Introduction

In ancient times, there existed the concept of the “Classical Education”. This was typified by proficiency in the seven liberal arts: logic, grammar, rhetoric, music, geometry, arithmetic, and astronomy (Memoria Press).  A classical education, it was believed, resulted in a well-rounded human being who would be an asset to society. As this ideal of the classical education has expanded, an area of study known as the Humanities has emerged, its goal being to examine and attempt to understand what it means to be fully human. Art, music, philosophy, history, literature, and language are typically housed under the umbrella of the Humanities, often because they are fields of study which are not always considered relevant in technical fields or practical everyday life (Stanford Humanities). Students of the Humanities, therefore, seek to pursue this classical ideal of the well-rounded person and learn in order to cultivate the mind and the person rather than allowing education to be solely vocational in nature.

Pursuit of the Humanities rests heavily upon the examination of what has been created by humanity in the past, in all the fields mentioned above. The examination of art is one of the broadest and most difficult areas in which to study, because art is often an intensely personal expression which is filled with background, implicit meanings, and symbolism which are often somewhat subjective.

As we delve into Humanities 301: Italy and the Western Humanities, we are placing Rome and its successors under the microscope. The culture of the Italian penninsula is rich with the heritage of the Roman Republic, Empire, and City States as well as Roman Paganism, Early Christianity, and Modern Christianity. The great majority of Roman and, indeed, human art reflects humanity in the form of men, women and children, but we are curious about the significance of the animals which appear in Italian art. What varrying meanings are implied by the deer, the snake, the dog, the wolf, and the many other animals which are incorporated by the great Italian artists? How have symbolic interpretations changed from the Augustan Golden Age to the Renaissance to modern times? How did the interpretations and usage of animals in Italian art transition from Pagan to Christian times? These are the questions our Digital Gallery seeks to explore.

Throughout this blog, there will be nine explorations into the symbolism of animals in Italian sculptures, paintings, and various other media. These explorations will be carried out by the four members of our group, all approaching these topics from differing perspectives and starting points. The content of this Gallery has been compiled by a Business major, an Environmental Science major, an Elementary Education major, and a History and English Literature double major.