Suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind.

Meet me at Versailles

   Edition 31 unveils a captivating fusion of Latin America and the West, a connection that is not just a blend of cultures, but a unique amalgamation defined by virtue. Our exploration begins with the concept of magnanimity, delving into the qualities that make some Latin American people stand out for their magnanimous qualities.  

Our journey to the west commences around 550 B.C. in ancient Greece, where we visit the city of Delphi on Mount Parnassus. The Siphnian treasury was once a shining example of classical Greek architecture—like a diamond in a jewelry box. Later, we observe the grandeur of Paris, strolling through the gardens of Versailles, immersing ourselves in the beauty of its magnanimity.  

   Our journey in Europe continues, stopping in present-day Rome to indulge by looking at and understanding a painting called The School of Athens before we embark on a voyage back to classical Greece and into a city called The Republic.  

   This edition also unveils The Painting of the Month, a captivating French baroque painting by Georges de La Tour, The Penitent Magdalene, c.1640. With its intricate details and profound symbolism, this masterpiece will captivate your imagination and deepen your appreciation for the art of the era. 

Magnanimity and The Great Soul

Educational, written by Andrea Piaget

In Magnanimity and the Great Soul, we look at the qualities of real people in Latin America, both women and men, in Bolivia and Mexico, who, through their virtues, developed magnanimous qualities. Today, these people are the pillars of their communities, authentically loved and appreciated by those around them. So then, what makes a person magnanimous?  

Magnanimity and The Great Soul

Magnanimity and Architecture

Educational, written by Andrea Piaget

Classical Greece, a place and time that birthed magnanimous architecture, is our next destination. We journey back to 550 B.C. to explore the world of classical architecture, focusing on a particular opulent treasury. This treasury, once a beacon of grandeur, allows us to grasp the essence of classical architecture in a vivid and tangible way.  

Our journey then takes us to present-day Paris, a city that holds significant ties to our exploration. Here, we aim to uncover the following connections: How did the Greeks incorporate storytelling into their architecture and design? Does Greece's artistic and rich cultural heritage still echo in the sculpture of the gardens of Versailles today? If so, in what ways?   

Magnanimity and Architecture

Magnanimity and Education

Educational, written by Andrea Piaget

Plato founded the first institution of higher education in the Western world, The Academy, in Athens. Here, we will learn about Western philosophy by first looking at a painting by Italian painter Raphael Sanzio da Urbino, c.1510, to dive into classical Greece via its philosophers, especially Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. This piece is an introduction to understanding the men of ancient Greece who proposed a way to shape the faculties of reason through music and ethics.  

Magnanimity and Education

The Soul in Classical Greece

Educational, written by Andrea Piaget

In this piece we will learn how the ancients believed there was an indispensable need to habituate our souls to what is good. If not, they share, we will have difficulty listening to our reason. So, how did Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle describe the soul? How can we learn to listen to our reason correctly? And what is the most foundational education for the soul? 

The Soul in classical Greece

Painting of the Month

The Penitent Magdalene C.1640

Educational, written by Andrea Piaget

The Penitent Magdalene, c.1640, is one of many great paintings in the oeuvre of French Baroque painter Georges de la Tour, 1593-1652. It embodies baroque naturalism, a style that combines the dramatic lighting and emotional intensity of the Baroque period with a realistic depiction of the natural world, rendering de la Tour's artistry and timeless style. So, what is The Penitent Magdalene communicating? Here, we dive into the essence of the composition.  

Painting of The Month

Suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind

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