Hi, my name is Eduardo. I live in in a small town named Galt and currently studying at Cosumnes River College. I enjoy hanging going out, playing sports, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with family.
The artist that will be focused on in todays blog is the famous sculpting mastermind Gian Lorenzo Bernini. In the article "Three Proposals for Gian Lorenzo Bernini" by Ann Sutherland Harris talked about major pints that Lorenzo did when it came to the technique and preserving his sketches. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was born in 1598, the sixth of Angelica Galante and Pietro Bernini's thirteen children. Bernini grew up in Naples, where he began sculpting at a young age, working closely with his father. Stated in the article, "The study of the sketching youth and the two academies presented here hardly make a dent in the total of lost drawings by Bernini, but all three are powerful drawings and their recovery may lead to further finds in the still explored recesses ode European drawing cabinets" (Sutherland 126). Along with his colleagues, architect Francesco Borromini and painter and architect Pietro da Cortona, Bernini was a key player in the establishment of Roman Baroque architecture. Through an ambitious urban planning project undertaken under his sponsorship by the powerful Roman Popes of the period, his ideas helped restore Rome to her previous architectural splendor.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Something that was stated in the reading and not in the journal article was that Bernini revolutionized the way sculptures were displayed. He frequently produced them "in the round," which refers to works that stand alone in large areas and are intended to be seen from all sides by the observer, boosting the total experience and intimacy with a piece. In the reading it stated, "Bernini gives the figure additional expressive power by his deep cuts in the stone, producing strong contrast between light and dark" (Cunningham 364). Although Bernini's drawings have gotten less aesthetic attention than his sculptures, there are a number of perceptive publications in a range of languages that combined give a comprehensive overview of his work in this medium. Stated in the article, "Scholars and and collectors of old master drawings focus on the survivors" (Sutherland 119). Study works for some of his sculptural or architectural contracts would have been some of his most accomplished sketch work. These big projects would need extensive preparation before beginning the final piece, and sketches may be drawn relatively rapidly to test a concept for a single aspect of the entire artwork.
Here is a short 5 minute video going more in depth on Bernini's own sculpture of "David":
"Bernini, David"
The main reason why I had chosen the artist and article that I did was for the sole reason that I wanted to expand my knowledge on sculpting back during this particular era. Stated in the article, "The accented strokes defining the contour of the figure, with breaks that cause the eye to finish parts of the line, appear in both sheets as do dramatic blocks of empty paper and dark tones that model the forms with a bravura hard to find in the work of any other Italian siecento craftsman" (Sutherland 121). There are many creative ideologies when it came to creating a sketch for Berninil; Bernini was a playwright, director, and actor who was heavily influenced by the theatrical. He authored, directed, and acted in plays, particularly carnival satires. This penchant for drama impacted not just his architecture and sculpture, but also his designs for stage sets, theatrical technology, and a wide range of ornamental art objects. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was a major influence and revolutionized the sculpting scene during his era.
Work Cited
Riech. "Chapter 15: "The Baroque World"Culture and Values, by Lawrence S. Cunningham.
Harris, Ann Sutherland. “Three Proposals for Gian Lorenzo Bernini.” Master Drawings, vol. 41, no. 2, Master Drawings Association, 2003, pp. 119–27, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1554582.
Bernini, david - youtube. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uEtvaUsI_w.
