Western European Renaissance Culture – Flashcards
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******Introduction*****
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What does the term "Renaissance" mean, and what status did the achievements of Greece and Rome attain during the Renaissance?
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Rebirth, achieved cultural achievements becoming the standards of rome and greece
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In what city was the Renaissance born?
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Florence Italy
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What, probably more than anything else, precipitated the birth of the Renaissance in Florence?
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Florence had become the center for european banking
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Who was the most prominent banking family in Florence during the fifteenth century?
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Medici family- cosimo & Cosimos son Piero & Pieors son Lorenzo (il magnifico)
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Who were Cosimo and Lorenzo (Il Magnifico) de Medici?
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Most powerful banking family
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Where all did the Medici have branch banks?
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Naples, Rome, Pisa, Venice, Bologna, Lyons, Avignon, Geneva, Basel, Brutes, Antwerp, Cologne, Lubeck, London
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Who, to a large degree, was responsible for the expression of the Renaissance in Rome?
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Medici Family
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What was Pope Julius II called, and what did he embody?
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il papa terrible (the awesome, or fearsome pope) embodied a combination of: religious devotation, military prowess, artistic inclination
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What church in Venice is a good indication of the kind of wealth and mastery of sea trade that the Venetians enjoyed for several centuries, and what is the church's nickname?
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St Marks Basilica (Church of gold) Byzantine style church
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Can expressions of the Renaissance also be found in France, the Netherlands, the Germanies, and England?
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yes
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******Renaissance Sculpture****
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What are the Gates of Paradise, and on what building were they to be placed?
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Doors for Baptistery of San Giovanni in front of Florence Cathedral
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Who was Ghiberti's primary competitor in the contest to see who would decorate the doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni?
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Ghiberti vs. Brunelleschi
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Who spent fifty years of his life working on two sets of doors?
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Ghiberti (northern doors)
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How did the second set of doors, the east doors, come to be known as the Gates of Paradise?
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took 25 years, Michelangelo said "they were not unworthy to the 'gates of paradise' "
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How does Ghiberti relate complex stories with many scenes through his panels?
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he tells a story with 4 different scenes by placing those scenes on different levels of relief.
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What was Donatello's relationship to the Medici family?
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he was supported by the Medici Family
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What is the story of David and Goliath?
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The young shepherd boy who becomes the greatest king of israel (David tended sheep, but his brothers had followed Saul into battle. One day, David's father, Jesse, sent David to the Israelite camp to take provisions to his brothers and check on their well-being. Soon after David arrived at the Israelite camp, Goliath appeared to taunt the Israelites. David was embarrassed for his army and when he learned of the rewards for slaying Goliath (great wealth, Saul's daughter in marriage, tax exemption for the family), David volunteered. David cut off Goliath's head.)
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What is the significance of Donatello's David in terms of freestanding nude male statues, and to what does the nudity point?
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Nudity in christian culture was forbidden, but with the revival of greco-roman humanism during the renaissance, the admiration of the nude form reappeared
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Describe Donatello's David.
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Hat worn by Donatellos shepherds Left hand he holds the rock he used to nail Goliath Right hand the sword he used to cut off Goliaths heads Stands with left foot over Goliaths head
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How is Donatello's David biblical in name but Greco-Roman or pagan in appearance?
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David appears more feminine than one would expect feminine Dionysus (Greek god) , biblical in name perhaps, but Greco-Roman or pagan in spirit. He has pendulous breasts, undeveloped musculature, and a girlish face.
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Donatello's Repentant Magdalene
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Of what material is Donatello's Repentant Magdalene sculpted?
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Polychrome Wood
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Describe Donatello's Repentant Magdalene?
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damaged by time and her own life long sins, and she is covered by her long hair, praying for forgiveness "sinful women" (prostitute)
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Who, according to the common interpretation, was Mary Magdalene?
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Mary Magdalene appears as a woman from whom Christ cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2), and she appears as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1, 11-17).
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Michelangelo's Pieta
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What was Michelangelo's relationship to the Medici family?
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He practiced fresco painting in the medici sculpture garden
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What is a pieta?
