Self Portrait 1435 Bronze Relief Bronze Collection of National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA
Alberti’s impact on the art world was recognised in his lifetime, he memorialised his own image before he reached the pinnacle of his fame. “Self Portrait” is a modest-sized medallion measuring approximately seven by five inches. It is, however, an important first in Alberti’s oeuvre. The oval relief acknowledges the legacy of classical culture in its resemblance to a cameo. Alberti is remembered for many things, especially his writings and building designs, “Self Portrait” is a piece that proves his skill as an artist and his admiration of antiquity.
Leon Battista Alberti 1404-1472
Leon Battista Alberti Early Renaissance Born: 14 February 1404, Genoa, Italy Nationality: Italian Died: 25 April 1472, Rome, Italy
Alberti was a humanist author, architect, artist, poet, linguist, philosopher, priest, and cryptographer. He exemplified the nature of the polymath and is considered the founder of Western cryptography
I walk’d the other day, to spend my hour, Into a field, Where I sometimes had seen the soil to yield A gallant flow’r; But winter now had ruffled all the bow’r And curious store I knew there heretofore.
Yet I, whose search lov’d not to peep and peer I’ th’ face of things, Thought with my self, there might be other springs Besides this here, Which, like cold friends, sees us but once a year; And so the flow’r Might have some other bow’r.
Then taking up what I could nearest spy, I digg’d about That place where I had seen him to grow out; And by and by I saw the warm recluse alone to lie, Where fresh and green He liv’d of us unseen.
Many a question intricate and rare Did I there strow; But all I could extort was, that he now Did there repair Such losses as befell him in this air, And would ere long Come forth most fair and young.
This past, I threw the clothes quite o’er his head; And stung with fear Of my own frailty dropp’d down many a tear Upon his bed; Then sighing whisper’d, “happy are the dead! What peace doth now Rock him asleep below!”
And yet, how few believe such doctrine springs From a poor root, Which all the winter sleeps here under foot, And hath no wings To raise it to the truth and light of things; But is still trod By ev’ry wand’ ring clod.
O Thou! whose spirit did at first inflame And warm the dead, And by a sacred incubation fed With life this frame, Which once had neither being, form, nor name; Grant I may so Thy steps track here below,
That in these masques and shadows I may see Thy sacred way; And by those hid ascents climb to that day, Which breaks from Thee, Who art in all things, though invisibly! Shew me thy peace, Thy mercy, love, and ease,
And from this care, where dreams and sorrows reign, Lead me above, Where light, joy, leisure, and true comforts move Without all pain; There, hid in thee, shew me his life again, At whose dumb urn Thus all the year I mourn
Henry Vaughan 1621-1695
Henry Vaughan Born: 17 April 1621, Brecknockshire, Wales Nationality: Welsh Died: 23 April 1695, Scethrog, Wales
Vaughan was a metaphysical poet, translator, author, and medical physician. His religious poetry appeared in Silex Scintillans in 1650 and in 1655. The religious poet George Herbert persuaded Vaughan to reject idle verse and in 1652 he showed his authenticity and dept of conviction in “Mount of Olives and Solitary Devotions.” It was also in the 1650s Vaughan began a lifelong career in medical practice
Johan Julius Christian Sibelius Romantic Born: 8 December 1865, Hämeenlinna, Finland Nationality: Finnish Died: 20 September 1957, Ainola, Finland
Johan Julius Christian Sibelius 1865-1957
Sibelius was a composer of the late Romantic and early modern periods. He is considered to be Finland’s greatest composer and is frequently credited with helping Finland develop its national identity as it struggled for independence from Russia. Sibelius is perhaps best known for Finlandia, the Karelia Suite, Valse Triste, and the choral symphony Kullervo
Jezzie G 