Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3mhZeT6 What was Francisco Goya? Francisco Goya was a Spanish painter and printmaker who lived from 1746 to 1828. He is considered by many to be one of the most important artists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Goya made portraits, landscapes, historical scenes, and satirical prints, among other types of art. Early Life Francisco Goya was born on March 30, 1746, in the small town of Fuendetodos, which is in the northeastern region of Spain called Aragon. José Benito de Goya y Franque and Gracia de Lucientes y Salvador, who both worked for the local gentry, had him as a child. Goya was the youngest of six kids, and his family was in the middle class. Even though his parents weren't rich, they were able to give him a good education and some experience with the arts. Goya's mother was a seamstress and his father was a gilder. They both encouraged their son's artistic goals. Goya's family didn't have a lot of connections or power, but they were well-liked in their neighborhood. They pushed Goya to use his artistic skills, and when he was young, he worked as an apprentice for a local painter named José Luzán. Goya had a simple upbringing, but he went on to become one of the most important and influential artists of his time. He made works that broke new ground and pushed the limits of what was acceptable in art at the time. His early life and family helped shape his artistic vision and gave him the tools he needed to make the groundbreaking and influential work he did for the rest of his career. The study of art Francisco Goya's art education began in his hometown of Fuendetodos, where he worked as an apprentice for the local painter José Luzán. He later moved to Zaragoza, where he worked with another painter named Francisco Bayeu to improve his skills. Goya moved to Madrid in 1763 to study painting with Anton Raphael Mengs at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. Goya was heavily influenced by the neoclassical style that was taught at the academy, but he also developed his own style, which was marked by loose brushwork and bold use of light and shadow. Goya learned more than just what he learned in school. He also worked as a painter and illustrator for different publishers. He made illustrations for books, prints, and ads, which gave him the chance to try out different styles and techniques. Later in his life, Goya also looked at the work of Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Rubens, who were some of the best artists in Europe. He was especially drawn to the work of the Venetian masters, whose use of color and light had a big impact on his own. Even though he had formal training, Goya was known for being willing to try out new styles and techniques. He was always pushing the limits of what was acceptable in art, and his willingness to break the rules helped him become one of the most important and innovative artists of his time. Goya was born in the Spanish town of Fuendetodos in the region of Aragon. He learned from different artists before becoming a court painter for the Spanish monarchy. He painted many portraits of the Spanish royal family and other people from the upper class. Goya is known for both his portraits and his series of etchings called "Los Caprichos." These etchings made fun of Spanish society and politics. He also made a series of paintings called "Black Paintings." These were done right on the walls of his home and are thought to be some of his most powerful and mysterious works. Goya's work had a big impact, and many people say that he helped start the Romantic movement in art. Today, his paintings and prints are seen as some of the most important pieces of Spanish art. Art lovers and scholars all over the world continue to study and admire them. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qczDbxWE4Hg

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/ryh68mcm Silvio Berlusconi, born in Milan on September 29, 1936, and passing away in Milan on June 12, 2023, was not only an Italian entrepreneur but also a prominent figure in politics, having served as the Prime Minister of Italy on four separate occasions. Berlusconi was famously referred to as "il Cavaliere" (the Knight) and had earned the Order of Merit for Labor in 1977. However, he chose to relinquish this honor following a criminal conviction in 2014. His career began in the construction industry, but in 1975, he ventured into the financial sector by establishing Fininvest. In 1993, he expanded his interests further by founding the multimedia production company Mediaset. These enterprises later absorbed other firms, including Arnoldo Mondadori Editore and Silvio Berlusconi Communications. Throughout these endeavors, Berlusconi remained a symbolic figure within his family's business empire. In anticipation of the 1994 elections, Berlusconi made a pivotal entry into the realm of politics. He founded Forza Italia, a center-right political party that later merged into Il Popolo della Libertà in 2008 and was subsequently restructured in 2013. Berlusconi's policies left a substantial imprint on Italian public life from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s, characterized by a style that came to be known as "berlusconismo." This approach enjoyed robust support from his political allies and voters and left an indelible mark on both Italian and international popular culture. However, it also faced vehement opposition, with critics frequently pointing out conflicts of interest and accusing him of enacting legislation tailored to his personal benefit. On the international stage, he is recognized as one of the first modern populists in European politics. Berlusconi's political career saw him elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1994, a position he held for the subsequent four legislative terms. In 2013, he achieved another milestone by being elected as a senator for the first time. Over the course of his tenure, he served as Prime Minister on four occasions: during the XII legislature (1994-1995), two consecutive terms in the XIV (2001-2005 and 2005-2006), and, finally, in the XVI (2008-2011). His cumulative time in office amounted to 3339 days, setting a record for the longest-serving Prime Minister in the history of the Italian Republic. This record was surpassed only by Benito Mussolini and Giovanni Giolitti during the monarchy era. Furthermore, his second and fourth governments held the distinction of being the two longest-lasting administrations since the establishment of the Republic. According to Forbes magazine, Berlusconi was estimated to possess a personal fortune of $7.3 billion in 2021, making him the sixth wealthiest individual in Italy and the 318th richest in the world. In 2009, Forbes ranked him 12th on its global list of the most influential people, acknowledging his significant role in Italian politics. Berlusconi was embroiled in over thirty legal proceedings throughout his career. In 2013, he received a definitive conviction of four years in prison and a two-year ban from holding public office for tax fraud. As a result, he forfeited his senatorial position, putting an end to his nearly two-decade-long uninterrupted parliamentary tenure, which had spanned from April 1994 to November 2013. In 2018, Berlusconi regained eligibility and was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in the 2019 European elections. Subsequently, in the Italian general elections held on September 25, 2022, he emerged victorious in the single-member constituency of Monza, marking his return to the Senate after a nine-year absence. He remained in office until his passing on June 12, 2023. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-oxFyjJr4