Time Capsules from the Renaissance and Baroque Time Periods

Two time capsules were found during renovations of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence. One time capsule dates back to the Renaissance time period. Artifacts in this time capsule included a painting of The Birth of Venus, a lute, drawing of the Florence Cathedral’s dome, and a book called The Decameron. The second time capsule had artifacts from the Baroque time period. Artifacts in this time capsule included a painting of The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, a stage painting in an opera house, canvas painting of St. Petersburg, and a play called Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme These artifacts give us a glimpse of world events, and cultural patterns in the Renaissance and Baroque time period.

The first artifact that is pulled out of the Renaissance time capsule is painting called the Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli, painted in 1487. The Birth of Venus was painted using Tempera paint on a canvas that is about 5ft. 9in. by 9.5 ft. This painting shows the birth of the Goddess Venus and three other Gods, and Goodness looking on. Venus is emerging from a pearlescent scallop as an adult (Fiero, 2011). The greater meaning of this painting has been pondered on by many people. During this time, people were rediscovering and studying Ancient Greeks. Their artwork reflected not only Ancient Greeks, but also the artist’s own interpretation of the Greek mythology. This painting also shows how artiest weren’t as focuses on making religious art, but started to base their artwork on other studies such as mythology.

Lying underneath the painting The Birth of Venus was a lute. A lute is a stringed instrument that was played during the Renaissance time period, by plucking the strings. During the Renaissance time period secular compositi...

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...class. This play also reflects the beginning class structure of the early modern European society. The European society was based sex and classes (Fiero, 2011).

The time capsules have given people an opportunity to look back into history of the Renaissance and Baroque era and there cultures patterns. The artifacts in the time capsules will also help people to understand events that were taking place in world during these time periods, and what effect it had on those people. Understanding the past helps the people understand their culture of today.

Works Cited

Fiero, G. K. (2011). The humanistic tradition, Book 4: Faith, reason, and power in the early modern world (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Fiero, G. K. (2011). The humanistic tradition, Book 3: The European renaissance, the Reformation, and the Global Encounter (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.