Overview
The Adoration of the Magi was created by an Italian artist Sandro Botticelli, who worked on his masterpiece from 1475 to 1476 (“The Adoration of the Magi by Botticelli,” n.d.). The painting is currently displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, and is considered as one of the best attempts to depict the Medici family members in the roles of the Magi kneeling in front of the Virgin. The Lamentation, which was created by Giotto di Bondone from 1304 to 1306, portrays the Renaissance style of art in the Byzantine-dominated Europe (“Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ),” n.d.). The Lamentation can be observed in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy, where it is a part of the interior along with other works by Giotto, which are regarded as some of the unique and most renowned frescoes in Renaissance-period Italy.
The theme uniting both selected artworks is “Understanding the Life and Death through Humanities” since the two artifacts demonstrate certain stages of human life development, namely, birth and death, and the feeling connected with these events. The thesis argues that the two selected pieces can be useful in presenting the concepts of life and death to the audience. The theme is perfectly suitable in the domain of the humanities since these disciplines study various aspects of human society.
The Impact on the Audience
My ideal audience is composed of individuals who do not appreciate art (including me) and have difficulty understanding it since they frequently look at artworks thoughtlessly and neglect the opportunity to pay attention to detail. The present style and pace of living, which are too fast and often detached from emotions, deprive people of an opportunity to emerge themselves in analysis or even self-analysis, which can be amply promoted by observing art. Therefore, I selected this audience because I am convinced that when one is given an opportunity and a stimulus to have a deeper perception of artifacts. For example, by observing the images of life and death, one can change their views, thoughts, and maybe even actions for the better.
Evidence
The evidence is relevant to my audience and me since everyone has witnessed both happy and sad events during their lives. I am always exhilarated to meet my friends’ and relatives’ newborn babies. At the same time, I have sometimes followed a sad duty of saying the final farewells to close people. The religious aspect of the artifacts is also related to my life. Although I am not an ardent believer, I do humbly realize the impermanence of people’s lives and understand that sooner or later, the day will come for every human to leave the earthly body. I think that my audience most likely feels the same way. Research indicates that spirituality promotes the well-being of those working in healthcare environments (Askeland et al., 2019; Kuchinka, 2021). I believe that none of the two artworks is meant to make the viewers pessimistic, sad, or frightened. Instead, they teach people to value every moment and live life to the fullest while they can.
Personal Importance
The selected theme is very important to me because lately, humanity has been experiencing too many catastrophes leading to numerous deaths. The pandemic, wars, environmental crises, incurable diseases – all of these undermine one’s confidence in seeing the next day. The panic was so overwhelming that at some point, I realized I was becoming too pessimistic and stopped noticing positive things. My close friend died of COVID-19, and I was not even able to say a proper farewell to her. However, at the same time, my auntie recovered from cancer, and finally, this year, our family was able to gather for Christmas in my grandma’s home.
These seemingly simple but such meaningful things made me reconsider my overall mood. I decided to celebrate life every day and to share positive vibes with close people. That is why the two artifacts are so dear to me: they teach us that although death is inevitable, so is life. We should appreciate all the good things we have and try not to become too depressed when something bad happens.
Benefits of Studying the Humanities
Studying the humanities promotes both personal and professional development. As for me, I became more appreciative, patient, and attentive to detail. I have also noticed positive shifts in communication at the workplace: I am more understanding and ready to compromise. I have even lost the fear of asking questions or requesting some work process improvements if I do not feel okay about a situation.
The Importance of the Humanities to the Society
If I had been asked this question a few months ago, I would not have known how to respond. However, now I totally understand and appreciate the role of the humanities in our lives. Studying these disciplines unites people from different cultures and backgrounds. Understanding the humanities teaches everyone to value art, especially the pieces that are ancient and have become the world’s heritage. Overall, the humanities make society better and give hope for unification of people irrespective of their diverse religious, political, or ethnic identities.
References
The Adoration of the Magi by Botticelli: An artwork full of innovation. (n.d.). Virtual Uffizi Gallery. Web.
Askeland, H., Espedal, G., & Sirris, S. (2019). Values as Vessels of Religion? The Role of values in everyday work at faith-based organizations. Diaconia: Journal for the Study of Christian Social Practice, 10(1), 27-49. Web.
Kuchinka, D. G. J. (2021). Spirituality and its impact on stress and subjective well-being among healthcare professionals. European Journal of Management, 21(1), 66-76. Web.
Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ). (n.d.). The History of Art. Web.