Renaissance Studies Commons^™

Demons & Droids: Nonhuman Animals On Trial, Gerrit D. White

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Nonhuman animal trials are ridiculous to the modern sensibilities of the West. The concept of them is in opposition to the idea of nonhuman animals—entities without agency, incapable of guilt by nature of irrationality. This way of viewing nonhuman animals is relatively new to the Western mind. Putting nonhuman animals on trial has only become unacceptable in the past few centuries. Before this shift, nonhuman animal trials existed as methods of communities policing themselves. More than that, these trials were part of legal systems ensuring they provided justice for all. This shift happened because the relationship between Christian authorities and …

Meet Me In The Middle Ages: Engaging With Fantasy, Reality, And Collaborative World-Building, Amanda Greene

MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture

This critical essay accompanies and describes my thesis project, Medievalia Miscellany, a magazine for middle-grade readers which explores the world of medieval fantasy through art, comics, stories, and activities. Throughout the essay, I use my own term “archaeological upcycling” to discuss and explore a variety of relationships between ideas of parts and a whole. I then use it to characterize the way stories are created out of many different parts and how these parts help a reader to relate to both the world of the story and the world in which they live. I describe the genre of medieval fantasy …

British Literature I, Justin Shaw

Syllabus Share

What does it mean to belong? What does it mean to have an identity? This course serves as an entry point to the study of early British literature and its historical contexts. We examine texts written from the 7th to the 17th Centuries that comprise a portion of what we call British literature. This survey engages poetry, prose, and drama that reimagine the complexities of intersectional identity, render the nation as part of a global stage, and challenge conventions of sexuality and gender. It traces early texts written by and about people on the margins of “Britishness” and "Englishness" such …

“To Multiply Corn Two-Hundred-Fold”: The Alchemical Augmentation Of Wheat Seeds In Seventeenth-Century English Husbandry, Justin Niermeier-Dohoney

Arts and Communication Faculty Publications

Agricultural reform movements proliferated in seventeenth-century Europe. For many who sought to make farming more economically productive, the practices of chymistry offered a way to accomplish these goals. Placed in the context of the development of a “vegetable philosophy,” or a theory of generation and growth across mineralogical and botanical domains, this article examines the application of chymical techniques in the attempt to enhance wheat seeds through seed-steeping and “fructifying” experiments among seventeenth-century agricultural reformers, particularly in England. I focus on three main sources: instructional husbandry manuals describing how to create “fructifying waters” to fertilize these seeds, the writings of …

England's Fairest Creatures, Madison Hart

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Set in 1616 Jacobean England, surrounding a tragic chamber pot incident, the place setting of the small fishing town of Lechlade, England, begins our story. From generations of fisherman, Elias Eaton, is the first Eaton not to bear a son. Instead, his fierce daughter in her mid-twenties, Julia, our protagonist, helps her father at the docks daily. Although Julia is a champion for women of her time, she dreams of there being something more out there for her than the town that has shackled Eatons for centuries. Julia’s mother, Sybil, is the daughter to the town baker. Her literate father …

Mentalités And The Search For Total History In The Works Of Annalistes, Foucault, And Microhistory, Jason U. Rose

The Hilltop Review

In this brief essay, the links between the Annales, the works of Michael Foucault, and microhistory are analyzed through the theoretical lens of histoire des mentalités (mentalités). Common threads that link these approaches include the willingness of using outside fields of analysis as well as the willingness to work with vagueness in search of those who Foucault calls, “lost people.” Relatedly, each of these groups and individuals are willing to analyze all aspects of the historical record to fully understand the minds, cultures, and histories of past people. The key to recognizing the relationship of these approaches involve knowing and …

The Literary Controversies Of Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling, Victoria Duehring

The Forum: Journal of History

This literary review will focus on Michelangelo’s most significant work of color: the Sistine ceiling. Michelangelo’s work has spawned a plethora of literature, but this paper will focus on three main controversial topics: assistants (or lack thereof), the ignudi’s purpose, and restoration. I will also apply a psycho-historical approach to these controversies and identify potential avenues for future research.

Full Issue

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Power Dressing: Feather Fans And The Visual Language Of Female Portraiture, Charlotte Svetkey

Theses and Dissertations

Feather fans in sixteenth-century portraiture not only allowed the female sitter to express her own claims to wealth, status, and power but also acted as a visual indicator of changes that were occurring on the global stage. Both fans and sitters will be evaluated through ideas of gender and class.