Edward VI granting the Royal Charter, 1553. by Beth Von Stats
The article I chose to focus on for todays blog is "Edward VI and The Pope", written by Roy C. Strong. The main reason why I had chosen the young ruler Edward VI and this article is connect to my concentrated theme is to what extent does religion influence human events. The throne of England fell to Henry VIII's youngest legitimate child, a son, who became known as King Edward VI, after his death in 1547. Because Edward is just ten years old when he ascends the throne, he is surrounded by a Regency Council of counselors and advisers. Stated in the article, "The young King is enthroned beneath a cloth of estate and at the feet of this doll like figure there lies an open book inscribed THE WORDEOF THE LORDE ENDVRETH FOR EVER; it is the Word of God whos purity crushes down and vanquishes the impure Roman pontiff" (Strong pg 311). After surviving measles and small pox, Edward VI only ruled for six years, succumbing to TB (then known as consumption). Viruses like this were common in Tudor England, which explains why people lived very short lives. Because the typical individual only lived until about the age of 35, a person of 18 years old would be considered middle-aged. As a result, Edward's death at the age of 16 was not unheard of. Before his death, King Edward VI followed a tradition started by his father Henry VIII. The Crown seized Catholic Church lands, which became known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It wasn't enough, though, that Church lands were taken. They were also re-distributed to aristocratic households around England, mostly to purchase the nobility's favor.
Here is a short video ten minute video for a brief summary of King Edward VI:
The portrait I chosen was "Edward IV 1537-53", illustrated by William Scrots; it is an amazing portrait with little details that truly makes the small details to stand out and really focus on how important and powerful King Edward VI was back then. Strong stated, " The portrait of Edward VI is derived from the earliest portrait series of the new King, of which a version at Petworth is datef 1547" (Strong pg. 311). The little prince is dressed in a russet satin gown with flowing sleeves, velvet edging, gold thread embroidery, and lynx fur lining. The Prince of Wales' coronet and feathers are adorning the gem around his neck. Through the left window, a deer park may be seen, with Hunsdon House, Hertfordshire, in the background. From May to July 1546, Prince Edward stayed in Hunsdon. The artwork may be seen in Pyne's 1819 illustrated 'Royal Residences,' hanging at Windsor Castle's King's Closet.
Edward IV (1537-53) by William Scrots Oil on panel
The main reason why I was so interested in King Edward VI was because he was King Henry VIII successor; I was very curious to know how influential King Edward VI would be to his people in comparison to his father. Another major comparison I wanted to dive into was how the young king handled the situation of religion during his time as the thrown. Before him, his father abused the religion system influencing his own desires, so I was curious to see how the young king would do in his fathers place. King Edward was reformed to be a Poststent while a majority of England continued to be Catholics. Stated in the article, "The scene of iconoclasm in the Edwardian allegory are framed by a backcloth of smoldering ruins of building collapsing one upon the other" (Strong pg. 312). He paired a strong commitment to religious reform with a determination to address social and economic problems such as the alleged widespread enclosure of land for pasture conversion.
Work Cited:
Strong, Roy C. “Edward VI and the Pope.” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 23, no. 3/4, Warburg Institute, 1960, pp. 311–13, https://doi.org/10.2307/750601.
Edward VI (1547 - 1553) - 10 minute history - youtube. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMm03Tg2XPA.
Staats, A. B. von. (2020, February 16). A godfather's solemn charge - the coronation of king Edward VI. Queen Anne Boleyn. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://queenanneboleyn.com/2017/02/20/godfathers-solemn-charge-coronation-king-edward-vi/.
William Scrots (active 1537-53) - edward VI (1537-53). Royal Collection Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.rct.uk/collection/404441/edward-vi-1537-53.
Hamlet considers whether fate or free choice is more important, whether it is better to act decisively or let nature take its course, and, finally, whether anything we accomplish during our time on earth matters. When Hamlet discovers that his uncle has murdered his father, he feels compelled to act, but he has so many misgivings about his circumstances and even his own sentiments that he can't determine what to do. During the whole play Hamlet is in the middle of three crises, according to the play's exposition: his country is under siege, his family is disintegrating, and the internal struggles he has to face. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the play as it brings to attentional what real problems many young princes and even the royal families had to face during that specific era. The main themes shown in this play had to do with corruption, revenge, religion, politics, and reality. The world known play Hamlet by William Shakespeare was originally published in 1603 originally written in Early Modern English. An interesting fact about the play was that it was his longest ever and the setting was focused on the country of Denmark. One major reason why Shakespeare was inspired to write Hamlet was because of the death of his only son who had died from an unknown illness. The very wealthy, upper middle class, and lower middle class made comprised Shakespeare's audience. All of these people would seek amusement in the same way that we do now, and they would be able to afford to go to the theater.
