Paint and Pallete

Marc Chagall was an artist who spearheaded modernism as depicted in his works. Aside from this, he was linked to several key art movements. He was even one of the most successful artists of the twentieth century. He had achieved gold and glory even during his lifetime. Marc Chaggal was also considered to be “the last survivor of the first generation of Euopean modernists,” as historian Michael J. Lewis put it.

Chagall played a major role as an artist on the eve of the First World War when he travelled to St. Petersburg, Paris and Berlin. With his experience and the pressure around him, he was able to elicit his own style of modern art. There in Russia he spent his wartime years. He was even recognized to be one of the most distinguished artists and a member of the modernist avant-garde in Soviet Union. He founded Vitebsk Arts College in Soviet Union. By his time, it was known to be the most credible art school in the place.

However, the Soviets considered him a non-person because he was Jewish and his works did not represent the Soviet people. He then moved to Paris as a result.

Romanticism is a movement that is complex in nature. The movement, having originated during the second half of the 18^th century in the Western Europe, was partly a means to revolt against the social and political norms when the aristocrats were abusing their power and influence over the society.

Romanticism gaved emphasis on emotions like awe, horror, trepidation. It suggested that strong emotions are a good source of aesthetic experience. It transformed folk art to something profound and fought for a natural epistemology of human events as conditioned by nature. This is done in the forms of language, usage and custom. Roman artists worshipped nature, rebelled with the past and gloridied the divinity of creation. In Romanticism, there is always an emphasis on self-expression spontaneity, originality and sincerity. This movement opposes classicism. Romanticism is viewed as a revival fo the culture of the Middle Ages – modern, fantastic and spiritual.

Sillius Italicus was a Latin epic poet. He was born in Italica in the Roman province of Hispania in Spain. He was famous for his professions: forensic orator, politician, consul. He was mentioned by Tacitus as having been one of two witnesses who attended the conferences of Vitellius and Flavius Sabinus.

His life after consulship was narrated by Pliny. According to Pliny, Sillius performed wisely and courteously as the friend of the rich and cruel Vitellius. He had won a repute by his proconsulship of Asia. Because he had maintained dignified and contented, thus, avoiding power and cruelty, he outlived the Flavian dynasty. He kept himself to a private station after his governorship of Asia.

Sillius was a remarkable person in literature and art. He was a passionate collector, too. He worshipped Cicero and Virgil, both famous Roman legends. He living was also inspired by his two great heroes: Epictetus (who described him to be the most philosophic spirit among the Romans of his time) and Cornutus (who dedicated a commentary to Sillius.)

One of the most remarkable Italian humanists is Poggio Bracciolini. He was able to recover classical texts from monastic libraries in Germany and France. He was the responsible for the distribution of manuscript copies among the educated world.

Barcciolini studied Latin under John of Ravenna and Manuel Chrysoloras in Florence. At his age of twenty-one, he was given the acknowledgement to be part of the Florentine Notaries’ Guild. When he was twenty-two, he was received as secretary ammanuensis to Cardinal Maramori of the Roman Curia. Here, he served for more than fifty years. During his service, he was able to witness the Councils of Konstanz, in the train of Pope John XXIII, and of Basel, and the final restoration of the papacy under Nicholas V. In 1452, he retired to Florence. He was then appointed as chancellor and historiographer to the Republic on the death of Carlo Aretino. When he was fifty-five, he had married an eighteen-year-old girl in the name of Selvaggia dei Buondelmonti. The roots of this girl were known as one of the few noble Florentine families.

Jupiter is the counterpart of Zeus in Roman mythology. He is known to be the king of the gods.He is the god of sky and thunder. In the Latin mythology, this god is known as the father of Mars. Mars is the father of Romulus and Remus, thus Jupiter is the grandfather of these two. Romulus and Remus are the legendary founders of Rome.

Jupiter is also the name of the fifth planet from the sun. It is the largest planet in the Solar System. It is in fact, more than twice as massive as all of the other planets when you combine all the planets in the Solar System. This is a gas giant like Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. This planet is known as Jovian planet. Composed of hydrogen and helium, this planet has a rocky core of heavy elements when under pressure. Like the Earth, Jupiter has an oblate spheriod shape because of its rapid rotation in its axis.

There are four popular Mercurys.

The first Mercury is the messenger of the Roman gods. He is also known as the god of profit, trade and commerce. He is also considered a god of commercial success and abundance.

The second Mercury is the planet of the Solar System nearest the sun. This planet orbits the sun once every 88 days. This planet is bright when viewed from the Earth. This can be viewed in morning or evening twilight.

The third Mercury is the chemical element with the symbol Hg. Mercury is also called quicksilver because it is watery in nature. Mercury is one of the six elements that are liquid at or near room temperature. This element occurs in deposits througout the world. This element is harmless when in an insoluble form.

The fourth Mercury is a pharmacy drug that is famous in one of the countries I have been to. In that country, Mercury is a leading pharmacy. Discounts for senior citizens and for people living below the poverty line have been made available for them.

Zeus is known to be the god of all gods. He is the supreme ruler of Mount Olympus. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. As the god of the Pantheon of gods in Mount Olympus, he upholds justice, law, and morals. This makes him spiritual as a leader to both gods and men. He is often associated as a weather god because of his thunder, rain and lightning. He is known to have cause thunderstorms. His other attributes are his scepter, his aegis and the eagle.

Although Zeus possesses all the great deeds a leader should have, there is one thing I would like to comment on his character, that is Zeus, almighty as he is, finds it difficult for him to “refuse” ladies. Zeus is a womanizer. No wonder, many gods, if not all, in Mount Olympus are his sons and daughters to different women. Zeus maybe has this quality that is hard for women to refuse. Or maybe the other way around.