The Medici Example: How Power Creates Art And Art Creates Power, Margaret Hayden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project looks at two members of Florence’s Medici family, Cosimo il Vecchio (1389-1464) and Duke Cosimo I (1519-1574), in an attempt to assess how they used the patronage of art to facilitate their rule. By looking at their individual political representations through art, the specifics of their propagandist works and what form these pieces of art came, it is possible to analyze their respective rules. This analysis allows for a clearer understanding of how these two men, each in very different positions, found art as an ally for their political endeavors. While they were in power only one hundred …

"Sapiens Dominabitur Astris": A Diachronic Survey Of A Ubiquitous Astrological Phrase, Justin Niermeier-Dohoney

Arts and Communication Faculty Publications

From the late thirteenth through late seventeenth centuries, a single three-word Latin phrase—sapiens dominabitur astris, or “the wise man will be master of the stars”—proliferated in astrological, theological, philosophical, and literary texts. It became a convenient marker denoting orthodox positions on free will and defining the boundaries of the scientifically and morally legitimate practice of astrology. By combining the methodology of a diachronic historical survey with a microhistorical focus on evolving phraseology, this study argues that closely examining the use of this phrase reveals how debates about the meanings of wisdom, free will, determinism, and the interpretation of stellar influence …

Reading Plague Images: Visual Literacy In The History Classroom, Katherina Fostano

Developing Pedagogy Graduate Student Showcase

In 2016 Peter Felten, Director of the Center for Advancement of Teaching and Learning at Elon University, wrote, “Our students live in a highly visual world, where images are fundamental in shaping their understandings of history before they ever enter our classrooms.” This observation prompted me to create a series of exercises that introduce students to general visual literacy skills in the History classroom. These exercises aim to help students use visual sources to make evidence-based interpretations of the past with rigor and efficacy. In this presentation, I focused on images of past plagues since the recent proliferation of plague-related …

Wherein To Catch The Conscience Of The Queen: Dystopian Politics In Elizabethan Drama, Helen Fielding

Senior Honors Theses

Though established English history portrays Elizabeth I (1533-1603) as uniting England under the new Protestant religion, recent historical evidence reveals that extensive counter-currents still existed. This thesis examines how the politico-religious beliefs of Elizabethan and Jacobean playwrights manifest themselves in their drama, particularly through imagery and allusions. It draws especially from Frances Yates to assert that imagery of white magic, Christian Cabala, and alchemy in these dramatists’ works refers to the pure imperial reform movement of Elizabeth’s reign, and also from Clare Asquith to illuminate a reading of Shakespeare as a playwright who encoded in his plays a Catholic message …

Bernard Palissy: Early Career - Securing Patronage And Mimicking Nature In A Moment Of Crisis, Karissa Bailey

LSU Master's Theses

Early in 1562, France was experiencing a state of high religious tension between Protestants and Catholics that would precipitate the outbreak of the Religious Wars on March 1. A week before, Bernard Palissy, a Huguenot potter, wrote a letter to his Catholic patron from prison inBordeaux where he was being held on charges associated with an iconoclastic incident in his home city of Saintes. This letter would later be published as a dedication letter for the pamphlet Architecture et Ordonnance, which featured the description of a grotto commissioned by Anne de Montmorency, Palissy’s patron, seven years earlier. This thesis analyzes …

Judith Leyster: A Study Of Extraordinary Expression, Nicole J. Cardinale

Theses and Dissertations

Judith Leyster’s innovative application of expression in her Self Portrait serves as the focus, whereby she is shown to blend conventional painting categories, preserve a sense of innocence, and confidently flaunt her skills. In turn, Leyster challenged the male-centric art market and stood apart from her artistic predecessors and contemporaries.