William Shakespeare
One of the key themes in Hamlet, being a revenge tragedy, is retribution. The concept of honour is closely tied to the concept of vengeance. The honor of Hamlet as a 'good son' is linked to his responsibility to revenge his father. 'Speak, I am obligated to hear,' Hamlet exclaims to the Ghost, to which the Ghost answers, 'So are thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear' (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 10-11). This dialogue emphasizes the connection between vengeance and honour, as well as the acknowledged obligation of a son to exact vengeance on his father's behalf. In Hamlet, madness is another major theme. Hamlet chooses to ‘put an antic disposition on' after hearing the Ghost's account (Act 1, Scene 5, line 191). His insanity begins as a masquerade to avoid the skeptical monarch and his snooping spies, Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern, so that he might explore the veracity of the Ghost's allegations. As the play progresses and Hamlet stays mired in his own bewilderment and indecision, there are instances when he appears to lapse into true lunacy, raising questions about his mental health. It would not be unusual for his circumstances to cause him to become paranoid and mentally ill. The strain of feeling obligated to murder Claudius despite his strong moral and intellectual objections, along with the knowledge that he is surrounded by people he cannot trust and who are continually scheming against him, would put any character to the test.
My overall final thoughts about the play are positive. I thought the majority of the script was well written and really carried its own weight until the very end. From my previous reading of Shakespeare I was already aware of how the play might end, but from all the others this one surprised me the most. From start to finish I was impressed and what made me really had me thinking the most had to be the main themes of the play; most of the themes I can see as real world examples that many have done or even thought about such as revenge, corruption, and mental struggle. I believe that Shakespeare did a great relating the play to many of his audience in one way or another. Hamlet is a play everyone should really look into as it stands as one of if not thee best play of all time written play by William Shakespeare.
"Why Should You Read Hamlet?"
(5:08)
Work Cited
Mategrano, T. (2002). Cliffs Complete: Shakespeare's hamlet. John Wiley & Sons.
Why should you read "hamlet"? - Iseult Gillespie - YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTu39aMg_mU.
In the 1500s, the Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement that spread across Europe. It culminated in the formation of a branch of Christianity known as Protestantism, a term that refers to the many religious groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over theology disputes. Major reasons why the Reformation came to be was the rise in nationalism and moving away from the church. Important figures such as that of Martin Luther is one that stood out from encouraging this movement.
Religion was a major factor when it came for people to understand the world and why everything was the way, but many, such as Martin Luther, began to believe in more of a collective identity constituting a demand to separate from the church. Stated in Chapter 14, "Thus Luther's insistence that the German rulers reform the church because the church was important to do so appealed to both economic and nationalistic self-interest", (Cunningham pg. 329). This was the first time in history that individuals were instilled with a sense of collective identity through diverse customs and behaviors.
"95 Thesis" Martin Luther
Another major reason why the Reformation began was because of how corrupt the church was to its people. In the reading, " The idea of reform in the church had actually been maturing for centuries, with out cries against abuses and pleas for change", (Cunningham pg. 329). The church during this period was the most superior ranking and social class holding a lot of power and abusing all of it. In the Article "An Economic Analysis of the Protestant Reformation" by Robert B. Ekelund stated, "It treats the Roman Catholic Firm as a firm that provided religious and legal services used its market to extract rents from it customers", (Ekelund pg. 647). Many, including Martin Luther, were tired of this and wanted change to happen. An iconic moment during early on in the Reformation had to ben when Martin Luther nailed his "95 Thesis" to the church door. Martin Luther published his 95 Theses in an attempt to persuade the Roman Catholic Church to stop selling indulgences, sometimes known as "get out of hell cards." Luther believed the Church lacked the right to grant such indulgences, especially for a fee. Luther refused to change his mind about his convictions.
