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1300
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art. -
Jul 7, 1420
Florence Cathedral's dome, by Brunelleschi (1420)
Filippo Brunelleschi initiated the construction of Florence Cathedral’s dome in 1420. It had 55m in diameter and at 116m high it was the largest brick vault of its time. It was built in 16 years and involved less than 100 workers using futuristic cranes and pulleys. There are no supports underneath the arches of the dome, and its construction is still a mystery to modern man. Today, it is still an architectural miracle that amazes the world's position. -
1498
Pieta, by Michelangelo Buonarroti 1498
Michelangelo Piety: One of the masterpieces by Michelangelo preserved in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City The marble sculpture from Carrara marble was created for a funeral monument commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Billheres but moved to the basilica in the 18th century. Significantly, it is the one work on which Michelangelo was ever to sign. The Pietà remains one of the artist's early sculptures on this theme and one of Renaissance sculpture's greatest masterpieces. -
1509
The school of Athens, by Raphael Sanzio 1509
Raphael's fresco The School of Athens is a famous painting that represents the blend of art, philosophy, and science during the Italian Renaissance. Painted between 1509 and 1511, it’s in the Stanza della Segnatura, one of Raphael's rooms in the Vatican. The painting shows famous philosophers from history, symbolizing knowledge and learning. For Raphael, being commissioned by the pope was a huge honor and a sign of his success. It’s now one of the most iconic works of the Renaissance. -
Period: 1520 to 1521
The revolt of the Comuneros in Castilla 1520-1521
It took place between 1520 and 1522 and was driven by local nobility and citizens opposing the centralization of power by King Charles I3. The rebels controlled the heart of Castile, ruling the cities of Valladolid, Tordesillas, and Toledo. -
Period: 1567 to
The Eighty Years War
The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) was fought for Dutch independence from Spain. It began with failed invasions by Prince William I and raids by the Geuzen. By 1573, the Geuzen had secured Holland and Zeeland. In 1576, other provinces joined the revolt, forming a united front. The war led to the independence of the northern Netherlands, while the southern provinces remained under Spanish control. -
Period: 1568 to 1572
The rebelion of the Alpujarras1568-1571
The Alpujarras Rebellion was a conflict that occurred in Spain between 1568 and 1571 during the reign of Philip II. The Moorish population of the Kingdom of Granada rose up in arms in protest against the Pragmatic Sanction of 1567, which limited their cultural freedoms. This measure also led to the suppression of their language and customs -
The defeat of Spanish Armada by England 1588
In July 1588, Spain's "Invincible Armada" was attacked by the English navy, led by Howard and Sir Francis Drake, off Gravelines, France. The Spanish fleet, slower and less armed than the English, had 130 ships and 20,000 men but was delayed by storms and English raids. Using long-range guns, the English weakened the Armada, and after intense fighting, the Spanish were forced to retreat. The remaining ships struggled back to Spain, losing half their fleet and many men. -
Baroque art
Baroque is a style of architecture, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry that thrived from the early 17th century through the 1750s in the history of western art. Baroque art characteristics include: Chiaroscuro, Tenebrism, Quadro Riportato, and Illusionism. The Baroque period came after the Renaissance and Mannerism art periods and before the Rococo and Neoclassicism art periods. The Baroque style eschewed the harsh characteristics that the Protestant style portrayed. -
Apollo and Daphne, by Bernini 1656
Apollo and Daphne, created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1622 and 1625, shows Daphne transforming into a tree to escape Apollo. Commissioned by Cardinal Borghese, the sculpture highlights Bernini's mastery of marble and his ability to capture dramatic movement. It is a prime example of Baroque art, known for its energy and theatricality. Bernini, also the designer of St. Peter's Basilica, was a master in both sculpture and architecture. -
Saint Peter's square project by Bernini 1656
St. Peter's Square, designed by Bernini, is a large oval space leading to St. Peter's Basilica. It features two porticoes with 284 columns and 140 statues of saints. In the center stands a 25-meter Egyptian obelisk and two fountains. The design directs people toward the church, creating unity. A bronze door connects to the Vatican Palace. -
The Spinners, by Velazquez 1657
In The Spinners, Velázquez represents the myth of Arachne and Athena, whereby Arachne's tapestry challenger the goddess and lead to Arachne's punishment. The painting shows women spinning wool in the foreground and the myth of contest in the background. Velázquez uses light and color to merge seamlessly the real and the mythical. And the curtain creates a trompe-l'oeil effect that adds depth and realism to the composition. -
Necloclassical art
Neoclassical art, emerging in the 1760s and peaking in the 1780s and ’90s, focused on linear design and Classical themes. It depicted subjects from ancient Greece and Rome with accurate historical details in settings and attire. The movement, lasting into the 1840s and ’50s, valued harmony, clarity, and restraint. Neoclassicism aimed to revive the ideals of antiquity, emphasizing universality and idealism in art. -
Oath of the Horatii, by Jacques-Louis David 1784
In the Oath of the Horatii (1785) Jacques-Louis David represented three brothers from Rome taking their oath to go to war, with the accord's terms to settle matters with Alba Longa. The fate of the three brothers became a symbol of Neoclassical art and political values. David, Napoleon's court painter, made his works instruments of public sentiment during the Revolution and Empire. -
Carlos IV of Spain and his family, by Francisco Goya 1800
Goya's Family of Carlos IV (1800) depicts the Spanish royal family with a focus on naturalism, highlighting individual characters. Queen María Louisa, at the center, is portrayed as politically influential, with hints of her affair with Manuel Godoy. The painting blends royal splendor with emotional depth, especially in the family’s dynamics. Goya’s personal tensions with the aristocracy add a layer of unease, capturing both the elegance and underlying discord in the court.