Ahutsen Blog

Francois-Marie Arouet (1694-1778) aka. Voltaire
French Enlightenment author, critic, essayist, historian, and philosopher wrote: Candide
Playwright: Candide (1759)

Voltaire was known for his satirical views and projections in his playwrights during the classical era. By the age of 19, “he developed a love of theatre and started writing satirical poems despite strict censorship laws of the time, some of which landed him in the infamous Bastille in 1717. While in prison he started to use his pen name “Voltaire”, wrote his epic poem celebrating the life of Henry IV “Henriade” (pub. 1723), and worked on his successful tragedy Oedipe“. (Source: http://www.online-literature.com/voltaire/)

In 1759, he wrote the famous Candide. It “is a satirical examination on numerous themes like religion, philosophy, and government, written in the mordant wit and skepticism that Voltaire employs in so many of his works.” (Source: http://www.online-literature.com/voltaire/)

This was smack during the conflicting period when the Licensing Act of 1737 was in effect and the government was rolling with it’s high censorship in the classical theatre era. Supposedly, the government wanted to protect the people from these creative and rebellious artists-writers-and impressionables so they would not be persuaded and fall into “licentiousness”. The government felt it was neccessary to enact and enforce such stringent theatre laws due to their fear in the power of staged political satire. As one can declare, that Voltaire was definitally a key to this rebellious influence as a famous French playwriter supporting the staged political satire in his playswrights. This mannerism got Voltaire in a lot of trouble but he continued on as he dominated the French literary landscape of the 18th Century and became a millionaire by the age of 40 years old.
*Voltaire was an outspoken writer calling for social reform
*His writings were philosophical and witty
*Criticized the king and the church
*Jailed twice, and in constant fear of being jailed his entire life
*Due to censorship, his writing was banned
*Every time his writing was banned – more people bought it
*Traveled to England in exile and met important literary figures
(Sources: Course Notes)

At the end of his journey, at the age of eighty-three years old, he rested in Paris,France as he passed away a hero and a treasured playwright by his people.

Voltaire has been a very interesting part of artistic character to research and read about in the classical era. His playwrights were overall enjoyed by the people and it is amazing to hear about the passion he had that kept him in pursuit of art and expressionism no matter the sacrifice he incurred along the way.

Sources:

http://www.theatrehistory.com/french/voltaire001.html

http://www.online-literature.com/voltaire/

Class Notes: https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_60839_1%26url%3d

The Guiliano de’ Medici is a portrait painted in 1478 by the reknowned Italian Renaissance artist, a Florentine painter, Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510). This art piece is a portrait of Guiliano de’ Medici is a painted tempera on panel that measures 54 cm. x 36 cm. (21 in. x 14 in.) located at Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Late 15th century in Florence.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Giuliano_de’_Medici_of_Berlin_(Botticelli)

http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/7412-guiliano-de-medici-sandro-botticelli.html

Sandro Botticelli had many direct relations with the Medici family as they were known to sponsor his artwork as he performed many pieces for them. Other paintings he completed in likeness of the Medici family was Adoration of the Magi and or under This particular painting’s original became lost but since the assasination of Giuliano de’ Medici replications have been widely ordered, distributed, and erected at art exhibits.

Source: http://www.theartgallery.com.au/ArtEducation/greatartists/Botticelli/about/

This portrait painting is an exquisite piece of art in the many works created for the Medici family collection. I love the rich coloring and the symbolism in this painting. It looks very real and draws you in to study more.The storyline is facinating behind Lorenzo Medici’s brother, Giuliano, in this painting as you see a dove on the ledge perched on a dead branch, Giuliano’s lowered eyelids, the window open, etc. “Giuliano, younger brother of Lorenzo, was nursing a bad knee on Easter 1478 and had to be helped to the cathedral—by men intending to kill him and his brother during mass. The assassins, members and supporters of the Pazzi family, banking rivals of the Medici, awaited their signal. As worshipers bowed their heads at the elevation of the host, Giuliano was brutally stabbed. Lorenzo escaped to the sacristy, remaining in its refuge while the Pazzi partisans attempted to seize the government. They soon failed, however, and Lorenzo resumed control.

The murder of Giuliano shocked Florence, and a number of portraits were ordered for public display to serve both as memorials and as warnings to other plotters. Botticelli’s painting may have been the prototype for that series. The open window was a familiar symbol of death, alluding to the deceased’s passage to the afterlife. Some scholars, noting the lowered eyelids, suggest this portrait was painted posthumously from a death mask. Most, however, believe it was begun before Giuliano’s death, perhaps even commissioned by Giuliano himself to commemorate the death of his beloved Simonetta, two years earlier. On the ledge is a dove, which mates for life; it is perched on a dead branch, the only place, according to Renaissance lore, doves alight after their mates have died. Without written evidence, it is impossible to say for certain exactly what function this painting originally served.”
Source: http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg7/gg7-41671.html

This is my first post and hopefully it turns out the right way since I am new to “blogging”.