Comparing Pope Alexander VII and Pope Julius's Tombs

As we get closer and closer to the future, many famous people from the past will most likely be forgotten. Often famous or well-known people will have commissioned famous artists to create a work of art or masterpiece of themselves which helps the people of the future by showing who or what that person was. For example Sir Isaac Newton, was famous for describing the universal gravitation and the 3 laws of motion and was given a commemorative statue at Oxford University or even his monument which can be seen in Westminster Abbey which help us tell his life work. However statues are not the only way people can be remembered by, a small thing such as a photo, a movie which that person participated in, or even a music cd which tells us how that person expressed him or herself, there are many ways in which people can be remembered by. Pope Julius II had commissioned Michelangelo to design and sculpt his tomb before his death. As for Pope Alexander VII he had employed Bernini to create his own tomb. Even though both works of art were meant for the same purpose, they differ in style, size and symbolism. So in this paper I will be comparing and contrasting both works of art, patrons and artists.

The High Renaissance period started from 1490’s and lasted until 1527. In 1494 to 1559 the Italian Wars began, which was a series of wars that were fought mainly between major European powers such as France and the Holy Roman Emperor, for the territories in the rich Italian peninsula. Pope Julius II commanded the Papal army and fought in a few campaigns. One of the major parts of the Italian wars may be the Sack of Rome of 1527. The Sack of Rome was an attack ordered by the King of Spain and France which led an estimate of 45,000 men, women and ...

... middle of paper ...

...., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. .

"Web Gallery of Art, image collection, virtual museum, searchable database of European fine arts (1000-1900)." Web Gallery of Art, image collection, virtual museum, searchable database of European fine arts (1000-1900). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. .

Gardner, Helen, Richard G. Tansey, and Fred S. Kleiner. Gardner's Art through the Ages. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College, 1996. Print.

Williams, Stephen . "The High Renaissance." Academy of Art University, San Frnacisco. . Lecture.

Williams, Stephen . "The Italian Baroque." Academy of Art University, San Frnacisco. . Lecture.

Avery, Charles, and David Finn. Bernini: genius of the Baroque. Boston: Bulfinch, 1997. Print.