The Spiritual Nature Of The Italian Renaissance, Kaitlyn Kenney

Senior Honors Theses

This study seeks to investigate the influence of faith in the emergence and development of the Italian Renaissance, in both the artwork and writing of the major artists and thinkers of the day, and the impact that new expressions of faith had on the viewing public. While the Renaissance is often labeled as a secular movement by modern scholars, this interpretation is largely due to the political motives of the Medici family who dominated Florence as the center of this artistic rebirth, on and off again throughout the period. On close examination, the philosophical and creative undercurrents of the movement …

Music And Communal Division During The French Wars Of Religion, Cameron G. Wade

Honors Theses

This Senior Honors Thesis explores the social and cultural impact of confessional musical composition and performance on the French Wars of Religion (1562-1598). Because Huguenots and Catholics identified with and were widely identifiable by their respective musical styles, cultural divisions between each confession were emphasized by differences in music. This capacity of sacred and confessionally-influenced secular music to highlight and reinforce societal divides is evidenced by the interconfessional violence that accompanied the public performance of sacred music in cities as well as the pressures imposed on composers to create music which clearly aligned with their respective confessions. As the wars …

The New England Primer Improved, Unknown

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Full title: The New England primer improved, for the more easy attaining the true reading of English. To which is added the Assembly of Divines, and Mr. Cotton's catechism. Boston, Printed by E. Draper and sold by J. Boyle, 1777

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The Wonder Of Wonders, Or, The Remarkable Discovery Of An American Hermit; : Who Lived Upwards Of 200 Years, James Buckland, John Fielding

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Chapbook description:

The hermit was purportedly discovered by Capt. James Buckland and Mr. John Fielding, who in 1785 "agreed to travel into the western parts of this vast country, to explore the regions which belong to the United States which are yet unknown to us."

Printed in Kennebunk prior to Maine's statehood.

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Prieres Ordinaires Des Soldatz De L'Armee Conduite Par Monsieur Le Prince De Condé, Accommodees Selon L'Occurrence Du Temps, Louis Prince De Condé (1530-1569)

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Morning and evening prayers for the use of soldiers, according to Calvinist rites.

Full title: Prieres ordinaires des soldatz de l'armee conduite par Monsieur le Prince de Condé, accommodees selon l'occurrence du temps = Zwey schone Gebet welche die Soldaten die unter dem herrn Printzen von Conde ligen beide Abends vnd Morgens wenn sie auf vnd von der Wacht zihen sprechen

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Bulla Reductionis Generalis Concilii Ad Civitatem Tridentinam Cum Monitione & Requisitione Prælatorum, Pope Julius Iii

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Pope Julius III's bull announcing the re-opening of the Council of Trent in 1551 following the death of Paul III in 1549.

Full title: Bulla reductionis generalis concilii ad civitatem Tridentinam cum monitione & requisitione Prælatorum, ad illius prosecutionem p. S. D. N. D. Iulium III. pont. max

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Historia Vnd Beschreibung Des Magdenburgischen Kriegs, Sebastian Besselmeier

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

A news pamphlet detailing the various events during the siege of the Protestant city of Magdeburg by imperial forces in 1551.

Full title: Historia vnd beschreibung des Magdenburgischen kriegs, von anfang biss zum end, was sich die zeit der belegerung, innen vnd ausserhalb der Stadt zugetragen vnd verloffen hat, auch von der Schlacht vnnd furnembsten scharmutzlen thaten vnd angriffen zu beyden theilen geschehen im Iar der mindern zal, 50. vnd 51., auffs kurtzest verfasst

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Commentariorum De Bello Germanico, Luis De Avila Y Çuñiga (1500-1564)

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

A description of Charles V's war war against the Protestant league in 1546-1547, when the League was defeated at the battle of Muhlberg.

Full title: Commentariorum de bello Germanico, à Carolo V. Caesare Maximo gesto, libri duo / à Gulielmo Malinaeo Brugensi latinè redditi, & iconibus ad historiam accommodis illustrati

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Abtrucke Der Verwarungs Schrifft, Der Chur Vnd Fürsten, Auch Graffen, Herrn, Stette Vnd Stende Der Augspurgischen Confession, Unknown

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

The Protestant nobles state their grievances against Charles V, pointing out that in arming against them he is in violation of the oath he gave when elected Holy Roman Emperor.

