sent to protect them from the numerous raids and invasions which consequently led to chaos and disorder in society. Europeans that lived during the medieval times were pious and devout Christians. They believed that the road to eternal happiness was to fear their almighty…

artists no longer had to accommodate to the wishes of the their commissioner but to their own desires. Leonardo Da Vinci born in 1452 as a bastard son, lived with his father in Tuscany where he became the apprentice of Verrocchio, born in 1435 in Florence. Andrea Del Verrocchio was a Florentine…

I chose to write a compare and contrast for my final on Titian’s “Venus of Urbino” during the period of Venetian Renaissance and Romantic artist Francisco Goya’s “The Nude Maja”. My major is fashion design, so I was drawn to write about these works of art because these two paintings depicted both females’ sensuality which is probably the most popular subject matter in the western art history for centuries. These two works are particularly important because the “Venus of Urbino” is most often…

It is a text of statecraft. Machiavelli clearly draws distinction between morality and politics. As a true patriot, the ultimate goal he seeks is a well ordered and prosperous city of Florence. The nature of means is not an obstruction in his path to achieve the ends. End is what matters to him. Looking with this perspective we cannot say that he is an ‘evil’ man as considered by many. He is not insisting anyone to follow the path he recommends…

fifteenth-century Florence. It began with the leading merchant republics studying and teaching ancient Greek and Latin sources of history, science, art, architecture and literature. Looking back on Philosophers like Plato, these merchants adopted humanist ideals and began reconsidering the role of the “city in human culture” and began embracing ancient Greco-Roman designs: styles based on symmetry, correct and harmonious proportions,…

The Prince was written by Niccolo Machiavelli in the early 16th century in order to once again get into favor of the ruling family of Florence: The Medici’s. Publically, the goal of The Prince was to inform a ruler (Lorenzo de’ Medici) how to maintain power and stay in good favor of the subjects they rule over. Because of the many contradictions between The Prince and The Discourses, countless scholars have been perplexed by what Machiavelli’s true intentions were. Although it seems like…

however, were scattered on and initially few in number. The North had fewer centers of free trade that made Italy. Italy, had many duchies and republics led to a wealthy merchant class who often spend considerable funds in art. This was not the case in the north. In fact, the only notable similarity between northern Europe and, for example, a place like Florence, lay in the duchy of Burgundy. Burgundy, until 1477, covers a territory of the average current France north to the sea, and Flanders…

values of periods in his artwork. Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 and died on May 2, 1519. He was born in Vinci that is found in Arno River’s lower valley. Although that’s where he was born his hometown was in the territory of the Republic of Florence. He lived with his mother up until he was five years of age. After he turned five years of age he began to live with his father in the early beginnings of 1457. His father was in and out of relationships between his first and third…

Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, Italy on April 15, 1452. Not only was he an infamous Italian painter who created some of the world’s most well-known artwork, but he was a man of many talents. He was also a sculptor, architect, engineer, and a draftsman. He was a true genius which is the reason he is still being studied till this day. Throughout his life, he would write in a series of notebooks to document his studies. His notes show the use of mechanical principles and scientific inquiry…