In this podcast, the outrageous life of Italian Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini is explored. From surviving the plague and pirates to street fights and the Sack of Rome, Cellini's adventures are filled with murder, sexual escapades, and encounters with kings and prostitutes. The podcast also touches on Italian honor culture and explores the Will Smith-Chris Rock clash at the Oscars. Join in for a wild and entertaining journey through the Renaissance.
Benvenuto Cellini, an artist from the Renaissance, had a tumultuous life filled with adventures, fights, and legal troubles.
Cellini's bisexuality and passionate relationships reflect the fluid nature of desire in Renaissance Italy.
Cellini's talent and reputation as a goldsmith and artist earned him commissions from influential figures, helping shape his career and contribute to his success.
Cellini's time in Rome was marked by intense artistic rivalries, confrontations, and unexpected resolutions, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere of Renaissance Rome.
Deep dives
Chilini's Escapades and Artistic Career
Benvenuto Chilini, a goldsmith and artist, faces various challenges and adventures throughout his life. He gets into fights, escapes exile, and even deals with legal troubles. Chilini's talent and reputation as an artist help him secure commissions from both wealthy patrons and notable figures, such as the Pope. However, his fiery temperament and intense competition among artists often lead to conflicts. Despite the personal scandals and controversies surrounding him, Chilini's artistic skills and craftsmanship remain highly praised.
Chilini's Controversial Personal Life
Chilini's autobiography hints at his bisexuality and passionate relationships. He expresses intense admiration for young men, like his apprentice Paulino, and describes the fluid nature of desire in Renaissance Italy. The cultural standards of the time allowed for these relationships, and Chilini's accounts provide a glimpse into the complexities of love, desire, and sexuality during the era. His overly passionate and hot-tempered nature often gets him into trouble, causing conflicts and legal challenges.
Chilini's Encounters with Notable Figures
Chilini's skills as a goldsmith and artist bring him into contact with influential individuals, such as bishops, nobles, and even the Pope. Despite facing difficulties with some clients, including disputes over payments and artistic competitions, Chilini's talent and reputation earn him admiration and praise. He navigates the political and social landscape of Renaissance Italy, forging relationships with powerful figures who appreciate his work. This network of connections helps shape his career and contributes to his eventual success.
Chilini's Adventures and Rivalries in Rome
Chilini's time in Rome is marked by adventure, competition, and personal conflicts. He engages in fights with rival goldsmiths, engages in verbal sparring matches, and even threatens violence to protect his reputation and work. His escapades often involve confrontations with would-be adversaries, but often end in unexpected resolutions through negotiation, reputation, or the intervention of influential individuals. These experiences highlight the intense artistic rivalries and vibrant atmosphere of Rome during the Renaissance period.
Culture of Honor and Violence
During the podcast episode, the speaker discusses the culture of honor and violence in Italy during the 1500s. Insults were seen as diminishing honor, and it was believed that violence was necessary to avenge these offenses. This honor culture led to the prevalence of duels and a general acceptance of violence in response to insults. The speaker provides examples from history and contemporary culture to illustrate this concept.
Pirates and Raiding in the Mediterranean
The podcast episode also delves into the threat of pirate raids in the Mediterranean during the 1500s. Pirates from the Barbary Coast targeted various countries in the region, including Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. The speaker highlights the impact of these raids, including the capture and enslavement of thousands of people. Specific examples of pirate attacks in Ischia and Puglia are mentioned to illustrate the severity of the threat.
The Siege of Rome and Benvenuto Cellini's Role
The episode concludes with a detailed account of the siege of Rome in 1527 and Benvenuto Cellini's involvement. Cellini was part of the defense force in the Castel Sant'Angelo and played a significant role in defending the castle against the invading troops. His skills as a gunner were praised, and he recounts several notable incidents during the siege. The siege eventually ended with the surrender of Pope Clement VII and the signing of peace agreements with the Holy Roman Empire.
“If one of you comes out of the shop, let the other run for a priest, because there’ll be no need for a doctor.” Benvenuto Cellini
“The whole world was now in warfare.” Benvenuto Cellini
“And then falling on my knees, I begged him to absolve me of that homicide, and of the others I had committed while serving the Church in the castle. At this the Pope raised his hand, carefully made a great sign of the cross above my head, and said that he gave me his blessing and that he forgave me all the murders I had ever committed and all the murders I ever would commit in the service of the Apostolic Church.” Benvenuto Cellini
Italian artists from the Renaissance often lived lives that would make artists-gangsters a la Biggie or Tupac blush. Born at a time and place when colorful individuals abounded, Benvenuto Cellini was the wildest of them all. He is remembered as one of the greatest artists of the era, and at the same time as a man of explosive passions, equally inclined to murder and disturbing sexual escapades. In this first episode, we’ll witness Cellini surviving the plague and pirates, multiple street fights with blades drawn and the 1527 Sack of Rome. Along the way, we’ll see how Italian honor culture may help explain the Will Smith-Chris Rock clash at the Oscars. The characters that show up in our tale from kings and prostitutes, mercenaries and artists, necromancers and cardinals, servants and guards. If you are looking for entertainment set in the Renaissance, you really can’t ask for anything better.
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