Enquiry Questions and a Reply from a Professor

 

Hey again,

 

Great news! (as always I suppose)

 

I received a reply from Nicholas Baker, one of the professor’s I emailed.

 

Message extract below:

 

 

Dear Claire,

 

My apologies for taking so long to reply to you, but I have been in the US for the past several days.

 

The three principal books that you must consult, if you have not already done so, are:

 

Christine Shaw Julius II: The Warrior Pope (1993)

 

Loren Partridge and Randolph Starn A Renaissance Likeness: Art and Culture in Raphael’s Julius II (1980)

 

Charles L. Stinger, The Renaissance in Rome 2nd Ed. (1998)

 

In addition, most scholarly works on both Michelangelo and Raphael will also contain much information on Julius’s cultural patronage.

 

A journal database such as JSTOR (if your school library provides access to it, or you should be access it on-campus in any university library) that allows you to perform a title or full-text search for “Julius II” would also help. You could also use Google Scholar (access by clicking the “More” link on any Google page) to search for both books and articles.

 

All the best for the project. It’s always great to hear from students interested in the Renaissance period.

 

regards,

Nicholas Baker

 

Nicholas Scott Baker, PhD

Department of Modern History, Politics, International Relations & Security

Faculty of Arts

Macquarie University

NSW 2109

·         Loren Partridge and Randolph Starn A Renaissance Likeness: Art and Culture in Raphael’s Julius II (1980)

·         Charles L. Stinger, The Renaissance in Rome 2nd Ed. (1998)

 

And also the database JSTOR.

 

I’ve also found that both books are in the Sydney Uni fisher library – so that means another trip to there and the state library. Which will be really good, so I can finalise a lot of things and also check if, Erasmus’ book of ‘In Praise of Folly’ is there. But I also thought that our class was planning to go there for an excursion. Oh who knows!

 

Anyways I was also able to go onto the JSTOR database from the Charles Sturt University Library, and I have found 3 good extracts that I shall read shortly.

 

I also wanted to mention about my enquiry subheadings that I’m using for my 1^st draft:

 

·         Interpretations/ Views of PJII

·         Motives to Patronise Religious Art and Architecture and the Papal States

·         Construction of History about PJII and the Change over Time

 

Hopefully they’re good.

 

I was also able to read through the extracts from Peter De Rosa’s book ‘The Vicars of Christ; The Dark side of the Papacy,’ and I’m am just letting you know, that I found out that, and I quote, PJII was one of the popes who ‘misbehaved.’It also mentioned other popes and they were mainly discriminated this way because they were guilty of incest and sexual perversions of adultery. PJII was viewed this way because he had 3 children whilst he was cardinal before he became the Pope. The extract also mentioned that PJII was ’A franciscan from Genoa, tall, handsome, and syphilitic, he bribed his way to the papacy with hundreds of thousands ducats.’ What shocked me the most from reading this was the use of the word ‘syphilitic,’ which is an adjective that obviously refers to the sexually transmitted disease, syphilis. I then wondered why he used this to describe PJII. The information was very descriptive and it was definitely a narrative piece of writing.

From another book by Ross King, Julius had declared (after he won his campaign against them) that the Venetians combined the cunning of the wolf with the ferocity of the lion. And the Venetian satirist’s retorted back with accusations that PJII was a ‘homosexual, paedophile and drunkard.’  It also mentioned the Catholic phrase, “Why be holier than the Pope?” 

Both of these readings presented to me a very different approach about PJII and I can only think about researching about the authors and their reasons to why they wrote this.   

 

Anyways, till next time!

 

Ciao!

 

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Scaffold of 1st Draft

During my study period today I was able to start my scaffold for my 1^st draft of my essay. It was hard at the beginning because I began to question my enquiry questions and if they expressed what I was trying to explore with PJII. After my complication I was then able to select 3 enquiry questions that I found that were relevant to my chosen area of topic. I’ll have to list them tomorrow as I left my Major at school so I could do more writing on it during another study period.

 

I’m stressing a bit because I need to get this 1^st draft completed by the end of week 9, and that’s when, the HSC half yearly’s are on. So I’m trying to study for all my 6 subjects and also do more PJII readings and write this 1^st draft. But I know I’ll get it all done, eventually!

 

I have also understood what Sir said about the 1^st draft having ‘blank spaces’ and missing information that can be added on later. I’m glad that I can write this 1^st draft and then afterwards improve on it hugely after my half yearly’s. The plan for the holidays after my exams will be to get ALL of these PJII readings finished (finally go to the state library that I have been meaning to attend, but have lacked because of school work and studying for my exams), and have all my notes gathered together so I can further re-write my essay and submit my 2^nd draft. It’s just a matter of time management and knowing what you’re doing. Hopefully everything turns out alright.

