Running Head: CULTURAL ARTIFACTS
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2-6 Project Part One: Artifacts and Theme Selection
HUM200
SNHU
CULTURAL ARTIFACTS
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The first cultural artifact that has been chosen is the ‘Lady with the Ermine’
portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The artifact is from around 1489 – 1490. It is
54.8 cm high and 40.3 cm wide. The subject of the artifact has been identified as
Cecilia Gallerani and the painting was done when she was the mistress of Lodovico
Sforza, the Duke of Milan. During the painting, Leonardo was responsible for serving
the Duke. It can be seen in Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland (Lady with an
ermine - by Leonardo da Vinci. Lady with an Ermine - by Leonardo da Vinci, 2021).
CULTURAL ARTIFACTS
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The second cultural artifact that is chosen is the ‘Girl with a pearl earring’ oil
painting by Johannes Vermeer. It was created in 1665. The work is 44.5 cm high and
39 cm wide and it shows a European female in an exotic dress, a turban and a large
earning. It can be seen in Mauritshuis, an art museum in The Hague, in The Netherlands
(Google, 2021).
Common Theme
The common theme between these works was that even though renowned artists
of the respective era had made them, the pieces of artifacts succeeded to establish a
distinctive identity in their own rights. In both the work, the subjects are women and
each of them exhibits grace and give a glimpse into the specific era.
Personal Experience
CULTURAL ARTIFACTS
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The theme that has been identified is related to my personal experience because it
makes me realize the evolution that women have undergone with the passage of time.
Through art both the artists have represented women and how their representation has
evolved.
CULTURAL ARTIFACTS
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References
Google. (2021). Girl with a pearl earring - johannes vermeer - google arts & culture.
Google. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/girl-with-a-pearl-
earring/3QFHLJgXCmQm2Q?hl=en-
GB&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.508608
639965157%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A3.1415230056906385%2C
%22height%22%3A1.2375000000000005%7D%7D
Lady with an ermine - by Leonardo da Vinci. Lady with an Ermine - by Leonardo da
Vinci. (2021). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from
https://www.leonardodavinci.net/lady-with-an-ermine.jsp
