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While there were many Renaissance architects that worked on the Basilica, the key architectural influences were Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno and Bernini. Found in Vatican City, the tradition is that this is the burial place of St. Peter who was considered the first Pope.
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Sandanaga's Castle is nick-named The Keep and is known for its black exterior. It still maintains all of its original wooden interior and stonework.
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Commissioned by the Operai in Florence, Michelangelo's David took three years to complete. He was only 26 years old when he began the work. Today it stands displayed in the Accademia Gallery, Florence, Italy and is probably one of the most famous sculptures in the world.
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This fresco by Raphael can be found in Stanze di Raffaello, in the Vatican. It is thought to be the second of the frescos painted by Raphael and represents Philosophy. It is thought to be a significant example of Renaissance art.
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The Sistine Chapel ceiling is likely the most famous work of Michelangelo's. It is 40.9 meters long and 14 meters wide. It depicts three hundred figures and took four years to complete.
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Machiavelli's The Prince portrayed immoral behavior as "business as usual" for politicians. The term Machiavellian is used negatively to describe such person. The premise is that social stability may be maintained through immoral practices.
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Michelangelo's Moses is a marble sculpture and commissioned by Pope Julius II for his tomb. Originally part of a massive design of over 40 statues, the statue was to sit facing St. Paul.
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Thomas More's Utopia is a political novel told in a frame story. It takes place in Utopia where More describes his version of the best type of society. It was originally written in Latin despite the fact that More was an Englishman.
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Considered the most famous portrait in the world, the Mona Lisa seems to hold many mysteries. It a half-length portrait thought to be of Lisa Gherardini, however, there are speculations that this is incorrect. It is thought that da Vinci began work on it in 1503 but continued to work on it up until 1517.
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Parmigianino's Madonna with Long Neck is a panel picture with oils. It is painted in the style of the Mannerists. This painting is considered his masterpiece. It was commissioned for a private chapel but is now on display at the Uffizi Museum.
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Bronzino's drawing of the Head of Smiling Young Woman is rendered in charcoal and black chalk and highlighted with white chalk.
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Palestrina's compositions are the most famous of Renaissance composers. He is most known for his sacred music including hymns, chants, offertories, and lamentations. Magnum Mysterium is a well-known piece by Palestrina. The exact date is unknown.
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This Bruegel painting is oil on canvas and has been the subject of many other works of art, especially poetry. The painting portrays normal activities continuing on as a mythological Icarus falls to his death in the distance.
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Contrasting to Titian's earlier works, this painting incorporates strong brush strokes, streaming colors, and has a lack of definite lines. This painting was painted for Philip II of Spain.
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Veronese's The Wedding of Cana is an oil on canvas depicting the wedding where Jesus performs his very first miracle of turning water into wine.
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The church of San Giorgio Maggiore is a Benedictine church was designed by Andrea Palladio. Construction began in 1566 and the structure of it was finished by 1575. Located in Venice, Italy it is constructed mostly of bright, white marble
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Considered one of El Greco's finest works, this piece reflects a legend of the count who was a great philanthropist, and upon his death, he supposedly donated a large sum of money to decorate the church. It is thought that both St. Stephen and St. Augustine descended from heave upon his death.
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William Byrd is considered the greatest English Renaissance composer. He published two collections of English songs in 1588 and 1589. The first contained mostly instrumental ensemble while the second had voices added for two parts.
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Written by Christopher Marlowe at some unknown date, The Passionate Shepherd was first published in 1599 posthumously. The persona of the poem is wooing a young maiden to run away with him and be his love. As one of the most well known love poems in English, it is considered to be a pastoral style poem written in iambic tetrameter. Walter Raleigh wrote a famous parody in reply to Marlowe's poem.
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Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is the most famous and most re-enacted play by the playwright. The dating is approximate with estimations from 1599-1602. The character of Hamlet is one of the most complex and most human created by Shakespeare and presents many existential questions about life.
