Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Arts and Humanities

Decoration of the Chapels of Santa Maria Maggiore

Sistine Chapel

Sixtus V kneels in the Chapel of the Nativity, with its Greek cross plan and very rich pictorial decoration, led by Giovanni Guerra and Cesare Nebbia. The decoration of the dome is more traditional from the compositional point of view. The scallops represent the ancestors of Christ, monumental in foreshortening and use of color, influenced by Michelangelo.

Vatican Library - Sixtus V

Domenico Fontana. The influence of Pompeian painting will remain in the world of Italian painting. This painting is going to acquire a decorative character and will cover the walls.

Chapel of Paul V

Il Cavaliere D'Arpino, whose name was Giuseppe Cesari d'Arpino, knighted by Pope Clement VIII, is one of the... Continue reading "Mannerism to Baroque: Italian Painting & Architecture" »

The Early Renaissance (Quattrocento)

The fifteenth century in Florence marked the beginning of a process of artistic renewal, posing a break with the formal principles of Gothicism.

Architecture

New experiences in perspective and proportion surged in Florence.

• Filippo Brunelleschi: Stressed solutions that brought new beauty and harmony, announcing mathematical formulas for perspective.

High Renaissance Architects (Cinquecento)

In the Cinquecento, key figures included Donato Bramante and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Sculpture

Sculptors worked primarily in marble and bronze. The subject matter emphasized the importance of the human body, seeking serenity and balance in attitudes, with an interest in composition and spatial unity. There was a strong concern... Continue reading "Renaissance Art Periods: Quattrocento and Cinquecento Characteristics" »

Romanticism in Prose: Freedom and Passion

The Romantic movement in prose championed the right to freedom, both individually and collectively.

Key Characteristics:

• Precedence over classical rules; passion replaced reason.
• Emphasis on subjective works.
• Mixture of genres.
• Combination of verse and prose.
• Diverse metric structures.

Notable Authors:

• José de Espronceda (e.g., *El Estudiante de Salamanca*, *Canción del Pirata*).
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (e.g., *Rimas y Leyendas*).

Romanticism in Fiction and Drama: National Identity

This period focused on the evocation of the past and observation of the present, aiming to forge a national identity for Spain.

Notable Authors:

• Mariano José de Larra (known for his insightful newspaper articles).
• Duke of Rivas (e.g.

Life and Work

Pio Baroja, born in San Sebastián in 1872, studied medicine and worked as a doctor. His time and experiences served as inspiration for his literary works. In 1901, he participated in the youth magazine Revista Juventud. Baroja's early writings included contributions to newspapers and magazines, and his novel Adventures of Wild Inventors and Mystification Paradox provides an opportunity to portray Bohemian Madrid.

Independent Novels

Baroja was part of a group known as Perfeccionamiento, which published works in 1902. His protagonist, Fernando Ossorio, overcomes various difficulties in life. His novel Life: End or Nothing (1910) serves as a lively portrait of social change. The marine atmosphere is reflected in Shanti Andia (1911)... Continue reading "Pio Baroja: Life, Works, and Literary Contributions" »

Baroque Art Comparison: Flanders, Netherlands, and Italy

Italian Baroque

Characteristics

• Strong light-dark contrasts (tenebrism)
• Dynamic, unstable figures
• Realism in religious and mythological scenes
• Aerial perspective for depth

Example

The Calling of St. Matthew depicts Jesus calling Matthew to follow him, set in a 17th-century tavern. The foreground figures enhance the sense of depth.

Flemish Baroque

The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens

• Soft, natural lighting on figures and landscape
• Mythological theme: Three Graces dancing, symbolizing joy, celebration, and music
• Loose brushwork emphasizing the idealized female nudes
• Balanced composition with circular and repetitive lines

Dutch Baroque

The Night Watch by Rembrandt

• Frozen movement, capturing individual

Spanish Theater from 1940 Onwards

Theatrical production was influenced by:

• The loss of great playwrights.
• The economic interests of employers who only sought to please the tastes of a particular audience and profit.
• The public's preference for simple and traditional theater.
• Prior censorship, which restricted the type of subject treated in drama or prevented its staging in Spanish theaters.

The Theater of the Postwar Period (1940s)

Dramatic works were characterized by their low quality and artistic mediocrity. The drama written and depicted in these early years was purely a commercial and conservative theater, with the aim of making people laugh. It is characterized by an eagerness to escape. Notable authors include Carlos Arniches, Jose Maria Peman,... Continue reading "Spanish Theater Evolution: 1940s Postwar to 1950s Realism" »

Painting

Courbet and Realism in the 19th Century

Realism succeeded the mid-realistic style to Romanticism. The main theme was to focus on hard work and reflect the social conditions of the poor. The composition is balanced with a frieze, with two figures on either side. In depth, there are two planes: the first is behind the figures, and the second is the landscape plane. The figures are illuminated and are the protagonists. The painting uses a subdued palette to reflect poverty. The artist does not want to represent anyone in particular, but rather the proletariat, contributing anonymously. Elements are used to show history; the child's objects are important. The line drawing is very well marked.

Architecture

Gaudí and Modernist Architecture

Modernist... Continue reading "Major Art Movements: From Realism to Fauvism" »

Valle-Inclán's Bohemian Lights: A Literary Analysis

Bohemian Lights (Luces de Bohemia) was first published in 1920 in a magazine, and then in 1924 in book form, with the addition of three more scenes. The work chronicles the last hours of the blind modernist writer Max Estrella and his evening walk through the Madrid of the time (scenes 1-11). The narrative continues with the three final scenes after his death, serving as a developing prologue. Two basic themes are explored: the bohemian life of the early twentieth century and the socio-political landscape of Spain at that time.

Key Themes in Bohemian Lights

The Bohemian Life

In addressing the theme of bohemianism, there is a notable ambivalence. The work presents both its inherent greatness and... Continue reading "Valle-Inclán's Bohemian Lights: Satire, Society, and Spanish Modernism" »

Human Perception

The animal perceives reality as a set of stimuli triggering responses, for example: thirst + water = drinking. Sensory receptors include exteroceptors (hearing) and interoceptors (kinesthetic, cenesesico, labyrinthine).

Consciousness and Its Characteristics

Consciousness is awareness of thoughts, actions, and feelings. Key features include:

• Relational: The relationship with ourselves and our surroundings.
• Intimacy: A being seeking to understand the world by retreating into their own interiority.

Human Action and Freedom

Freedom has two dimensions:

• First Dimension: Humans are freed from the tyranny of stimuli and can decide their behavior.
• Second Dimension: The power to choose between several possibilities. Our choices define our personality.

HTML Table Attributes Reference

This document provides a reference for HTML table attributes.

Table Attributes

The following attributes can be used with the <table> element:

• border: Specifies the width of the table border.
• bordercolor: Specifies the color of the table border.
• bordercolorlight: Specifies the light color of the table border.
• bordercolordark: Specifies the dark color of the table border.
• height: Specifies the height of the table.
• width: Specifies the width of the table.
• cellspacing: Specifies the space between table cells.
• cellpadding: Specifies the space between the cell border and its content.
• align: Specifies the alignment of the table (CENTER, LEFT, RIGHT).
• bgcolor: Specifies the background color of the table.
• background: Specifies