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family devotions under god, typically depicts the Virgin Mary with the dead body of the recently crucified Christ.
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In what city and for what church did Michelangelo sculpt his Pieta?
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This Pieta was commissioned by a French Cardinal living in Rome where, in 1496, Michelangelo had gone in search of work.
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Describe Michelangelo's Pieta?
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Michel- angelo portrays Christ as recently dead; Christ's veins (note his right hand) appear as though they are still pulsating with life. Christ's limp body melts into his mother's arm and lap.
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Why might Mary appear so big and so young?
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young- belief that Mary remained a virgin through out her life Big- emphasize the parent-child relationship and suggest that the crucifixion was a sacrifice for them both
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What is the story about why Michelangelo signed this piece of sculpture but no other?
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he overheard some admirers attributing the work to another so he signed it right above her breast
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Michelangelo's David
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What was the nickname of the block of marble out of which Michelangelo carved his David?
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"the giant"
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What for the people of Florence has Michelangelo's David come to symbolize?
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Powerful civic symbol
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Describe Michelangelo's David.
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determined look on his face naturalistic musculinity veins in his hand
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Compare and contrast Michelangelo's David with Donatello's David.
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Very similar to "donatellos david" but with masculine features M. David is shown thinking about what he's going to do.
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Renaissance Architecture: Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral of Florence or Il Duomo
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How is the nickname "Il Duomo" appropriate for Santa Maria del Fiore?
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because Brunelleschi's dome, referred to as the Cathedral of Florence
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What was the problem as far as completing Il Duomo?
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how to build the build the dome
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What is the story about the egg and the other architects?
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the architect who was able to stand an egg on its end should be given the commission.
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Who is responsible for solving the problem, and how did he solve the problem?
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Brucnelleschi's solution " Pointed arching dome, and two domes in one
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What unique design of brick did Brunelleschi use to support the interior dome?
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Herring bone design of brick
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*******Renaissance Painting****
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Comparison of Gothic or Medieval painting to Renaissance painting -- What are the general characteristics of Gothic or Medieval painting as compared to Renaissance painting?
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For Medieval Gothic(2D) painters the illusion of depth was not a primary concern Renaissance painters (3D) strive to present their subject matter as naturalistically as possible.
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(Masaccio's Holy Trinity)
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Who was credited with bringing into existence the "modern" or Renaissance style of art?
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Masaccio
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Identify the members of the trinity in Masaccio's fresco?
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Masaccio portrays God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove that could be mistaken for God the Father's collar. St. John Virgin Mary two kneeling donors (donated funds to finance fresco)
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What is a fresco?
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"fresh" painting into fresh or wet plaster to that the plaster and pain dry together
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How does the Holy Trinity illustrate characteristics of the Renaissance?
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inspiration from greco- roman architechture, flat columns, ionic columns, and tunnel vaulting, indented ceiling
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What is linear perspective, and who formulated its law?
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renduring the illusion of depth in as a naturalistic manner, Masaccio formulated it.
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Botticelli's Primavera
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What was Botticelli's relationship to the Medici family?
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he was a close friend
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What does "primavera" mean?
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spring time
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What all is happening in Botticelli's Primavera?
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Orange trees blossom around everyone except the bluish, blustery winter zephyr. The wind spirit (bluish)urges a nymph to join in the dance of spring. Mercury ushers out the clouds of winter with his hand. Three nymphs gracefully dance in the season of Spring. Aphrodite or Venus goodness of love, beauty, and fertility with her sons of Eros or Cupid shooting arrows of love above. The goddess Flora spreads out flowers for the world to enjoy.
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What features of the Renaissance does Botticelli's Primavera illustrate?
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...in the form of mythology and nudity
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(Botticelli's Birth of Venus)
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What is the story of Venus' birth?
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According to one Greek myth, Aphrodite or Venus, was born from the sea after the god Cronos castrated his father, Uranus. Uranus'testicles fell into the goddess Oceanus, and Aphrodite was the result.
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Describe Botticelli's Birth of Venus.
