Republic of Florence

The painter Parmigianino, in his art piece, Madonna with the long neck, captures a fused narrative that comes from another art piece, “Vision of Saint Jerome”. The piece portrays the virgin Mary holding a young baby Christ. The piece is an oil painting that measures 7 by 4 feet, and was created between the years of 1534 through 1540. Unfortunately the piece was never finished because the artist became deceased. The painting holds eight subjects. From left to right there stands a group of young…

Nicola Machiavelli’s book “The Prince” consists of theories and experiential advice on what are the true makings of an ideal prince and an effective government based on the life of Cesare Borgia. According to Machiavelli a good ruler should be ruthless and at times unethical in order to maintain power. In addition he stated that preparations for war should be the foremost occupation of a successful leader. Most importantly a successful prince should exhibit virtue. The first most emphasized…

As the Medieval Ages drew to a close, the Renaissance proved to be a time of great change in European history. During the Renaissance the old superstitions and ignorance, which defined the Middle Ages, were gradually shaken off and replaced with a newfound yearning for knowledge and wisdom. It was the beginning of the age of the printing press, which made book learning more commonplace and affordable for everyone. The middle class became richer, larger and greater amounts of people were allowed…

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was a painter, architect, inventor, and student of all things scientific. He is known as the “Renaissance man.” Today he is best known for his art, including a couple of paintings that are still a few of the world’s most famous and admired, The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Art, da Vinci believed, was connected with science and nature. Self-educated, he filled dozens of secret notebooks with inventions, observations and theories. The concepts expressed in his…

The Renaissance was a time of rebirth, when society moved away from the religious focus of the Middle Ages and back towards the Classical views of ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on nature, humanism, and individualism. Sandro Botticelli, a Florentine painter known for works such as The Birth of Venus, captures the essence of this revolutionary time period in his numerous masterpieces. Today, he is recognized as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. It is clear that the works of…

In the article, Anthony Blunt describes the evolution of Michelangelo’s art and his pursuit of beauty within it. Michelangelo’s inspiration, particularly with the idea of beauty, shifted throughout his life. In the beginning of Michelangelo’s career, he focused on a mixture of humanism and Neoplatonism ideology. During this time period, Michelangelo was inspired to create artwork that displayed the beauty of the world. He later incorporated scientific research and exploration with elements of…

This will be a description of “The Lamentation” by Giotto di Bondone (1305). One thing that stands out in this painting is the use of line. The artist’s use and qualities of the lines brings out the purpose and meaning of the painting, as well as what is actual and implied. The fresco painting depicts the body of Christ, Christ’s supporters, and the Angels in heaven after he had been crucified. This being the actual focal point of the artwork. The downward-left diagonal line of the mountain in…

The Renaissance or the rebirth of European civilization was the period following the Middle Ages. When Greece and Rome classical world declined and a surge of interest in new ways of perceiving the world, revolutionized techniques in art, literature, politics, science among others innovations created the foundation for our modern advancements. According to history-world.org, the Renaissance also witnessed the discovery and exploration of new continents, the substitution of the Copernican for…

Louis Sullivan Introduction Among the first great modern architect, Louis Sullivan was the first to introduce a powerful vocabulary at early age. He was the most imaginative and articulate figure among a small group of creative men in Europe and America. Initially, many architecture were known to use traditional forms of medieval heritage and classical but Sullivan struck out in a new direction. He managed to develop an introductory terms of his organic theory of building art. His kindergarten…

Perseus Confronting Phineus with the Head of Medusa was created by a man named Sebastiano Ricci in the years from about 1705-1710 (Museum). Ricci was a very famous painter and was eventually commissioned by many such as the Duke of Savoy and the Emperor Charles VI. Ricci’s main study was in the style of grand manner fresco painting’s (NGA.GOV). His painting Perseus Confronting Phineus with the Head of Medusa was created during the period of the Baroque time. Ricci’s work of art is an oil on…