Tag Archives: History

This is hands-down one of my favorite stories. I mean it has it all: mystery, Renaissance celebrities, top-secret government sting operations, and a little Dan Brown-esque art history (that is actually FACTUAL). Also, for us at Select Study Abroad, it is particularly close to home. Not only is Leonardo da Vinci our BFF and not only do we personally take students to the scene of the “crime,” but our very own professor, Rab Hatfield, was involved, wrote a book on the subject, and gave us the opportunity of meeting (on several occasions) the man behind the mystery (No, not Leonardo! Read on!).

So the story goes like this:

There was this little thing called the Florentine Republic. It had a tough time over the years (those darn Medici are so troublesome), but at the very end of the 15th century it had been reinstated and things were looking good. Now, if you are a little republic in the Renaissance looking to flex your new governmental muscles there a couple things you can do. One of them just happens to be harnessing the artistic power of some of the most coveted and respected artists of the day to do your bidding. Lucky, for this little republic, they just happened to have access to two of the most significant artists available: Leonardo da Vinci (technically he is from Vinci, but whatevs) and Michelangelo. You know…no big deal.

So, you take these two BIG names and you give them a BIG project: decorate the massive walls of the Sala del Gran Consiglio (also known as the Sala dei Cinquecento) in the Palazzo Vecchio (the government building in Florence). In 1503, Leonardo was commissioned to fresco the “Battle of Anghiari” (a battle famously won by the Florentines) on one of the long walls of the rectangular Sala. He had finished his preliminary drawing (called a cartoon) and had begun painting it by 1505. In typical Leo fashion, however, he used a very experimental technique and before the brushes were dry the wall was already having problems. Continue Reading…

Technorati Tags: Art History, Florence, Florence history, History, Italy, Michelangelo, Renaissance art

Buon San Valentino!

For those love birds out there, don’t worry. This is not going to be an anti-consumerist rant on why Valentine’s Day is a vapid holiday that propels our already heightened commercialism. I am not going to write about the nauseating feeling I get when I see red and white Christmas decorations immediately replaced by other red and white decorations. I could devote some serious time to the matter, but I will leave that to the countless other advocates of anti-valentinism (it is a word, look it up). Instead, I would like to take a moment and reflect on Valentine’s Day in Italy.

From the country that inspired Romeo and Juliet and is known for conjuring up romantic images of Tuscan sunsets, vineyards, and couples embraced in gondolas gliding down the canals of Venice, you may find it surprising that Valentine’s Day in Italy is handled rather mildly. Italians treat this sweetheart’s holiday with a light-hearted playfulness and, in some cases, a goofy naughtiness. This may also come as a surprise if you stop to consider the origins of the day itself. Valentine’s Day is named after one or more early Christian saints – either Saint Valentine of Rome or Valentine of Terni. Both saints were martyred and subsequently buried in Rome. Valentines’s Day has been celebrated since 496 A.D. when it was established by Pope Gelasius I. Continue Reading…

Technorati Tags: festival, Florence, Florence study abroad, History, holiday, Italian traditions, Italy

Above all, Florence is a city of sculpture. Although certain works get more press than others (*cough*…*cough*…the David), the city houses some of the finest Renaissance marble and bronze works around. One of the greatest pieces (in this writer’s humble opinion) is a three foot tall bronze bust of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, created by the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini between 1545-1547. Now I know what you’re thinking: busts sound boring. But this thing is really something to behold. It sits in the bottom floor of the Bargello, tucked in a corner where few even notice it. For those who do, something particular captures their attention: a presence seen in few Renaissance works. Continue Reading…

Technorati Tags: art, Florence, Florence culture, Florence history, Florence museums, Florence study abroad, History, Renaissance art, sculpture

Any time I travel I like to get some basic information on my chosen destination. Florence’s history is so rich it can sometimes seem daunting to even begin learning the ins and outs of its past. Here is a simple fact sheet and some really basic historical info that will help you feel a bit more oriented when you arrive. Continue Reading…

Technorati Tags: Florence, Florence culture, Florence history, Florence study abroad, History