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Botticelli revives the story and depicts Venus riding a cockle shell shortly after her birth. As pink roses fall all around, two zephyrs blow Venus toward an island (Cythera or Cyprus) where an attendant waits to adorn her with a brocaded mantle.
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What kind of Venus does Botticelli portray?
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Goddess Venus, in this case, appears as a symbol of love and fertility, a source of arousal, to inspire the Duke and his wife to a herd of off- spring.
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What features of the Renaissance does Botticelli's Birth of Venus illustrate?
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Greco-Roman humanism in the form of the mythology and the nudity
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(Titian's Venus of Urbino)
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What kind of Venus does Titian portray?
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Titan was the "modest" Venus.
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Describe Titian's Venus of Urbino.
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I DONT KNOW
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If the Duke of Urbino commissioned the painting, for what occasion did he most likely commission it?
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WEDDING
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(Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper)
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In what ways was Leonardo a 'Renaissance man"?
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In the case of the Last Supper, Leonardo experimented with mixing oil and a water based paint called tempura. As the next slide demonstrates, restoration work in 1999 helped the fresco
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What kind of items can be found in Leonardo's Notebooks?
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Assault Chariot Ariel screw flying device Winged Flying Device
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What is strange about Leonardo's writing in his Notebooks?
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he was left handed and wrote in mirror script, backwards
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Why has not Leonardo's fresco of the Last Supper held up as well as other frescoes?
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he experimented with mixing oil and water based paint called tempura
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Where is the Last Supper located, and what is a refectory?
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located in the refectory of a monastery (Santa Maria della Grazie) in Milan, Italy. A refectory is a dining hall, so the monks at the monastery ate with Jesus and the disciples at the Last Supper.
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What moment does Leonardo choose to depict in his Last Supper?
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the moment when jesus announces that someone at the table wil betray him
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How are the disciples reacting to Jesus' announcement?
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The disciples react with worry to Jesus' announcement. They begin to be worried that one of there kind may turn on them.
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What is Judas, the betrayer, doing?
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recoiling and clutching the pouch with 30 pieces of silver
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How does Leonardo's Last Supper illustrate classical balance and proportion?
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The painting is very mathematically balanced. There are six disciples on each side of Jesus in two groups of three, four tapestries on each wall, and three windows in the background with Jesus framed by the central window.
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How is the Last Supper a good example of linear perspective?
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Christ's head being the convergence point of the parallel lines in this visual field.
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With what did Leonardo threaten the prior who complained that Leonardo was not working long and hard enough on the Last Supper?
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the artist threatened to use the Prior's face as the model. "Until now I held off holding him up to ridicule in his own monastery!"
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(Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa)
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Who was Mona Lisa?
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most famous portrait ever
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Describe Leonardo's Mona Lisa.
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eyes always follow the viewer, enigmatic smile
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To what does aerial perspective refer?
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diminution of distinctiveness and color of intensity for objects that should appear at a distance
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What is sfumato?
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capture subjects in smokey light so it portrays the warmth of their personality
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How did the Mona Lisa, an Italian creation, wind up in a French museum, Paris' Louvre?
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Da vinci died with it in his possession in france,
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(Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Ceiling)
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Where is the Sistine Chapel located?
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St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, and Rome.
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Who built the Sistine Chapel, and after whom was it named?
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Pope Sixtus built it, and it was named after him
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How was the Chapel decorated prior to Michelangelo's work on the ceiling?
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only stars on the ceiling, but with side walls frescoed by leading painters of the 15th century
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Who summoned Michelangelo to Rome for the purpose of painting the ceiling?
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Pope Julius II
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Did Michelangelo want to paint the ceiling?
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he did not say, but when he did agree to paint it, he created a more elaborate scheme
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How long did it take Michelangelo to complete the ceiling?
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1508-1512 (4yrs)
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What comprises zone one of the ceiling, and what do we find painted in zone one?
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Zone 1, consisting of the lunettes and spandrels, depicts the biblical ancestors of Christ [along with four other typological scenes in the corners] .
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What comprises zone two of the ceiling, and what do we find painted in zone two?
