Month: December 2021

The chubby, usually naked infants with wings that often appear in Renaissance sculpture and paintings are called putti. Putto is the Italian word for “boy,” and the cherubic putti found in artwork are usually male. Putti were seen primarily on sarcophagi of the 2nd century before experiencing a revival in 15th-century Italy, thanks largely to the work of Donatello, and becoming a common feature of Baroque ceiling frescoes. What other artist painted well-known representations of putti? Discuss

The French phrase noblesse oblige means “nobility obliges” and implies that with wealth, power, and prestige come responsibilities. The phrase has been more broadly used to describe the motivation of those who help the less fortunate. The concept has been referenced by diverse authors through the centuries, including Homer, Honoré de Balzac, and William Faulkner, and has even been cited in modern legal writings. What Disney movie directly references noblesse oblige in one of its songs? Discuss

Though they appear to take flight, most “flying fish”—found worldwide in warm waters—actually only jump out of the water and then glide above its surface with their enlarged fins. This unusual behavior is primarily a way to escape predators, and the strongest fliers can travel as much as 600 feet (180 m) in a single glide. The characin of the Amazon basin, however, is the rare flying fish that achieves true flight by buzzing its winglike fins. What country is nicknamed “the land of flying fish”? Discuss