 

Till next time!

 

Ciao.   

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Emailed more Professors and Reading Julius Exclusus

Hey

Okay, so far I have emailed 2 professors from Macquarie University:

• Mr Nicholas Scott Baker
• Mr John C. Koenig

So I shall be waiting for their replies.

I have also been reading Julius Exclusus by Erasmus – which was a satirical book based on PJII, less than a year after he died. By reading the book it is obvious that Erasmus expresses PJII as:

• Short-tempered
• Warlike
• Arrogant
• A Great Builder
• Secular-minded (like other Renaissance Popes)

He interprets all of PJII’s behaviour in the worst possible way:

• Emphasising the pope’s huge building programs in Rome.
• His patronage of Michelangelo, Bramante, and Raphael.
• His lavish purchases of antique sculptures and manuscripts for the Vatican collections.

And other abusive accusations.

This is expressed throughout the book in a dialogue between PJII, his Genius and St Peter. I have found the book to be very interesting as it shows me Erasmus’ view that he had on PJII during their time. Which was very negative.

So more reading and hopefulyl I will be able to start my 1st draft for my Major. Which will be very hard to do, even though Sir was able to give me a guideline to help me write. But a challenge is a challenge.

I have also found a quote by by Jacob Burckhardt (swiss historian) who stated that PJII was the “saviour of the papacy” 

Anways till next time, and I will keep you posted on any other news. I’m finding the readings about PJII to be fascinating with all the views that authors have on him.

Byeee

 

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Book Arrival and View’s of PJII

Hey

GREAT NEWS!!! THE BOOK ARRIVED!!!!!!! well…yesterday, but still. Before when I went to Sydney Uni I also photocopied 2 sections of Shaw’s book, but now since I have it, I will be able to read other chapters of the book and get a better outlook of her views and interpretation of PJII.

As well as, since I’ve been reading I’ve been able to understand and look upon the brief history of Italy. Such as the Popes before Pope Julius II, such as Alexander VI, and as well as the huge influence his uncle Sixtus IV had on him, he wanted to follow in his uncles footsteps. Also, the view about him being like Julius Caesar which is said by other people cannot be taken as evidence of his own motives (Christine Shaw pg 205). So this is a view by Shaw which I have found to be rather interesting during my readings.

Also with my readings of the Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, he shows the warrior actions taken by PJII and how he assisted in reaching the papacy by reputation for liberality (generosity), however he didn’t strive to keep it continuing, when he made war on the King of France; and he made wars without imposing any extraordinary tax on his subjects. He also latter states that PJII went to work impetuously (done or acting without thought, rash) in all his affairs.  

So the views of historians are coming along, these are only some that I have revealed.

I also had to look up the definitions for these words:

• Orsini: a princely family in Renaissance Rome, who include popes such as Nicholas III.
• Baglioni: magnate family, prominent in the political life of Perguia (in Italy), due to wealth derived from employment as condottieri.
• Ferrara: region in Italy. (Papal State)
• Romagna: Italian historical region. (Papal State)
• Urbino: region in Italy. (Papal State)
• Condottieri: mercenary soldier leaders of the professional, military free compaines contracted by the Italian city states and the Papacy.

 

Also on Wiki it also shows the family tree of PJII – which is excellent for me to look at.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Della_Rovere

So I shall be reading more and taking notes. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to go to the State Library and look up the previous books I listed and photocopy the chapters I need.

Till next time. Ciao!

 

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Plans for the Upcoming Weeks

 

Hello!

I have gone through the Marquarie University list of Professors, and most of them lecture Modern History . Hopefully when I email them, they will know something about PJII. So I’m getting around to doing that.

As well as the book I’ve ordered still hasn’t arrived, which I’m getting annoyed about, because I need it. So I’m waiting for the mail to arrive anxiously. Hopefully I’ll get it during next week.

Also I’m planning to go to the State Library again, to photocopy parts of these books suggested by the 2 professor that have replied to my email:

• The entry for Julius II in THE PAPACY: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA, 3 vols., published by Routledge
• The Pope’s Daughter: The Extraordinary Life of della Rovere by Caroline Murphy

I have also been reading through my resources, though I have been lacking this week, as I have a mini Major due next week on Tuesday 10th of February for another subject and I have been stressing out about it. I wonder how I’m going to be feeling when the deadline comes for this Major!

But next week on monday I have a double free study period and I shall be devoting this time to my readings of resources of PJII. So hopefully I’ll get a lot done then.

Bye for now!  

 

 

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