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Zone 2, consisting of the area between the spandrels on both sides of the ceiling, depicts alternating Hebrew prophets and Greek sibyls.
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What comprises zone three of the ceiling, and what do we find painted in zone three?
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Zone 3, consisting of the area running down the center of the ceiling, depicts nine scenes from the book of Genesis.
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Describe the scene entitled The Creation of Man/Adam.
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God stretching forth his right index finger to give Adam the spark of life.
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What does the scene entitled Original Sin and Expulsion from the Garden represent?
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The glorious future anticipated by the previous five scenes is here undone. On the left, Adam and Even eat of the forbidden fruit; and, on the right, they are driven into a world where they must now suffer, toil, and die.
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What does the scene entitled The Sacrifice of Noah represent?
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Representing humanitys attempt to redeem itself
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Describe the scene entitled The Deluge/Flood.
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The flood, and water everywhere, noah and his family are safe in his ark and everyone else is struggling for their life.
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What does The Deluge/Flood represent?
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Representing the wrath of god directed at the wickedness of humanity, and the opportunity for a new beginning. Flood, and noa's ark in the background
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What does the scene entitled The Drunkenness of Noah represent?
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Inability of humanity to sustain its righteousness through its own effort
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What is the message of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling?
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Zone 1- ancestors of Christ Zone 2- the scenes of human shortcoming romans, and jews Zone 3- pointing towards the coming of Christ and the need for redemption christian message for redemption
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How does the Sistine Chapel Ceiling illustrate features of the Renaissance?
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Only during the renaissance do we see Hebrew next to roman greco
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In what room was the School of Athens painted, and of what building is that room a part?
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Stanza della segnatura (room of signature) In the Vatican palace (next to the Sistine chapel
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For what discipline was Raphael's School of Athens painted as a tribute?
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On the room's four walls Raphael painted tributes to theology, poetry, law, philosophy [the School of Athens] (Raphael's School of Athens)
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What disciplines are honored on the other three walls of the Stanza della Segnatura?
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Plato (with facial features of Leonardo da Vinci) and Aristotle, the two fountainheads of Western European philosophy
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What was the idea behind covering the walls of this room with great philosophers, theologians, lawyers and poets of the past?
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To be inspired but the great mind of history as he considered these documents
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Describe Raphael's School of Athens.
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Freseco (fresh plaster) Barrel vaulting Roman statue -Apollo, Athena Linear perspective
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Who are featured in the center of Raphael's School of Athens?
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Apollo, Athena Plato- indicating his idealism (with facial features of Leonardo da Vinci) Aristotle- indicating his realism
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How does Raphael's School of Athens illustrate Renaissance concerns?
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Pre Christian philosophy
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(Jan van Eyck's Betrothal Portrait, The Betrothal of Giovanni Arnolfini and Giovanna Cenami)
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Who was Jan van Eyck?
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A painter for the duke of burgundy
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Who was Giovanni Arnolfini?
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The subject in the portrait
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Why should the painting be understood as a betrothal portrait rather than a marriage portrait?
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not joined by right hands but are merely touching. There is no bridal crown. There is no official present. There is no indication of a ring ceremony.
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Why does Giovanna appear as though she were pregnant when, in fact, she is not?
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Mass matrial from her dress representing high social distinction (women wore dresses with a lot of fabric)
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****Renaissance Literature Nicolo Machiavelli's The Prince****
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(Introduction)
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What family controlled the city of Florence from 1434 until 1492?
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The Medici
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What monk re-established the Florentine republic?
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fra savonarola
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What kind of fires did Savonarola like?
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Bonfires of vanities
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What Renaissance artist threw some of his own work in Savonarola's fires?
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Sandro Botticelli
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What happened to Savonarola when he defied the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and ignored the concerns of the people of Florence?
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The Florentines imprisoned, tortured, and then executed their formerly respected Prior. Savonarola and his immediate companions were hung in the Piazza della Signoria, a central public gathering area in Florence. A fire was started below them, and their ashes were thrown into the Arno River.
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Who took control of Florence after Savonarola's strangulation?
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Piero Soderini
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Who became Soderini's primary agent?
