Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

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Click to view high resolution image Title: Seven Liberal Arts Creator: Andrea di Bonaiuto, painter Description: This image offers a visual allegory on the ideas contained in the "Summa theologiae" of Thomas Aquinas. Here the Seven Liberal Arts, personified as young women, sit within a series of stalls with Gothic arches, the cusps of which contain medallions of symbolic figures. First, on the extreme right, comes Grammar, who instructs children. She is accompanied by the Grammarian Donatus. Rhetoric is next, joined by a meditating Cicero; the medallion over her head bears a figure engaged in self-inspection. Dialectic is third, with Aristotle and, in the medallion, a man writing. A branching rod covered with leaves, held in one hand, represents the Syllogism, a scorpion in the other hand the Dilemma. Music, plays an organ. The " melodious blacksmith," Tubal Cain, at her feet beats his music out energetically. The fifth Art is Astronomy, science of the seasons, indicated by the man holding a spade and sickle in the medallion. She wears a golden crown, holds an astrolabe, and raises her hand to the heavens. Beneath her, Ptolemy also looks to the heavens. Next is the figure of Geometry, holding an L-square and accompanied by Euclid. Geometry includes the art of fortification, and therefore an armed soldier occupies the cusp medallion. Last and highest of the Liberal Arts is Arithmetic, with Pythagoras beneath her and a king in her medallion, to show that she is the science of order and government. Source: Wikimedia Commons Rights: Public domain Subject (See Also): Liberal Arts, Personified as Women Musical Instruments Personification Geographic Area: Italy Century: 14 Date: ca. 1365 Related Work: The Triumph of Catholic Doctrine, Personified in St. Thomas Aquinas: http://www.russianpaintings.net/upload1/author/firenze_andrea_bonaiuti_da/firenze_andrea_bonaiuti_da_Firenze_Andrea_Bonaiuti_da_Triumph_of_St_Thomas_and_Allegory_of_the_Sciences_1365-68_Fresco_Cappella_Spagnuolo_Santa_Maria_Novella_Florence.jpg_large.jpg Current Location: Florence, Santa Maria Novella, Spanish Chapel, left wall Original Location: Florence, Santa Maria Novella, Spanish Chapel, left wall Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Frescoes Donor: Layman; Buonamico di Lapo Guidalotti, Florentine merchant Height/Width/Length(cm): // Inscription: Related Resources:

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