Abstract This paper provides an overall history of the Church Santa Maria della Salute and explores its history and significance. It begins with an explanation why the Church was built following the bubonic plague and describes how it is still a source of inspiration to the citizens of Venice. It discuss unique architectural features of the church and provides a brief biography of the architect Baldassare Longhena.
From the Paper "Anyone who has ever been to Venice - and indeed perhaps even anyone who has merely dreamed of going to Venice - will know the huge baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute. It is architecturally one of the most and probably the most important religious building in the city. It's distinctive shape, visible form all over the city, has greeted both visitors and natives since it was erected in the 17th century as an attempt to appease the heavens. This paper examines both the architectural and artistic significance of this building."
Examines this Renaissance Christian author's challenge to hypocrisy and conservativism of the Christian establishment and his defense of intellectual freedom.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, 1999, $ 47.95
Abstract The Renaissance Challenge to Christian Humility? is an adequate subtitle for Pico Della Mirandola's Oration upon Human Dignity. However, it must be qualified by the understanding that Mirandola did not mean to challenge Christian humility in the face of God, but rather in that of the Christian establishment
From the Paper ""The Renaissance Challenge to Christian Humility" is an adequate subtitle for Pico Della Mirandola's Oration upon Human Dignity. However, it must be qualified by the understanding that Mirandola did not mean to challenge Christian humility in the face of God, but rather in that of the Christian establishment. Mirandola's Oration does not pose any sort of defiance or affront toward God or the Christian faith; it merely affirms the right of a young individual to have and express opinions on complicated points of theology. As such, the work challenges the existing conventions of the Catholic church, as well as the historical attitude of man toward his place in the universe.
Mirandola's intent is easily misconstrued, because of his apparent arrogance toward God and the angels. In the beginning of the Oration, he asserts that man has the power to choose what he might..."
Abstract This paper examines Giovanni Della Casa's Galateo. A treatise on manners produced in sixteenth century Italy it is a valuable historical source. In discussing social conduct and manners revelations are made of underlying morals, norms and values.
Abstract The paper explores several texts including "The Confessions" by Augustine, "The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila" by Herself, Petrarch's poetry, and Shakespeare's drama ?King Lear" and shows that all of these are products of societies in which the dominant religious ethos was Christian rather than pagan. The paper shows that although all the texts share this similar historical feature, fundamentally opposing views of the self (the distinction between outer and inner life) are articulated through the theological texts in contrast with the works of lyric and dramatic poetry.
From the Paper "This Christian point of view, of the importance of the interior over the exterior, seems to at first be born out in Shakespeare's ?King Lear.? In the first scene, the king of the title is witnessed undervaluing the contribution of his youngest daughter Cordelia, whom honestly tells him how much she loves him, unlike his superficial and cruel daughters Gonoril and Reagan. "King Lear" is set in pre-Christian times yet was written in a Christian era. This might seem to validate the idea that pagan times valued the exterior, while Christianity values the interior. Yet everyone around and outside of Lear sees through his daughters, except the man himself, even at the very beginning. The king of France marries Cordelia without a dowry. Similarly, in the subplot of Gloucester, the man is unable to understand the treachery of his bastard son until he has rejected his true son. "
Tags: selfhood, Pico, della, Mirandola, Cordelia, Laura
A paper which examines the philosophical question "Who is Man" and the viewpoints held by several classical writers and theologians as seen through their writings.
Abstract The paper examines the works of several classicists to determine their viewpoints on the philosophical issues of "Who is Man?" and "What is Man's highest calling?". The paper shows the theories of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola in his "Oration on the Dignity of Man", of Petrarch through his poetry, of Saint Augustine in his "Confessions", of Teresa of Avila through her works, and of Shakespeare's "King Lear", who, although a fictional character, expresses the idea of royal power.
From the Paper "Saint Augustine in his Confessions asks if being in the world a man can obtain a higher plane of spiritual existence. He uses his own life as an example of his journey to God. Certainly Saint Augustine would agree with the writings of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola. Augustine lived a baser life for a long time until he came to his own version of spiritual truth. He explored various philosophical thought including skepticism before he embraced the faith of his mother Monica. He didn't come into Catholicism easily but only after the deep internal thought and meditation that Giovanni Pico della Mirandola offers as the way to the higher spiritual plane."
A paper which shows how the balance between the rights and desires of individuals have fluctuated with that of the community throughout western civilization.
1,301 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 43.95
Abstract This paper examines both sides of the balance between the individual and the community by analyzing the sources "Funeral Oration" by the great Athenian Orator Pericles, written in 431 B.C. and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola?s, "Oration on the Dignity of Man" from the fifteenth century. The paper shows that in Athens the rights of the individual were limited and the community took precedence. It shows how on the opposite side of the spectrum is the Italian belief of the independent individual and boundless man. The paper also applies these theories to the present equilibrium between community and individual in America today.
