Example: Milestone Two
The following is an example of a Milestone Two
submission. Note that this is only an example, so it may need to be revised in
order to meet all of the Milestone Two requirements. Click on each blue
highlighted area below to learn more about areas where the essay needs
improvement. Feel free to refer back to the Milestone Two Guidelines
and Rubric to consider how well
this paper meets those guidelines. The following is an evaluation of the
student’s submision according to that rubric:
- Introduction, Artworks: 2 of 2
points possible (100%)
- Introduction, Argument/Idea:
1.5 of 2 points possible (75%)
- Historical Background,
Relationship: 8 out of 8 points possible (100%)
- Historical Background,
Influence/Shape: 9 of 9 points possible (100%)
- Similarities/Differences,
Similar: 6 of 8 points possible (75%)
- Similarities/Differences,
Different: 6.75 of 9 points possible (75%)
- Similarities/Differences,
Express: 6.75 of 9 points possible (75%)
- Similarities/Differences,
Represent: 6.75 of 9 points possible (75%)
- Modern Influence, Expression: 6
of 6 points possible (100%)
- Modern Influence, Influence or
Define: 6 of 6 points possible (100%)
- Modern Influence, Learn: 4.5 of
6 points possible (75%)
- Modern Influence, Echo: 6 of 6
points possible (100%)
- Modern Influence, Archeytpe:
4.5 of 6 points possible (75%)
- Modern Influence, Parallels:
4.5 of 6 points possible (75%)
- Articulation of Response: 5 out
of 5 points possible (100%)
- Total Points: 84.25 of 100
points possible for a B+ submission
Artist’s Name: Simone Martini
Title: The Annunciation
Style movement: Medieval Gothic
Date: c. 1333
Location: Uffizi Art Gallery
Origin: Italy
Literary Work: The Divine Comedy
Author’s Name: Dante Aligheiri
Date: 1320
Origin: Italy
Title of Illustration (above): Plate IX, Canto III
Illustrator: Gustave Doré
Date: 1857
Jane Doe
FAS 201: Introduction to the Humanities
Southern New Hampshire University
August 15, 2015
Comparing and Contrasting Two Annunciation Paintings
For the final project I will compare two works of art and consider
how a theme they both share finds expression in contemporary ideas and events.
The visual work of art is by Simone Martini and is titled The
Annunciation. Martini’s Annunciation was painted in
approximately 1333 in Italy and represents a Medieval Gothic painting style.
The literary artwork I will consider is The Divine Comedy, an epic
poem penned by the Italian author Dante Aligheiri in 1320. I will compare the themes and tone of the works
of art, as well as the experiences and attitudes of the main
“characters” of each, the Virgin Mary and Dante. I will connect these
commonalities to the contemporary experience of believers, in particular those
who have their faith challenged by secular ideas, scientific theories, and
other world events.
Martini and Lemmi’s Annunciation was painted in
Italy during the Medieval period and in a Gothic style. Artwork created during
the Medieval period “emphasized Christian faith with an emphasis on the
afterlife [and]…respect for social and religious hierarchy” (MindEdge).
Medieval painting often took the form of altarpieces, which is what The
Annunciation is. Altarpieces were displayed in churches and with the
intention of teaching churchgoers, visually, about significant moments in the
Bible (Fiero 165). Altarpieces, such as Martini and Lemmi’s, were painted in
tempera. The rich, densely saturated colors in the painting contrasted with
gold leaf. The gold leaf reflected the candlelight in the church, which no
doubt provided a dramatic impact that drew more attention to the subject matter
in the painting (Fiero 165; Uffizi). Many Gothic paintings, like The
Annunciation, still used the flat, one-dimensional Byzantine style but
incorporated more “natural and expressive body positions” (Fiero 165;
MindEdge). The goal of Medieval Gothic art was “not to imitate optical
reality, but rather to teach spiritual truths,” and you can see the flat perspective,
curved body positions, and focus on spiritual truths represented in Martini and
Lemmi’s painting (MindEdge).
Dante Aligheiri’s The Divine Comedy was written
in Italy during the Medieval period, and it has since come to be seen as one of
the most important and masterful Italian texts. Issues of faith were standard
for Medieval Italian literature, and The Divine Comedy explores
these issues in the format of a lengthy epic poem. The political context in
which Aligheiri authored the poem was tumultuous. He was heavily involved with
politics, and as a result he was eventually exiled when the opposing party took
power. After being exiled, he moved about from place to place, finding time and
financial support to write during those journeys (Kumar). Those travels are not
unlike the travels the protagonist of his most famous literary work undertakes
in search of salvation. The powerful imagery of the language has also
made The Divine Comedy a popular text for illustration,
thereby inspiring countless visual works of art.
Martini and Lemmi’s Annunciation and
Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, although artworks of different
mediums and of vastly different scopes, are similar in many ways. To begin, the
two works have similar origins. Both are of Italian origin and were created
during the medieval period.
Furthermore, both works of art depict the annunciation, which is
an important moment in the Christian tradition, the moment when the angel
Gabriel appears before the Virgin Mary to declare that she will bear the son of
God. However, the annunciation is just one event in a series of events in The
Divine Comedy, which chronicles its protagonists journey through hell,
purgatory, and finally heaven. On the other hand, it is the only event depicted
and the focus of Martini and Lemmi’s, The Annunciation. This
difference in the scope of the two artworks is largely a result of their
different mediums. The Annunciation is a one-dimensional
painting, whereas The Divine Comedy is a sizable epic poem.
In addition to being from approximately the same time and place,
the subject matter of these artworks overlap in important ways. Both works deal, in particular, with issues of
faith and with a recognition of the will of God. In The
Annunciation, the Virgin Mary is depicted as reacting to the news,
delivered by the angel Gabriel, that she will soon bear the Son of God. Her
position in the image, the fact that she is leaning away as the other
characters and lines in the artwork lean toward her, indicates she is surprised
and perhaps challenged by his message. However, she quickly comes to embrace
this information, a clear testimony to her unwavering faith. The protagonist
of The Divine Comedy, Dante, also faces issues of faith. His
journey encourages him to consider the will of God and to realize that
salvation is only possible after giving over entirely to that will.
This theme of faith in the face of adversity is
not irrelevant for religious believers in today’s society. Believers may face
many crises of faith, some of which are the result of particularly modern
events, like scientific advancements and the spread of secular ideals. The
number of Americans identifying themselves as having no religious affiliations
are rising, increasing from 16 percent to 20 percent between 2008 and 2012
(Worthen). Scientific explanations seemingly leave increasingly less room for
the attribution of miracles, nor is a belief in some higher power necessary for
understanding many facts about the world in which we live. While there is no
obvious reason why these scientific explanation are not compatible with
religion conviction, they may challenge faith based reasoning.
Works Cited
Fiero, Gloria K. Landmarks in the Humanities. 2nd
ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. Print.
Kumar, Akash. “Historical Context for the Divine Comedy by
Dante.” Columbia University. Web. 16 November 2015.
MindEdge. FAS 201: Introduction to the Humanities. MindEdge,
Inc., 2015. Web. 25 July 2015.
National Gallery of Art. “The Annunciation.” National
Gallery of Art. Web. 15 July 2015.
Uffizi Gallery. “Annunciation by Simone Martini and Lippo
Memmi.” Guide to Uffizi Art Gallery. Web. 16 July 2015.
Worthen, Molly.
“One Nation Under God?” The New York Times, 22 December
2012. Web. 16 November 2015.
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