Universe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universe

I looked for many websites, and I just put one of them. The universe is a very abstract theory, and even the scientists know it very few.

The scientists believe our universe begins by a "big bang", and it is 13.73±0.12 billion years old. It is composed by the space and time, and includes all kind of matter and energy. It is the expanding space as we know. Its definition is everything that existed before, exists now and will exist. We are in the galaxy Milky Way, and there are maybe more than 100billion galaxies in the universe. Small galaxy includes 10 million stars, and the giant one includes one trillion stars!

The scientists also discuss that universe has a limit or infinite. However, we can't see the whole universe. It concerns about the general relati, and that is another complicated theory.

At last, I put a picture of galaxy. This is our universe. Isn't it beautiful?

Michaelangelo

http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bio-index2.html

This website is about Michaelangelo's life. He borned on March 6, 1475 and died in 1564. When he's thirteen years old, he became an apprentice of the painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio. However, he discovered that he love to sculp than painting. He studied sculpture with Bertoldo Di Giovanni in the Medici's school. He finished the "Pieta" in 1498, and then he began to sculp the "David". He made the David as a ideal man. From 1508 to 1512, Michaelangelo worked on Sistine Chapelin for the pope. He did the greatest fresco in the world.

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This is Michaelangelo's "Doni Madonna", painted in about 1507.

It includes some techniques that Michaelangelo often used before. In my opinion, his paintings were more 3D than other ones. He used perspective well, and he didn't copy the traditional style. He more used his heart to feel about what's this painting should be. Therefore, the figures have soul in it and the stories does this art's inclusion. The emotion, you can clearly feel it.

Duerer's paintings

This painting is "Adoration of the Trinity", it was painted in 1511.

The Jesus is the center of this piece, and it shows more balance. The colors are harmonious, so I like it. There's some symbols in this painting. The pigeon is above the Father. It means "hope" and "peace", and there is some light around the pigeon. It can make that pigeon stands out.

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Adoration of the Magi, in 1504~1505.

The man in the center is Duerer, he used his appearance to draw this man. The figures mix harmonically with the background. This is the characteristic of Duerer's art, he always use the color with balance. There are some exquisite arches in the piece, and it becomes a space. It also make the figures stand out. The perspective had used in this painting, so it shows Duerer's skills.

My trip of Da Vinci Exhibit

This photo is I standing in front of the show's entrance. I'm going to see how great of Da Vinci's inventions and paintings.

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4/3 Saturday 9:30 I went to Savant, and my father drove my classmates and me to Taipei to see the show of Da Vinci.

In the exhibit, it includes many of Da Vinci inventions' model. There are two real notes, the others are someone fabricate them. I pretty like the flying machine, the model of helicopter is similar than the modern one. It needs to put the tail on it, so it can fly more steadily. I also like the clock, it designed well. The clock worked by the gear wheels. Da Vinci not only invented war machines, new painting skills, but also invented some daily use. He was a characteristic "Renaissance man".

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This photo is our English class' students and teachers, we were all happy to see this exhibit. This trip made me eye-opening.

Leonardo's inventions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_inventions_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci#War_machines

This website is about Leonardo's inventions. There are war machines, flights, hydraulic, and bridge. Some inventions built by someone, like the bridge. The most invention that make me interested is the flight, because Da Vinci made the wings like the bat. Also, there was a helicopter
which is similar than the modern one.

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This is a helicopter, the propeller is similar than the modern one. This machine needs to starts by four men. If it is more flawless, it can fly in the air. However, this piece just a note.

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This is a cannon, and it is a terrible war machine. It can threw stones like a storm with smoke, and it will cause a great terror. It was built by the British Army, but it didn't work. It coudn't fire successfully. I think if the gunpowder invented at that time, Leonardo's invention will work. This is really amazing that a man can draw the machine which people invented after hundreds of years.

Renaissance harmony and beauty

This painting is "The last judgement" by Michelangelo in 1536-41.

There's a great balance in this painting. You can see the left side is people who go to heaven, and the right side is down to the inferno. This two scene against each other, but it makes this painting more harmonious. Jesus is the center in it, he sits in middle of the top. This great design makes Jesus seems more powerful, and this piece becomes beautiful.

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The Virgin and Chancellor Rolin--was painted in 1435 by Jan Van Eyck.

I find a great beauty in this painting. If I draw a line in middle, there's a window right on it. It shows a symmetrical balance. There's a cool design: The figures are larger in the forground, it makes the figures stand out. It may destroy the harmony, but shows the balance.

Images of Devotion

http://galusaustralis.com/2009/12/confessions-of-a-jew-who-loves-christian-art/

This website is about the feelings of Renaissance Christian paintings. I read the article and view the comments. In post, the author looked at the paintings, he would be instantly Christianized. I learned that Renaissence artists were really good at "capture a moment" in heart. It makes people "learn"the religion from paintings. Every small touch in the picture can touch people's heart. How can they did this, I think maybe Jesus had helped them.

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This painting is "The last judgement" by Giotto, he finished it between 14 century. I choose this painting because I like its small detail. You can see many little people are in inferno or sky, the painter draw it very exquisite. Also, space application is well. I can clearly know: Top is go to heaven, bottom is go to inferno. The color represents different kind of roles.

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This painting is "The last supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, in 1495-1498. I choose this painting because it is Da Vinci's masterpiece. The whole piece's background seems to come to the Jesus, and he sits in middle. It makes Jesus stands out, and the whole light focus on him. It is because the top of painting likes trangle.

Apprenticeship and workshops in the Renaissance

http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/artistslife.html

This is a website about Renaissance apprentice and workshops. I learned about most artists were some low apprentices, and learning in their master's workshop. When they made a masterpiece, so that they became master and open their own workshop. The first work in workshop was humble, it was cleaning or running mission, etc. When the apprentices grew, they'll learned master's skills. In that time, artists' were "serving clients" It was the artist's life in the Renaissance.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verrocchio

This is an website about a famous workshop in the Renaissance. Verrocchio, a Italian sculptor, goldsmith and painter. His students includes many famous master like: Leonardo da Vinci. He trained by Giuliano's father Francesco di Luca Verrocchio. Some paintings were assisted by Leonardo da Vinci and other member of his workshop.

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These artists life weren't same as modern time. Now, People pay to learn art then the teacher will be nice to you. The students are mostly be lazy, so the results is student won't be great then his teacher. However, in the Renaissance was not. The master just make you do some humble works. If you grow, you'll paint some backgrounds in his painting. The students were really work hard, so that they become a master. These examples tells us that you need to work hard, and strive. Finally, you'll succeed!