Tell me about your early life. I was born in Tuscany in 1452. My parents weren’t married, and my mother left to be with someone else when I was about five, so I was raised by my father and my uncle. I later on found out that I have 17 half brothers and sisters

Tell me more about your father

He was an attorney, and he always liked my work. In fact, he sent me off to be an apprentice under Andrea del Verrocchio.

Where do you get all of your skills?

Hard work, years of training, and I guess some natural talent

Exactly how many years of training did you have?

I studied painting and sculpting under Verroc-chio for, I think, 10 years

You seem to have a bit of a reputa-tion for not finishing your projects,

can you explain that?

As an architect and scientist, I accomplished most of what I set out to do, but I guess you can say I have a short attention span. If I lose interest in something I may leave it behind, never to finish, and that’s just the way I am.

When I look at your writing, I often find it rather difficult to read. Is there a reason why you write backwards?

I’ve always had trouble reading, and for some reason, I can read it better backwards than I can forward. The extra trouble people go through to read means that my ideas remain safe, so that’s a plus for me.

I hear that you’ve been working on something, do you mind telling us

about it?

Well, I’ve been working on this portrait of Lisa del Giocondo for about a year, and I’m using a new technique: Thin layers of paint and glaze. When I finish, this will truly be a masterpiece

Michelangelo was born into a once noble Florentine family on March 6, 1457. T the time of hisbirth, the family was living in Caprese and soon after, they moved back to Florence. At thirteen, he be-came an apprentice under Domenico Ghirlandaio, but didn’t remain there for more than a year. As anapprentice, he studied the works of Giotto and Masaccio and copied them before he was taken up byLorenzo de Medici.

Lorenzo de Medici allowed him access to his art collection, from which Michelangelo copied sev-eral sculptures, most notably, a satyr depicted on an ancient sarcophagus. Lorenzo was pleased by hissculpture, but Michelangelo always strived to do better than he did before. He was invited to several din-ner parties, lectures, and debates that influenced his life from then on. In 1494, the Medicis were forcedout of Florence and Michelangelo disappeared from the Florentine art scene.

He was contracted to carve the tomb and shrine at St. Dominic in 1494 in which he carved threedetailed images, all with serious expressions. He returned to Florence in 1496 and carved what is consid-ered to be one of the greatest statues of our time, Bacchus. Bacchus depicts a Romanesque image of theRoman god of wine with a young satyr behind him. This return to classical styles of carving is also evi-dent in his later work, David, which depicts a young David, victorious from defeating Goliath, standingstoically with his sling over his shoulder. Pieta was carved shortly after Bacchus for a French cardinal andis incredibly complex, the challenge of carving two figures from a single block of stone was immense anda sign of the skill of the sculptor. In 1508, Michelangelo was contacted to paint the Sistine Chapel, anunusual request considering that his main medium was stone. He completed the magnificent fresco onthe ceiling four years later, and in the process of painting, a bit of plaster dripped into his eye leavinghim partially blind.

Michelangelo is now working on finishing an additional mural in the Sistine Chapel, which likehis other works, is expected to be a masterpiece.

Andreas Vesalius, a prominent Flemish physi-cian born in Brussels, recently published aseries of seven books about the anatomy ofthe human body. In these books, he contra-dicts the teachings of Galen, who was one ofthe most respected physicians of his time. Thejustification for this being that Galen’s teach-ings were based off of animal dissections,while his were based off of human dissections,which would not have been allowed in Galen’stime due to religious beliefs. The books,

, contain detaileddiagrams of the human body and its variousinternal structures. In the preface he states,“Our pictures of the body’s parts will espe-cially satisfy those who do not always have theopportunity to dissect a human body, or ifthey do, have a nature so delicate and unsuit-able in a doctor that though they are obvi-ously captivated by a knowledge ofhumankind that is most pleasant to them andattests the wisdom (if anything does) of theinfinite Creator of things, they cannot bringthemselves actually to attend an occasionaldissection.” These books, among his otherworks, is expected to increase the quality ofcare for patients with various physical condi-tions and diseases.

Vesalius finished his education at Padua andbecame head of surgery and anatomy. He isnow physician to the court of King Charles Vand is likely to be on the court of the royalheir.

Dates that Changed the World 1215 - Magna Carta

Signed by King John, this document limits the power of the king and sets up a legislature to pass laws.

1397 - Giovanni de Medici moves to Florence Lays the groundwork for a Florentine political dynasty that will be started by his son, Cosimo (pictured left) 1440 - Johann Gutenberg created the printing press in Germany Knowledge is now accessible to the masses. One man can print hundreds more books than he could copy by hand 1453 - Gutenberg Bible printed

The first translation of the Bible into the vernacular removes the need to study Latin

1453 - End of Hundred Years War 1469 - Lorenzo de Medici rules Florence 1475 - Birth of Michelangelo

Painter of the Sistine Chapel and sculptor of Pieta, David, and Madonna and Child

1475 - First English book printed

1487 - Bartholomew Dias reaches the Cape of Good Hope Dias discovered the ocean gyres, making ship travel long distance takes less time.

