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Bold colors and smooth lines define this painting of Christ Child and Virgin Mary

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Artworks during this period revolved around themes of humanism and incorporated a variety of styles. Pieces of the Renaissance highlighted humans rather than objects of worship (Kuiper xi). An example of this is Fra Filippo Lippi's Madonna and Child with Two Angels. This painting incorporated a more naturalistic look, and instead of drawing plain religious figures, Lippi focused on capturing the divine essence of spirituality. Humanism was taking off in Europe as paintings like Madonna and Child with Two Angels began to be accepted as Christian works (Singer).

Image source: photo by Fra Filippo Lippi, Madonna and Child with Two Angels, ca. 1460-1465, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy (detail) on Daily Art Magazine

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The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore- a famous piece of architecture in Florence 

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Originating in Florence, Italy, the Renaissance brought forth new ideas in Europe and marked the end of the horrors of the Middle Ages. This era of innovation is often divided into three periods: early (1420-1490), High (1490-1520), and Late (1520-1600). Europe had never seen such a period of innovation and creativity, and these changes in political and social thought were reflected in the period's unique artwork. Renaissance art includes some of the most technical and detailed pieces of all time, and many artists that contributed are considered masters of the field. Portraits of commoners and landscapes of simpler villages became a focus as Renaissance art adopted a humanistic theme. Artists were now regarded as individual creators of high value and were no longer seen as mere craftsmen (Kuiper x).

Image source: photo by Bruno Doucin on UNESCO

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Humanistic and Renaissance centers in Europe

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This map shows the origins of the Renaissance and how it spread by highlighting major sites of the period. The circle of arrows in northern and central Italy (including Florence) represent the main cite of the Renaissance.

Image source: Map by unknown on Musée Protestant

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Snapshot and Context: Florence's Role in the Renaissance 

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Snapshot and Context: Florence's Role in the Renaissance 

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In itself, the Historic Centre of Florence is a social and urban achievement: a developed city with a rich history as a result of creativity displayed throughout the Renaissance. Florence's influence on architecture and fine arts spread first within its walls and then throughout Europe. A powerful merchant city in the Middle Ages, Florence made its mark on the world by demonstrating its creativity and political and economic power. The city is associated with monumental events, such as the birthplace of modern humanism and the site of the European Renaissance. UNSECO deems the city one with "outstanding universal value," and it was inducted onto the cite in 1982 ("Historic Centre of Florence").

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Florence, the center of the European Renaissance, is located in central Italy.

Image source: 2024 map by Larry A. Silver, Blake Ehrlich, and John Foot on Britannica School

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Climate activists splatter soup onto world renowned artwork, the Mona Lisa

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Climate Activists Throw Soup at the Mona Lisa

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Climate Activists Throw Soup at the Mona Lisa

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Two climate activists threw soup onto the Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum in Paris. Luckily, the Mona Lisa's bulletproof glass case protected it from the liquid, and it was not harmed. In regrades to their bold action, activists said, "What is more important? Art or the right to have a healthy and sustainable food system?" One of the protesters wore a shirt that said "Riposte Alimentaire," ("Food Response,") the name of her organization. The organization is a part of a group that preforms climate activism stunts like these who have recently been targeting popular artworks (Anderson).

Image source: 2024 photo by Sonja Anderson on Smithsonian Magazine

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Sources for Monahan- Historical Centre of Florence

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I've been wanting to visit Italy for a while, and I hope to visit Florence one day! It is a major city that is so rich in history, and I would love to see it in person. As someone who is interested in the visual arts, I hope to explore this topic even further in a future class.