Early modern history proves to change the lives of many humans. The world today would not be the same place as people know it to be if not for the advances the people made in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. I can identify many of these changes in history, involving religion, discovery, exploration, and science, through one painting alone. That painting is called Woman Holding a Balance by Johannes Vermeer. This essay will outline the connections I can make to these changes in history and this painting through observations and what I have learned through reading and discussions. Woman Holding a Balance, the painting of focus, tells the end of a story that Vermeer revealed through multiple paintings. The first part of the story starts from View of Delft, which sets the scene for the story to come. The second part of the story, Officer and Laughing Girl, depict a military officer with a girl. The officer, after returning home from the Eighty Years’ War, appears to be courting the young woman. The third portion of the story is told from Young Woman Reading a Letter at an Open Window. Continuing with the story line, the letter must be from the military officer who traded in his title to become wealthy in the trade industry. The man is off in the world with the VOC, a trade company called the Dutch East India Company, and writes the girl a letter. Ending with Woman Holding a Balance, the painting shows the outcomes of successful trade. The woman has pearls
Introduction
This paper will analyze and compare the Egyptian Standing Figure of Osiris with Egyptian Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri, visual elements of Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture works from the collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum. By comparing and contrasting these two works, we will be able to see the salient parts of each of them more clearly and can better understand the relationship between their periods, cultures, or artists. This comparison will also reveal how these two cultures view the human anatomy and human spirit in different ways.
The small adaptations to traditions was the small drop of encouragement the world needed. When that muse came, a big change in mankind’s view of the world was just getting started. The purpose of this essay is to inform you on how the Renaissance changed man’s view of the world.
When the renaissance introduced its customs to the world, mankind adjusted to them
As time progressed into the Early Modern Era, people began questioning everything. A plethora of inventions were introduced, bringing Europe out of the dark ages, and advancing other nations' knowledge through newly created ways such as Gutenburg’s printing press. This printing press not only allowed for the spread of ideas, but it made scriptures more affordable; cheap enough for even
What exactly was the Renaissance? Well I’m glad you asked, the Renaissance was technically a ‘’rebirth’’ or ‘’revival’’ of art and literature, as some people would describe it as, and it had started in Europe around the year of 1400 and had lasted until about the 1700s. The Renaissance was a time of intellectual excitement, when art and literature blossomed and groundbreaking scientific advances were being made. During this period of time large parts of scientific and cultural advances were beginning to develop, and people were beginning to see themselves in a new way. The Renaissance changed man’s view of man in at least four areas: Art, Astronomy, Literature, and last but not least Human Anatomy.
From the fifteenth century to the seventeenth centuries society experienced a shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. During this time Europe underwent many significant changes that were often expressed through the historical art. Passionate and experienced artists used their skills to create masterpieces that would highlighted these changes and led to the success of their careers. During this shift Medieval point of views began to fade away and a new Era full of new perspectives began to form. The Renaissance was known by many as the rebirth of the humanist culture.
The Scientific Revolution “refers to historical changes in thought & belief, to changes in social & institutional organization, that unfolded in Europe between roughly 1550-1700” (Hatch). This revolution was a time to replace
The scientific revolution is important because it brings to light two fundamental ideas “observation and evidence”, this forced man to compare the physical traits of human forms, this brought about the differentiation between blacks and whites. According to West philosophy in collaboration with science helped bring theory to reality. Philosophers Bacon and Descartes believed that philosophy brought a new standard of knowledge and that observation and evidence were at the center of the scientific method (West pg. 52). The classical revival of the Greco ideas of beauty that was used to measure what is considered beauty. In J.J Winckelmann’s “History of Ancient Art”.
A new divide in art and religion occurred during the 17th century. The Reformation occurred and caused a major divide between Protestants and Catholics. In northern Europe, Protestantism took root, especially in the city of Amsterdam. In southern Europe, Catholicism stood fast, especially in Rome. In this paper I will argue that Amsterdam and Rome developed unique political and religious environments that created two different painting styles within the Baroque period.
During the seventeenth century, many of Europe’s diverse and numerous countries were going through countless political, economic, and cultural transformations. The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment were two of the greatest, most important changes of the early modern era which greatly altered the course of history in most of Europe. People were starting to question and challenge widely accepted beliefs and applying approaches to knowledge rooted in human reason to the physical universe and human affairs. The study of history often focuses on these events and its effects on Europe, excluding or ignoring its effects on places outside of Europe. The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment both sparked interests in science in China and
People of this time were beginning to distrust many myths and traditions that were based on speculation rather than observation. They were beginning to understand that seeing something yourself overpowered what anyone else could assume. Philosopher, John Locke, discusses in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding that experience and observation is the key to building knowledge and the best way to improve mankind and society is by obtaining as much knowledge as possible (source 1). All knowledge was considered valuable and all ideas can connect and form value. As d’Ambert expresses in document 6, “the discovery of the compass is no less advantageous to the human race than the explanation of the compass needle is to physics.”
Even the woman’s frame and posture seem to follow the lines created by the railings of the viewing box. The railings are also implied lines, the first thing our eyes go to is the woman, and then we follow the railings to the man who has his gaze set on the woman. The man’s gaze gives us implied lines that lead us back to the main focus of the painting, the woman. The artist also uses light and dark to guide our eyes to the important parts of the artwork. Most of the artwork is dark, while the woman and the man looking at her are in the light.
Perspective was of great significance to the Renaissance artist as it embodied the aestheticism but also the intelligence in an artwork. The use of perspective was the logical justification and representation of space and by this mean
This text is taken from a lecture that was given by William Morris about the importance of the arts. In this lecture he tries to convince his audience why the arts are beneficial and should be available to not only the wealthy but also ordinary people. He uses personification and imagery in order to make what he is saying more interesting, and also uses inclusive language to appeal to the whole audience.
The first paragraph begins with the personification of Science; “And Science - we have loved her well, and followed her diligently, what will she do?”.