1494 - Medicis forced out of Florence The Medici family is forced out of Florence by an uprising 1492 - Rodrigo Borgia becomes Pope

He’s seen as a corrupt official that favors his family above the church. The Vatican hits rock bottom.

1492 - Columbus Discovers the New World

After sailing west to reach the Spice Islands, Columbus discovers a land that was previously unknown. Full of gold and treasures yet to be found, this New World is full of opportunity for trade and commerce.

1499 - Michelangelo completes Pieta

1512 - Michelangelo completes the fresco at the Sistine Chapel

1513 - Pope Leo X becomes pope

Son of Lorenzo de Medici, a Medici becomes pope, shows the great power and influence that the Medici family held

1513 - The Prince, by Machiavelli published Is it better, as a leader, to be feared or loved? 1517 - Martin Luther posts 95 Theses

Beginning of the Protestant Reformation 1517 - Leonardo da Vinci completes the Mona Lisa (left) 1521 - Death of Ferdinand Magellan Magellan dies in the Philippines after leading a trip to circumnavigate the world 1527 - Fall of Rome - end of the Italian Renaissance

Ask Isabella Dear Madam Isabella,

Just a couple of weeks ago, my husband

and I got married. I’ve come to find out

that he isn't a good painter. We can't af-

ford to live here in Italy. Should I teach

him to paint? What should I do?

-Worried Wife

Wife,

You should take your husband to see

Leonardo Da Vinci. Recently, he fin-

ished painting the Mona Lisa, a painting

of a woman, expressing her unique fea-

tures and personality.

Dear Madam Isabella,

I am a woman painter. I am a great painter

but I am afraid of what people will say

about my paintings just because I am a fe-

male. What should I do?

-Woman

Woman,

You should come out of your shell. Even

though there are mainly men painters, there

are still great female painters such as

Sofonisba Anguissola, Marietta Robusti,

or Lucia Anguissola.

Dear Madam Isabella,

I am catering at a wedding and I am not sure what I should

cook. Do you have any idea what I should prepare? I

would love to make a great impression on my food, for I

know that many great painters are attending.

-The Caterer

Caterer,

You should consider cooking a feast including: Quail,

goose, venison, roasted boar, fish, roasted peacock, mut-

ton, cheeses, nuts, fresh fruits, oysters steamed in almond

milk, stewed cabbage, tarts and custards, and spicy mulled

wine.

Earlier this week, a man by the name of Martin Luther wrote 95 Theses and posted them

to the door of the Wittenberg Castle. Luther’s name has already spread throughout Ger-

many, after someone took his words to a printer.

His teachings are based on salvation only by faith, words of the Bible, and equality. This

has already made a serious threat to our pope!

Not only is Luther trying to change our religion, but he has also founded Christian

Churches, without the pope’s authority.

Why is he trying to start this “Reformation”? What exactly

was wrong with what Johann Tetzel ’s teachings? Is this really

the man we want to listen to? Who exactly is this guy? And is

he really Catholic?

Gossip Alert November 3, 1517

Classified Wanted

More Italian scholars needed for focusing on the works of ancient Greece and Rome, works mainly compiled by Arabic, European, and Byzantine scholars. An artist with a lot of experience. The artist must have similar painting styles to Michelangelo and must be prepared to present artwork to the pope.

For Sale

Telescopes for sale. Created by Galileo, the telescope can help you look beyond the sky’s limits. Get yours today.

Paintings for sale. Come and get your very own, one of a kind painting, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci including pictures as famous as the Mona Lisa. Sculptures for sale. Michelangelo is selling the sculptures David, St. Peter’s Pieta, and more. Traded goods for sale. From trade routes, we now have silk, mace, and many spices.

Coming Soon The most important person of the northern Renaissance, William Shakespeare, the English play writer, is performing another one of his plays. Don’t miss it.

TO THE

EDITOR: I am worried about the state of today's society. Women are coming out into the public more and more. When my father was a child, he did not have to deal with women in power. Now we've had two queens, Mary and Elizabeth, and have been subject to uprisings, massacres, and infighting. Women are clearly interior leaders and no king should leave their daughters as heirs. I don’t know what Henry VIII was thinking. There’s a reason all of our leaders are male. I am just a concerned citizen that wants the best for our great country. I am not sug-gesting treason, I'm just suggesting that we all use common sense. -Concerned Citizen

Works Cited

Images:

http://vesalius.northwestern.edu/noflash.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelos_David.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo

http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/leonardo-da-vinci/mona-lisa

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2011/may/16/those-bad-borgias/

http://www.bl.uk/learning/images/bodies/illustrations/large7548.html

Information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/vesalius_andreas.shtml

http://www.history.com/topics/leonardo-da-vinci

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379957/Michelangelo

http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/michelangelo.html