In Greek mythology, Dionysus is the son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Semele. According to the myth, Semele was killed by Zeus’s lightning bolts by the time when Semele was bearing Dionysus. Dionysus was rescued and he underwent a second birth from Zeus after developing in Zeus’ thigh. Zeus then gave the infant to some nymphs where Dionysus was raised. With this and with the rest of the similar myths, he is then called “twice born”.

The Roman counterpart of Dionysus is Bacchus. Dionysus of Greece or Bacchus of Rome, either label, is the god of wine, fertility of nature and agriculture. He also represents the outstanding characteristics of mystery beliefs.

Way back in the history of the Greek and Roman arts, it can be recalled that the Greeks and Romans worship this god everytime they have abundant blessings in their plants and vegetation. These people celebrated their feast with unlimited wine drinking and merrymaking.

This Renaissance man was trained personally by his father who was also an artist and a goldsmith at the same time. His devotion for his craft has inspired many of his followers. He actually spent 21 years doing the north doors of this cathedral alone. A year after he finished this task, he was asked to do the north doors. He finished this new project for 28 years. These doors of brass panels that depicted the Old Testament were described as the “Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo. More so, he also sculpted St. John the Baptist and St. Matthew out of bronze. These sculptures have been displayed and preserved in Florence.

Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini or Bellini for short was an Italian opera composer. Born in Catania, Sicily, he was famous for his melofic lines for which he was named the “Swan of Catania.” It can also be remembered that this artist was the quintessential composer of Bel canto opera.

Bellini was a legend. He could sing an aria of Valentino Fioravanti when he was one year old and six months. He began learning music at two, he played piano at three, he perfected this craft when he was five. When he was six, he finished his first composition. This is not questionable though as this genius lived in a household where everyone loved and adored music. He learned most of his musical skills from his granfather who mentored him all throughout.

Because of his greatness and his contribution to the field, his remains were housed in the Gravina Cruyllas Pallace in Catania. And up to date, memorabilia and scores can still be found there.

Filippo Brunelleschi or simply Brunelleschi was an Italian architect based in Florence. He was so famous because he designed the cupola of the Florence cathedral. In fact, his work of art, the Duomo of Florence (the dome of the cathedral in Florence), the tallest building in the place, is now known as the symbol of the wealth and pride of the families in the the said city during the Renaissance period. The dome of this church was designed by him. This dome is so famous because once you climb on top you can be able to see the view of they city below. For 175 years, this building did not have a roof for the very reason that this the architectural design of the dome is so fascinating.

Not only he was an architect, he was an engineer during his time too. Indeed, this man is a genius, truly a product of Renaissance. A Renaissance man!

But, do you know that despite the greatness of this man and despite all his achievements in his field, he was, in fact, very humble in his ways. His real name was actually Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone, but since there were two versions of Tommaso, he needed to be distinguished apart from the other. So, Masaccio was given to him. Masaccio is a humurous version of the name Tommaso. Masaccio meant big, clumsy, messy and fat.

How about you? Are you a Masaccio too?

A famous Italian artist, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, more commonly known as Caravaggio, was active for almost twenty years in Rome, Malta, Naples and Sicily. He was popular for his Death of the Virgin painting. This painting is displayed in the Louvre. His works were output of dramatic quality. He was even credited for inspiring the Renaissance artists of Europe like Rembrandt.

This artist is an inspiration to many young artists of today not only for his painting skills but also for his positive attitude that kept him going. He was seen to be fascinating and enigmatic but when needs required him to transform, he’s rebellious and was even dangerous. Early writings even described him as a man ready to fight in the streets anytime of the day, everyday. He used to have a sword at his side while a servant of him followed him for his defense in case he needed help. Because of this behavior, he killed a young man in a brawl.

Raphael of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is tagged to be the team’s bad boy. He wears the red mask and weilds a pair of sai. He is aggressive in nature but is hesitant in throwing the first punch. And yes he is fierceful and sarcastic at times.

This Raphael that I am talking is actually named after Raphael Sanzio. Raphael is an Italian artist who was popular with the popes during his period. Because of this, they asked him to decorate the papal apartments of Julius II and later on serves as an architect of the world famous St. Peter. Not only that, he as also credited with revolutionizing portrait paintings because of his style he used in the portrait of Julius II.

What is so grateful of this genius is that he paid tribute to the people who gave him inspiration. They were da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Bramante. He used the faces of these three men as philosophers participating in the debate between Plato and Artistotle in his painting titled The School of Athens.

Not only he was great, he was grateful too!

If you have watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you would take notice of the purple ninja turtle because among the four mutants, this turtle is least violent. Donatello, the turtle, is a brilliant scientist, an engineer, an inventor, and a techno-savvy. As I’ve said, he is the least violent because he prefers to use his intellect to resolve conflicts and avoid head-on wars as much as he can.

This character is in fact named after the famous Italian Donatello. Born in 1386 and died in 1486, this Renaissance man from Florence was popular for many things including his sculpture of David in Florence. It can be remembered that he was one of the early artists who worked with the idea of perspective. Through his skill, sculpting, he had brought dramatic shapes to life with his talent.

So can you compare now the two characters? Donatello the Italian artist and the Donatello of the kids’ all time favorite cartoon show?

One intriguing fact about Michaelangelo is his love of the male beauty. He was attracted by both aesthetics and emotions of men. Yes it is true that during the Renaissance period, the expression of masculinity was being highlighted but more to this is that in Michaelangelo’s art, there was a clear evidence of his sensual response to this idealization. He had also showed great expressions of love. He showed accounts of love that was not only romantic but also physical as well.