During the Renaissance, art and politics were two very powerful and celebrated arenas of Italian culture. Art at this time was seen as a connection that was being established between the surreal and everyday life. Art was the most obvious sign of the awakening that was occurring to pull these people out of the Dark Ages. People, such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Cellini were celebrating this awakening through magnificent paintings and sculptures. Politics and political structure were also taking on great changes. This is evident through the excessive warring and violence that was so prevalent during the Renaissance. In Italy, the Pope came to assume a great amount of political power, which he used to influence other leaders and conquer neighboring lands. While these two areas of Italian culture seem to be very different, it is through the individuals that were the leaders of these respective fields that made them come to be very similar. Artists and politicians, during the Renaissance, were seen by people of the time to be almost mythological figures capable of greatness. Artists were hailed as saints for

the beauty they were able to create. Politicians were worshiped because they were able to display power over the people they ruled. It is when these two very powerful groups of people get together that this relationship is fully understood.

The relationship that existed between these two groups of people is a direct reflection of what was happening in Italy during this time. The rulers of these states were either becoming very powerful because they were able to maintain control in their state or they were quickly defeated because they couldn't maintain control. Those that did establish themselves oftentimes used great force and violence to preserve their position. As a result of this great show of power these rulers became very self-absorbed and very concerned with surrounding themselves with the most lavish of items. This is when the artists are called upon. Because these artists are the benchmark for the cultural revolution that comes with the Renaissance, they too see themselves as very important. This attitude is enhanced with the amount of public praise they receive. It is when these two great egos come together that there is oftentimes friction. The artist does not feel that the ruler is fully appreciative of how difficult it is to do their job. The ruler does not think that the artists are anything special unless they are one of the top ones in their respective fields. Even then the artist, such as Michelangelo, is threatened with death because he is not fitting into the ruler's timetable. All the politician wants is the finished product as fast as possible so they can begin to show it off to everyone they can. The artist is concerned with finishing the piece so that he will feel that it is completed. This relationship between art and politics is one that is best understood by examining what the artists and politicians are looking to gain o

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1264
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)