A Fun, Animated History of the Reformation and the Man who Started it All
(4:55)
Work Cited
Ekelund, Jr., Robert B., et al. “An Economic Analysis of the Protestant Reformation.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 110, no. 3, The University of Chicago Press, 2002, pp. 646–71, https://doi.org/10.1086/339721.
Riech. "Chapter 14: The Renaissance in the North." Culture and Values, by Lawrence S. Cunningham.
A fun, animated history of the Reformation and ... - youtube. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhGGjRjvq7w.
In the journal article by Tom Nichols "The Master as Monument: Titian and his
Images" introduces the main topic of Titian's problematic role as the Venetian
tradition's figure of speech and complete meaning of the world that we live in.
As seen by the persistent flow of idealizing self-portraits and other images of
Titian from the mature and later years of his work, the older Titian seems to
have understood himself in this way. Titians paintings established as a model of
unquestionable artistic authority, noting that this position was achieved
through implied association with his aristocratic and courtly customers' elite
social identity. It then goes on to look into the more negative aspects of
Titian's hegemony over younger painters in Venice, both within his workshop and
outside of it. Stated in the journal article, "Younger generations of painters in
Venice, both within and beyond the workshop, sought to associate themselves with
Titian in this period, showing him as 'the father of art' alongside themselves
om the roles pf chosen heir or successor", (Nichols 219). Titian is highly
praised in the journal article as the father of art and having an entire
generation of young artist inspired by his work.
Allegory of Prudence by Titian
A point of information that was not mentioned in Chapter 13 'The High Renaissance in Italy' by Cunningham was the 'Allegory of Prudence' Painted by Titian. The painting depicts three human heads facing the opposite directions of each other while being above three animal heads; The oldest of the three heads is facing left and is paired with a wolf, the middle head is a modern aged man paired with a lion, and the young boy facing left is paired with a dog. Quoted in the article, "-the imagery clearly picks up again the Three Ages of Man theme that Titian has visualized in his early career..." (Nichols 226). The left head is Titian's own which represents old age and the past, the center head was his own son Orazio representing maturity and present-time, and lastly the third heard to the right is his cousin Marco who represents the future and youth; this art work leads back to Titian idealizing self portraits. stated in 'The High Renaissance in Italy', "Note the three distinct levels in the composition of the painting..." (Cunningham 311). Titan's art work typically is split between three different sections or a particular person, place or thing.
The reason why I had choose this particular article was for two particular reasons; one of the major reasons is because I had studied a little bit about Titian back in my senior year of high school, but I was eager to learn more about him as the art work he has created really inspired me to really appreciate art more. The second reason why I had chosen this very particular article was because it caught my attention the most by how much detail it went in about Titian and his work and how it was presented.
Work Cited
Cunningham. "Chapter 13: The High Renaissance in Italy". pp 295-321.
Nichols, Tom. “The Master as Monument: Titian and His Images.” Artibus et Historiae, vol. 34, no. 67, IRSA s.c., 2013, pp. 219–38, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23510252.
“The Power of Art - Tizian ( Documentary ) - Youtube.” The Power of Art - Titian , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2EaJhKjX-o.
Della Vecchia, Pietro. "Self Portrait of Titian", 1560.
Titian. "Allegory of Prudence", 1565-1570. Oil Painting.
