Episode 40: What You'll See at the Uffizi

Marie and Julia talk with Dr. Steven Bule about the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.

The Uffizi is one of the oldest museums in the world, the building was begun in 1560 for Cosimo Medici as an office building for the city of Florence (wouldn't you love to work in an office like that!) but now holds one of the most amazing collections of Renaissance art in the world!

Botticelli's, The Birth of Venus and Primavera

Van Eyck, Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride, 1434

This is another painting we discussed which implements the use of oranges as a symbol of fertility.

da Vinci's, The Annunciation

Lippi's, Madonna and Child

The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

Episode 32: The Medicis

Have you ever waken up one morning and thought "I'd really like to rule the world today." Well we have the perfect family for you to follow if this is what you'd like to do! (Everyone needs a good mentor after all.)

Step 1: Specialize in a needed field of work. (i.e. Banking)
Step 2: Marry off your women to important figures, politicians, and, ideally, Kings of France.
Step 3: Become patrons to important artists that will make sure your name goes down in the history books!

Giovanna Medici-- he started it all

This is one of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, Cosimo I. There were also a few Medici who held the papal throne in Rome, becoming popes and prominent figures in the church.

Catherine de Medici: wife, mother, queen... glove poisoner.

Marie de Medici was a more beloved queen, but had some of the same political pull as Catherine.

For more details, listen to the podcast. Good luck and arrivederci!

Episode 27: Brunelleschi

It all started with a contest. The Florence Baptistery needed new doors so a contest was held to find the best artist for the job. A great rivalry was born when Ghiberti and Brunelleschi tied for the commission. Brunelleschi stormed off to Rome where he studied the Roman ruins and learned about engineering.

Meanwhile, “Our cathedral has been dome-less for 100 years! We need to find the man who can put a dome on the cathedral! The first contest worked so well, let’s have another one!” said the leaders of Florence.

 Here we go again…

 “Hmmm”, said the leaders of Florence, “Brunelleschi knows his stuff, but Ghiberti is so easy to talk too! Let’s hire them both!” 

How will Brunelleschi solve this little problem? Will he run away to Rome again? Of course not! He’s got this. What he needs to do now is get rid of Ghiberti…

Dun, dun, dun.

What do you think? Do you think Brunelleschi was really sick?

Florence Baptistery Doors, Ghiberti

Brunelleschi's dome

Statue of Brunelleschi in Florence Cathedral