From the Paper "Has there ever been a stable balance between the rights and desires of the individual and of the community that have occurred and lasted in history? The essential need of civilization is an equilibrium between the individual and the community. If the rights and desires of an individual are emphasized more than the community a breakdown of society is inevitable. This imbalance places a stress on one idea and the other is abandoned. A basis that is not broad and equal in all importance will fail. An ideal balance is impossible to achieve; however, societies have tried to find a balance that would be most fitting for them and their time and that parallels the ideals they stand for. Their endeavors have been very different. This difference can be detected by analysis of historical documents that were written by people living in their respected time frame."
Abstract Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) wrote nearly 500 concertos of various types, composed at least 50 operas and other vocal and instrumental pieces by the score, strongly influenced the direction of violin technique and was a primary influence on Johann Sebastian Bach. The paper shows, however, that for two centuries after his death, Vivaldi and his music sank into oblivion and were only resurrected in the latter half of the twentieth century. Despite this long absence, Vivaldi's reputation has revived swiftly. Although his vocal works and other instrumental pieces are not, as yet, well known, his concertos such as "Le Stagione" ("The Four Seasons"), are among the most popular of all Baroque and classic music today. The paper traces Vivaldi's life and music career and discusses several of his works.
From the Paper "The works in L'estro armonico represented the concerto form "at its most balanced and typical moment" with only three retaining the old-fashioned slow movement at the beginning and the others in the quick-slow-quick form pioneered by Torelli (Palisca 165). Vivaldi wrote at least thirty concertos that retained this older form and, as Talbot notes, they were very often connected by title with the feast-day requirements of the Pietא which seems to indicate that Vivaldi may have hoped "to add an extra touch of grandeur and solemnity by reverting to the four-movement cycle of the church sonata" (145). But, unlike the more sober magnificence of a Corelli concerto grosso or even Torelli's three-movement solo concertos, all of Vivaldi's writing in these early concertos unleashed a "torrent of emotions" that was "unlike anything ever written or at least published before" (Landon 43)."
Abstract This paper critically analyzes the text of "Gift of the Magi" and argues that the story is effective because of its use of an omniscient narrator and a human, humorous touch. It also looks at the comparison of Della and Jim to the magi of Christian tradition as an incarnation of the "wise man" archetype.
From the Paper "At first glance this metaphor comparing Della and Jim to the magi is a bit strange. After all, the archetypal wise man is aged, having learned all he could throughout a long life of study and contemplation, is most often male, reflecting the idea of knowledge as a masculine pursuit in most patriarchal societies, tends to lead a somewhat solitary existence, and whether he is rich or poor (and he is more often the latter), he is still usually well-respected in his community."
Abstract This paper briefly describes Titian's painting, "Venus of Urbino," and then takes a look at the various interpretations of the painting. The paper also explains how the painting differs from earlier paintings of Venus.
From the Paper "Titian's Venus of Urbino is a painting that may be regarded and evaluated on many levels. It was also in many senses a revolutionary painting. Titian chose to depict this woman's nudity in a way that was very unusual, and has since sparked controversy as to the intent of the painting. There are many possible and opposing interpretations of the painting. Some would call it mere pornography, while others have referred to it as a perfect expression of female beauty. There have also been various speculations as to who the woman who posed for the painting was and how she was related to the artist and the patron of the painting. However, no matter how the painting is judged, it must be regarded as a stunning integration of both human and supernatural beauty."
Abstract This paper discusses some of the characters in "Slow Burn", by Sabina Murray, a novel set in the Philippines. Some of the characters examined are Isobel della Fortuna, Paulo Aguilar and Rosario. The paper shows that the thread that joins all these characters together is their utter detachment from reality.
From the Paper "Isobel's sister, Lourdes, is a peripheral character and seems completely to buy into the moral dictates of their set. She is set apart from Isobel, who is clearly troubled from the start of the book. Lourdes accepts life as she sees it. Isobel rebels, although the nature of her rebellion puzzles her and she never seems to come to an understanding of just what is wrong with her. However, she is differentiated from the others by the fact that she knows something is wrong."
Abstract This paper examines the life and work of Carlo Maderno and his significant contributions to the innovation of the Baroque style. The paper notes that, before Maderno, many facades portrayed a Mannerist style that was often dense and without adequate spatial ornamentation. The paper further relates that Maderno's work influenced a whole generation of architects that sought greater details and more space for design to flourish in what was to become known as Baroque stylization. In essence, the paper analyzes the life and work of Carlo Maderno in relation to his architectural contributions to what has become known as the Baroque style in architectural history.
From the Paper "Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) was an Italian-Swiss architect that had moved to Rome in 1588 to begin his career as an architect for the Vatican. The fist project of significance that he was contracted for is Santa Susanna. This project would be the foundation for his style, which would help to garner a greater audience with the Pope and his eventually work on the facade for St. Peter's Basilica. The first significant contribution that Maderno made in this structure is the use of more columns and pilasters that were placed in more numerous groupings in the center of center of the entranceway (Tosini 34). "
Tags: Santa, Susanna, St., Peter's, Basilica, Sant'Andrea, della, Valle