In the article "Machiavelli and the Triumph of Princely Government" by Quentin Skinner shared great ideas about Machiavelli's "The Prince" about how a ruler should be in order to keep power both the people by his side. Skinner really believed that the prince has to believe in both in honor and fortune in order to have a controlled embassy by him. Stated in Skinner's article, "Good fortune is always the companion of bravery, a prince who possesses virtus will also have the best chance of enlisting the support of the capricious goddess in the conduct of his affairs" (Skinner 207). A prince must be brave in order to keep his people in control and have the state in order. Skinner had also a strong message to send to those are were going to become new the new princes; "He issues a warning to all new princes... they need above all to recognize that 'the only sound, sure and enduring methods to employ are 'those based on your own actions and virtus" (Skinner 206). Here we can see the ties between both works as they are saying what a Prince should do in order to be great and lead his people to prosperity.
Statue of Niccolo Machiavelli
The article really helped me get a better understanding of "The Prince" of how an upcoming prince should be have both bravery and believe in virtus in order to succeed in the throne not only for the government, but for his people. In "The Prince" it had stated, "... a prince whos possesses virtus will also have the best chance of enlisting the support of the capricious goddess in the conduct of his affairs" (P. 280). This particular quote from the the reading really ties both the works really well in what the overall main idea. The overall main reason why I had selected this article was how Skinner's ideology behind the government the the prince's rule. Stated in the article, "Having enphasized the role of fortune in human affairs, the mirror-for-princes writers go on to ask what qualities a ruler needs to possess in order to ensure that fortune's power is controlled and minimized" (Skinner 205). It was really amazing to see how two works can have a lot of similarity and the articles depth in detail about honor and virtrus really made it easy for the reader to get a better understanding of how much it really means to get to be prince and the responsibly it comes with.
I do believe that Machiavelli's "The Prince" is worth reading in the 1st century as it really bring a lot of thought and emotion. I would have to say that the Article by Quentin Skinner was also worth reading as it brings a lot of information to the table; it really worked as a translation for what Machiavelli had to say during his work. Advice I would give to interpret Machiavelli is to really slow down and create a side note of what he is trying to really say; putting something in your own words can make it a whole lot easier to follow. Another great help would be to highlight key words that you may not know for the reason that it can potentially show up later on in the reading.
The Roman Forum Arch of San Severus Peter Phipp National Geographic
From all the influences that were involved in the Renaissance, an idea that I really enjoyed reviewing over was how the Romans embodied their own government and how these ideas are still being used to this day. Our own government in the United States embodies the ideology that the Roman republic and Empire had placed hence how the Republic and Democratic parties are brought into light; "It is not a coincidence that the two main political parties in the USA today are Democratic or Republican. By naming our political parties after these two civilization are honoring and acknowledging their legacy" (Part II).
Quran Heals All Wounds
Something that I have learned more about was how the idea of Islam had originated and different aspects of the religion. Islam had started with a caravan trader known as Mohammed had crossed paths with the angel Gabriel to recite the word of God, or more known as Allah, becoming a major prophet. Stated in John Green's video, Islam, the Quran, and the five Pillars All without a Flamewar: Crash Course World History, the overall goal of Islam was to bring back the worship to only one powerful God.
In the past I have heard from people of the Islamic faith tell me about their culture. Something that I was really aware about was one of the five pillars called Sawm which lies in the month of Ramdam; one must not eat or drink during the day that does change seasonal between the summer and winter. Another concept I had learn before was about the Roman Empire's ideology and ideas. The Roman Empire was a huge part of my learning in my sophomore year of high school; We had read a lot of text involving Julius Cesar's ideologies and how the body of government worked. What really caught my attention most about the Romans was how blood thirsty they were in order to get into the government and have power; the system was very corrupt and it did ultimately did play a role in the downfall of the powerful Roman Empire.
Work Cited
Changing the lens through which we view islam. The Wire. (n.d.). https://thewire.in/books/changing-lens-view-islam.
crashcourse. (2012, April 19). Islam, the Quran, and the five PILLARS all without a Flamewar: Crash Course world History #13. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8.
National Geographic Society. (2018, July 6). Rome's transition from Republic to Empire. National Geographic Society. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/romes-transition-republic-empire/.
