Albert Speer – rise to prominence Albert Speer was a significant figure in German history due to his various architectural projects and his appointment as Minister for Armaments. Although he claimed to be apolitical, Speer joined the Nationalist Social party on March 1st, 1931 and from they’re his career in the Nazi party prospered. Speer’s first contribution to the Nazi party was as a chauffer, as district head of the Nazi Motorist League, where he met Karl Hanke. A recommendation by Hanke to Goebbels, gave Speer his first architectural assignment of decorating Goebbels headquarters in Berlin. Hitler approved the finished result, however Goebbels did not like its simplicity and had it redecorated.
Art was a crucial aspect of expressing Renaissance ideas. Italian sculptors, painters, and architects in particular did a fantastic job of communicating Renaissance concepts in their artwork. Three of the most central humanistic beliefs during this period of time were the appreciation of the individual, the emphasis on the real rather than the abstract, and the imitation of past civilizations. The sculpture “David”, by Italian artist Michelangelo, is an excellent example of the humanistic emphasis on appreciating the individual and dignifying the human kind. Michelangelo depicts David as a strong, godlike figure, emphasizing the size of his hands and feet.
Some of the most important collection of Renaissance painting would be that of Federico da Montefeltro who helped Urbino flourish in art and culture and commissioned perhaps the largest library in Italy with the paintings in Monefelto's court displaying the first theoretical treatise on perspective. Ludovico Gonzago strongly promoted Mantua for its art and culture he had the church of Sant Andrea rebuilt by Alberti who displayed religion and architectural with a combination of three ancient roman forms temple front, triumphal arch and basilica. The Medici family played a huge role in discovering the great artist of the 15th century. Giovanni de'Medici
Goebbels was impressed with Speer’s work and recommended him to Hitler, who then assigned him to help renovate the Chancellery in Berlin. However, Speer’s most notable work on this assignment was the addition of the balcony from which Hitler had famously presented himself to the crowd. With such prominent work, Speer won over the respect, trust and close friendship of Hitler, which was a rare and valuable commodity in the Nazi Party. Hitler prized Speer for his specificity in carrying out his distinct taste in architecture and decisions. Speer was designated Chief of Architecture when the former, Paul Troost, died in 1934.
The Renaissance period from 1400-1590 was considered the beginning of the modern age by historians. The Renaissance meaning "rebirth of" is the rebirth of ancient Roman and Greek art and architecture. Its birth place was Florence, a wealthy merchant town in Italy. It made sense that this would be the center of great ideas and art as wealth was needed to build the cathedrals elaborately decorated by great artists. Wealthy citizens commissioned specific art for both secular and religious projects.
“Augustus so beautified it [Rome] that he justly boasted that he had found it made of brick and left it made of marble.” (Suetonius) Analyse in detail: Augustus’ motivation for instituting his extensive building programme the significance of specific buildings which made up this programme the means by which Augustus paid for these buildings and renovations. In what ways did Augustus benefit from the building programme he put in place? After a very successful military career Augustus sought to reforming Rome in three major aspects of which were religion, morality and most significantly buildings. He was able to boast that 'he found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.” He was very proud
The Golden Mean is the moderate position between two extremes. This is known as the ideal position because it is the “most appealing rectangle to the human eye.” The Golden Mean was said to be first used by the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks when building the Great Pyramids and Parthenon’s. Around 1200 AD, the Fibonacci sequence was discovered by a man named Leonardo Fibonacci, an Italian man born in 1175 AD. Although he discovered this, it is still not certain if he related it to the Golden Mean and Phi. The Golden Mean being “most appealing to the human eye” started being used in art.
Author: James E. Packer Title: The Forum of Trajan in Rome, A Study of the Monuments in Brief Publication Information: ©2001, University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London Marcus Ulpius Traianus was a Roman Emperor in AD 98-117, known as the Roman Emperor of Trajan. Because of the militaristic skill that he showed, Nerva chose him to be his successor on the Imperial throne. Trajan was praised in his time by the Romans because he built roads and aqueducts. Trajan’s forum was an elaborate one and was made of polished marble, bronze and gold. The two main elements of the new Forum of Trajan were that it had an open piazza as well as a basilica, both of which were very large.
Pico Della Mirandola was one of the first to resurrect the humanism of ancient Greek philosophy. He also believed that every religion shares some elements of truth, and set out to create a blend of several great religions and major philosophies including those of Plato and Aristotle. Pico and his teacher Marsilio Ficino are credited with starting the resurrection of human dignity and the concept of free will at the beginning of the Renaissance. Pico said that free will, if properly directed, can make men into divine beings, or if misdirected, into evil beings. Pico Della Mirandola was the youngest son of the family.
In 1485 he furthered his studies at the most important centre of Scholastic philosophy and theology, the University of Paris, as he astonished fellow scholars with his precocious learning. He created strong bonds with Lorenzo de Medici and Marsilio Ficino and remained under Lorenzo’s protection as he managed to impress them both with his philosophical ideas. Pico was one of the first to resurrect the humanism of ancient Greek philosophy. During his time there were many changes, events, and many movements that occurred that profoundly affected European society. The defining change of the Renaissance was humanism, a literary movement that began in Italy during the fourteenth century.