4.03 Renaissance Humanities and Fine Arts

I recently moved from Pennsylvania to Florida over the summer, so I am not yet fully familiar with everything down here. Because of that, the locations I chose are places I know of in Pennsylvania.

First up is the PA State Capitol Building, located in Harrisburg. The building started construction in 1902, and completed in 1906. It follows a Beaux-Arts style, and has Renaissance-inspired themes sprinkled in throughout the complex. In the picture, you can see the House Chamber, which has an Italian Renaissance Theme. One visible example of this is the symmetry of everything. Another example is the use of things like columns and pillars.

Next we have the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, located in Philadelphia. Works of art by famous artists, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, are featured here. There is an apprection for Renaissance art at this museum. The paintings by artists, such as those two, reflected the philosophy of humanism.

Located in Center Valley, you'll find the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. This is a great place that shares the history of Renaissance literature. The festival produces performances of some of Shakespeare's greatest work, as well as tours schools in the fall. Over 1 million people have attended performances produced by the festival. A lot of Shakespeare's work reflected humanism, and it is something he regularly incorporated into his work.

During the Renaissance, one of the biggest inventions of all time was developed. The printing press. This layed forth the foundation for the mass production of books, which helped to spread ideas and stories all over the world. In the picture above, you can see books at a library in Carlisle. Those books are there because of what the printing press helped to establish.

The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, located in Mount Joy, happens every year for 13 weeks, and is a huge dedication to life during the Renaissance Faire. There you can find things such as jousting events, shows themed to events during the period, people dressed up in costumes, and so much more. If you want to go back in time to the Renaissance, this is the place to be at.