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Francisco Goya - Spanish Painter (1746-1828)
He was a master lithographer, painter and etcher. He was chief painter for the Spanish King and later for the court of Napoleon Bonaparte during the French occupation between 1808 and 1813. He left Spain late in life because of his political views, dying in exile in France. He created many portraits and religious images, as well as historical scenes, especially. His graphically realistic images of warfare are well known, as are his many images of everyday Spanish life and custom of the era.
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Andrea del Sarto - Italian Painter (1486-1530)
The son of a tailor, he was one of the last great classical painters of the High Renaissance in Florence. He was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. The poet Robert Browning described him as "The Faultless Painter" in recognition of his perfect drawing skill. Created many religious frescos, and among the many versions of 'The Last Supper' painted during the Renaissance, only his is considered of equal stature with Leonardo's. Many of his paintings were destroyed in the siege of Florence near the end of his life.
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Ben Austrian - American Artist (1870-1921)
He showed early talent in painting as a child, and was a self-taught artist. Best known for a picture of a newborn chick that became known worldwide as a trademark image for Bon Ami soap. He excelled in depictions of furred animals and fowl. Though some considered his many images of baby chicks to be overly sentimental, he acclaimed by many as the most realistic portrayer of feathered life ever known. He also painted landscapes.
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Elbert Hubbard - American Craftsman (1856-1915)
He was a country doctor, farmer, teacher, prolific writer. He was self-educated, and an ardent believer in rugged individualism and hand-craftsmanship. After a visit to London in 1890 he returned to the U.S. to found an arts and crafts guild called The Roycrofters and a publishing venture, The Roycroft Press which issued several periodicals, "The Philistine" and "The Fra". Hubbard died on the passenger ship Lusitania, which in May 1915 was sunk by a German submarine in the Irish Sea.
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Sir Francis Grant - Scottish Painter (1803-1876)
He was self-taught in painting, for which he gave up a career
as a lawyer. He began as a painter of hunting and sporting scenes, but gained prominence as a skilled portrait painter. Among his famous sitters were David Macaulay, Benjamin Disraeli, and Lord Palmerston. Between 1866 and 1878 he was President of the Royal Academy.
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Seneca - Roman Philosopher & Scholar (4 B.C.-65 A.D.)
Born in Spain, he became a prominent speaker in Imperial Rome. He authored many plays, scientific and literary works. He was exiled by the Emporer Caligula, later returning to tutor Nero and became his principal advisor upon Nero's ascendency to the throne after the death of Claudius. He eventually fell victim to political intrigue and was forced into suicide.
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Pliny the Elder - Roman Scholar (23-79 A.D.)
His Latin name was Gaius Plinius Secundus and he was born in Como, Italy. He served as a cavalry commander in Roman provinces in Africa and Germany, wrote on many subjects, especially history, natural science, and military strategy and tactics. Unfortunately, of his many major writings, only one survives today, a thirty-seven volume work entitled 'Natural History' which is regarded as the world's first encyclopedia. He died during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius while attempting close observation of the volcano.
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Socrates - Greek Philosopher (479-399 B.C.)
He developed a system of inquiry and teaching now known as the 'Socratic Method', and is considered to be a founding father of Western philosophical thought. His views eventually fell into disfavor, and was accused by contemporaries of being a corrupting influence. He was tried, and speaking in his own defense did not hesitate to antagonize his judges. He was condemned, and while in prison drank poison to end his life. None of his writing survives - his philosophy is known from the works of his most famous disciple, Plato.
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David Hartley - English Philosopher (1705-1757)
He was a physician and philosopher, and is considered to be the founder of associational psychology. He felt that all mental phenomena are due to sensations
arising from vibrations of the medullary substance of the brain and spinal cord. He conceived
that the whole mind resulted from the association of simple sensations.
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Herbert Spencer - English Philosopher (1820-1903)
Famous social scientist whose writings shared much in common with the doctrines of Charles Darwin. He generally scorned study of "liberal arts", was an advocate of extreme individualism and was one of the few modern philosophers to attempt to form a systematic view of all cosmic phenomena.
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