Full title: Abtrucke der verwarungs schrifft, der Chur vnd Fürsten, auch Graffen, Herrn, Stette vnd Stende der Augspurgischen Confession Eynungs verwandten, Jhrer yetzigen hochgenottrangten, vnd verursachten Kriegssrüftung halben, an Keyserliche Mayestat aussgangen, vnd beschehen

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Bestendige Vnd Warhafftige Verantwortung, John Frederich, Elector Of Saxony (1503-1554)

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Defense by Elector John Frederick of Saxony and Landgrave Philip of Hesse against the charges of Emperor Charles V that they are rebellious vassals. The princes counter that the real reason for the the Pope's and Emperor's making war against them is their Evangelical faith.

Full title: Der Durchleuchtigst vnd Durchleüchtigen Hochgebornen Fürsten vnd Herren, Herrn Johans Friderichen, Hertzogen zu Sachssen ... Und herrn Philipsen, Landgrauen zü Hessen ... Bestendige vnd warhafftige verantwortung, auch im Rechten gegründete widderlegung : Warumb die vormeinte vrsachen ... zuvorleumen vnterstanden, Inn facto vnd inn der that nicht war ... Das auch derselbe genante Kayser …

Warhaffte Vnd Gegründte Meldung Vnd Anzeigen Der Geschwinden, Tückischen, Bösen Anschleg Vnd Practick, Johann Schradin

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Political satire against Charles V in the form of a dream by a Protestant preacher. In the dream, the Emperor has become a vassal of Rome and that Germans are released from their obedience to him.

Full title: Warhaffte vnd gegründte Meldung vnd Anzeigen der geschwinden, tückischen, bösen Anschleg vnd Practick : so wider die löblichenprotestierenden Stende, vnd Euangeliums einig Verwanten, durch die grossenFeind Gottes, den Bapst, vnd seinem Anhang, fürgenummen, vnd zu jemerlichenvnwiderbringlichem Vndergehen, vnd verderben des deudschen Lands, erdachtseind. Item Vrsach der genötigten, vnd gedrungnen Defension vnd Gegenwehr. Auch wie sich darinne zu halten sey. Gottes Wort bleiht …

Recusationsschrifft, Unknown

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

In this tract, the leaders of the Schmalkald League formally announce their intention not to participate in the Council of Trent, and give reasons why they are unable to do so. These include their objection to the Pope's having called it, since the Pope, as Bishop of Rome, has no legitimate power over other bishops, and their not recognizing the Council of Trent as a free and ecumenical council.

Full title: Recusatio[n]schrifft, in welcher alle protestierende Religions vnd Eynungs verwandte Stende, Rechtmessige vnd ergründete Ursach anzeigen warumb jre Chur vnd F.G. vnd sie, das vermeint, von Bapst Paulo dem Dritten, …

Beuelch, Das Euangelion Belangendt, Henry Duke Of Saxony (1473-1541)

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Heinrich, a staunch Lutheran, announces the death of his brother the Duke George of Albertine Saxony, an equally committed Catholic, and decrees that Saxony is now to follow the reformed religion.

Full title: Des durchleuchtigen hochgebornen Fürsten vnd Herrn[n], herrn[n] Hainrichen Hertzoge[n] zu Sachssen [et]˜c. Beuelch, das Euangelion belangendt

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Apologia, Das Ist, Ein Vertedigs Rede Georgij Wicelij Widder Seine Affterreder Die Luteristen, Mit Sampt Kurtzer Abconterfeyung Luterischer Secten, Vnd Preis Alter Römischen Kirchen, Nützlich Zu Lesen, Georg Witzel (1501-1573)

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Witzel, a Catholic priest who converted to Lutheranism, explains his break with Luther and return to the Church of Rome in response to the attacks of Lutherans against him. Bound with: Melliflui ac devotissimi patris beati Bernhardi…

Full title: Apologia, das ist, ein vertedigs rede Georgij Wicelij widder seine affterreder die Luteristen, mit sampt kurtzer abconterfeyung Luterischer secten, vnd preis alter Römischen Kirchen, nützlich zu lesen : Auch wie er von der Kirchen ynn die secten kommen, vnd von den selbigen widderumb zu der Kirchen geflohen ist

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Epistola Ad Henricum Viii. Sept. 1, 1525, Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Albert A. Howard Book History Collection

Letters exchanged in 1525 between Henry VIII and Martin Luther.

Full title: Literarum, quibus inuictissimus princeps, Henricus octauus ... respondit, ad quandam epistolam Martini Lutheri, ad se miss, et ipsius Lutheran quo epistol exemplum

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