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Machievelli, equipped with a strong humanistic background, was appointed second chancellor of the Republic and engaged in various diplomatic missions for Florence.
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What happened to Soderini and Machiavelli when the Medici retook control of Florence in 1512?
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Soderini, who had sided with the French, was driven into exile. Machiavelli was imprisoned, tortured and then exiled to San Casciano, a town located a few miles from Florence.
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Why did Machiavelli dedicate The Prince to the Medici family?
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in hoped of earning the good graces of the medici and re-entering the world of politics
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Why were people opposed to The Prince?
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Machiavelli was the first to put aside religious or moral considerations and offer, based upon his empirical observations, extremely shrewd, pragmatic advice about how rulers can maintain their governments.
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What does referring to someone as "Machiavellian" mean?
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unscrupulous political dealings, and machiavelli will aquire such a bad rep that in the 16th century they include an evil character "old nick"
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Selections from Machiavelli's The Prince
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Why does Machiavelli advise against a prince or ruler using mercenary and auxiliary soldiers?
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Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe.
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What ought to be the primary concern of a prince, and why does Machiavelli believe this should be the prince's primary concern?
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A prince's only concern should be war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank.
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If a ruler cannot be both loved and feared, is it better for this ruler to be loved or feared, and why does Machiavelli believe it best to be one over the other?
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it is better to be feared than love because people will not try to go against you in that case
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When is it okay for a prince not to keep faith, not to keep his word?
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when he feels the city needs help
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When should a ruler "act in opposition to good faith, charity, humanity, and religion"?
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"when it is in best interest to help the city"
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How does Machiavelli believe the means will be judged if the ruler succeeds in establishing and maintaining his/her authority?
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no matter what people will disagree with you, but the ones that know the truth wont dare go against you
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*****Shakespeare's Hamlet****
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Introduction -- What is the argument against the traditional assumption that Shakespeare did, in fact, write all the plays attributed to him
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That someone else wrote these plays and used Shakespeare as a front man. If he wrote it we'd know more about him.
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What does Hamlet learn from the ghost of his father
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That his father was murdered by his brother, Claudius, hamlets uncle
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Who is Polonius, and why does he think Hamlet is acting strangely?
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Lord chamberline or chief counselor to king Claudius because he's in love with Ophelia and he can not see her
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What is it, according to Hamlet's "To-be-or-not-to-be" soliloquy, that causes humans to tolerate a miserable existence rather than put an end to it?
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Were afraid to know what comes after death so we choose to live longer "He weighs existence and all it entail against non existence and all it entails, he thinks about suicide, dying death.."
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Why does Hamlet tell Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery"?
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Go become a nun so she worth be giving birth to any other humans, because humans are sinners.
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What happens in Hamlet's play, "The Murder or Gonzago" or "The Mousetrap," and what is Claudius' reaction to seeing the play?
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He reenacts the murder of the king waiting to see clauius, reaction. He reacts by leaving quickly yelling for light
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What happens to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
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Claudias sent along a sealed letter requesting that the king of England behead Hamlet as soon as Hamlet arrives. On the voyage to England, Hamlet switches letters with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, giving them a letter that requests the king of England to behead them as soon as they arrive.
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How does Hamlet literally stare death in the face at what turns out to be Ophelia's gravesite?
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. Hamlet and Horatio wander into the graveyard where a grave is being prepared.
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How does Polonius die?
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stabbed (through the arras) by Hamlet
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How does Ophelia die?
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Ophelia was found dead, apparently drowned
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Why does Laertes want to kill Hamlet?
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hamlet kills laertes father he wants revenge
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How does Gertrude die?
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drinks poison intended for Hamlet by Claudius
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How does Claudius die?
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stabbed with poisoned sword, and them made to drink the rest of his own poisoned drink
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How does Hamlet die?
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poisoned (through the ear) by his brother Claudius stabbed with a poisoned sword
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How does Laertes die?
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stabbed with the same poisoned sword as hamlet
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Who is the only major character who is not dead by the end of the play (hint: he closes Hamlet's eyes)?
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horatio
