Paul Nash (The Mule Track)

Paul Nash-The Mule Track

Paul Nash was born in London on May 11, 1989, his parents were William and Caroline Nash. Paul and his brother John both grew interested in art at a young age. Paul's first major experience with art took place at the Carfax Gallery in 1912 and was successful with his art over the next few years. Wishing to help his country fight World War I, Paul reluctantly enlisted in the army hoping to be a red cross man. In March of 1917 Paul was sent of to fight on Western Front and participated in the battle at Ypres, becoming the rank of lieutenant. While in the trenches Paul often captured the sites by sketching them in his notebook. May of 1917 Paul was discharged from the British Army resulting from a non-war related accident. When Paul returned home he began transferring his sketches from the trenches into paintings that are well-known today.

Paul's piece "The Mule Track" depicts the battlefield that he witnessed during the war. He shows the damage being done by the mortar shells and the exploding earth. This piece helps to show people who did not experience life in the trenches just how horrific it actually was. The picture uses very dark colors and shadows only bringing contrast with the colors of the fiery explosions. This painting is symbolic of the death and destruction brought upon by the war because of the dead tress and exploding landscape it shows.

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Independence Movements in Latin America

A) In my opinion, the greatest factor that caused the Independence movements to occur was the people being rallied by the previous French and American Revolutions and their inevitable success. 
B) I think that Father Miguel Hidalgo was the most important revolutionary because he lead and encouraged his fellow Mexicans to take up arms and fight for their freedom from Spain. He helped shape Mexico into what it is today and because of it they celebrate the anniversary of his accomplishments as the countries birthday.

Independence Movements in Latin America

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From Evernote:

Module 2- French Revolution

• The French Government is undergoing drastic changes among its leaders and citizens. The picture above shows the chaos caused by revolting citizens of a weak government. When a government isn't stable it is noticed by the citizens and causes them to take action and revolt. A government is weak when it can no longer solve problems and defend itself from other countries. A weak government cannot survive and will crumble unless a new leader is appointed.

• When things don't improve with a failing government the people step in and take charge. The people start seeking out alternative governments to solve the problems at hand. As the population rejects the current government they establish a new De Facto government. The De Facto government sets out to solve the problems created by the last regime. The people work together and overcome the challenges they face to make a better government for the entire population.

•  Among the change and chaos emerges counter-revolutionaries who seek to put an end to the revolt. These people manly consisted of men who lost power in the old government such as nobles and clergy. These people benefited from the old government and are not keen to change. Counter-revolutionaries also consisted of uneducated peasants who followed their traditional leaders. The counter-revolutionaries feared change attempted to "restore order" in France.

• The picture above is an example of splintering which is what happened to the revolutionaries. The revolutionaries split into several different factions or groups. All of the different factions have different beliefs and ideas for the new France. There is corruption with the factions and counter-revolutionaries sneak in and try to break them apart. This causes violence and the factions split and try to destroy one another which causes them all to deteriorate.  

• All of this mayhem has created no solution for the country of France. The people are tired of the revolt and are seeking stability. They turn Napoleon to lead the country and hope that he can save them on the verge of collapse. Napoleon uses his military experience to strengthen Frances army and make them less vulnerable for siege. Napoleon also rebuilds France and quickly begins to solve the problems that have plagued France for so long.

Renaissance

The Renaissance began in Italy for multiple reasons. One reason is that the Black Plague had drastically reduced the population in Europe and paved the way for new opportunity. Another reason is that the location of Italy allowed for access to the ocean to increase different cultural changes. Lastly because many activists such as Martin Luther sparked rebellion in the people and changed followed in church and government.

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Module 4

 

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Michelangelo (The Last Judgement)

 

The name of this piece is The Last Judgement and it is painting painted my Michelangelo. The Last Judgement is a type of fresco( technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid lime plaster). It was painted on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel between the time of 1536 and 1540.

Michelangelo, in full Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (born March 6, 1475, Caprese, Republic of Florence [Italy]—died February 18, 1564, Rome, Papal States), Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. Michelangelo was considered the greatest living artist in his lifetime, and ever since then he has been held to be one of the greatest artists of all time. A number of his works in painting, sculpture, and architecture rank among the most famous in existence. Although the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are probably the best known of his works today, the artist thought of himself primarily as a sculptor. His practice of several arts, however, was not unusual in his time, when all of them were thought of as based on design, or drawing. Michelangelo worked in marble sculpture all his life and in the other arts only during certain periods. The high regard for the Sistine ceiling is partly a reflection of the greater attention paid to painting in the 20th century and partly, too, because many of the artist’s works in other media remain unfinished.

The Last Judgment is a canonical fresco by the Italian Renaissance master Michelangelo executed on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The work took four years to complete and was done between 1536 and 1541 (preparation of the altar wall began in 1535.) Michelangelo began working on it some twenty years after having finished the Sistine Chapel ceiling.The work is massive and spans the entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. It is a depiction of the Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God of all humanity. The souls of humans rise and descend to their fates, as judged by Christ surrounded by prominent saints including Saints Catherine of Alexandria, Peter, Lawrence, Bartholomew, Paul, Peter Simon, Sebastian, John the Baptist, and others.This painting qualifies as a Renaissance art piece because it depicts humans in great detail which was a new concept of the Renaissance era.

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