The young boy in Francisco de Zurbarán’s (1598-1664) Saint Peter Nolasco Recovering the Image of the Virgin of El Puig (1630) has been suggested to be either Zurbarán’s son, Juan de Zurbarán (1620–1649), or the son of James I of Aragon, Alfonso of Castile (1229–1260). Despite visual dominance, most scholars do not address the boy, and those who do offer conflicting identifications. This paper bridges the gap between these varying opinions, and concretely identifies the most formally important figure in this commission that defined Zurbarán’s career. The argument is built on the writings of Zurbarán scholar Martin S. Soria, as well as a comparison to Zurbarán’s body of work at large, primarily his tendency to create from life, and his suspected self-portrait, The Crucified Christ with a Painter (1650). I conclude that the child in the piece is likely a culmination of Juan and Alfonso and explore the implication of Zurbarán depicting his child in the noble and pious role of James the Conqueror’s son, paying witness to the rediscovery of the Virgin of El Puig. The combined figure of Juan and Alfonso gains significance through an exploration of historical context surrounding the legend of the Virgin of El Puig and its key figures. By drawing parallels between 17th-century Spanish colonialism contemporary to Zurbarán’s time and 13th-century Reconquista depicted in the painting, Zurbarán uses this composite figure to assert a vision of his lineage as triumphant and divinely favoured. Ultimately, this paper continues and expands upon Soria’s writings on the subject, and places Zurbarán within a Baroque tradition of artists, such as Velázquez, who used painting to assert their profession as divinely-inspired, nobel, and distinct from craftsmen.
While DeCamps "Woman Drying Her Hair (1898)" may appear at first glance to be a conventional nude, its composition, technique, and context suggest that DeCamp intended it as a deep investigation into form and style- a study rather than a narrative work. Through his study in Europe like Munich, Germany and mentorship provided by Frank Duveneck, DeCamp refined his ability to portray the figure in a way that was both perpetually rigorous and resonant to anatomical paintings in America.
This research demonstrates the positive effects of gardens on the well being of those grieving the loss of a loved one in the United States. This project creates a guideline for constructing an effective memorial garden using components such as motion, stillness, privacy, community, plant choice, and other design elements. The author also includes a recommended plant list for the Midwest United States and reading recommendations for garden design.
Integrated Pest Management is a continually improving initiative that is beneficial to both conservation of beneficial insects and ecological health in urban Cincinnati. However, landscape industry employees and environmental policy-makers require education on the four main strategies of IPM in order to carry out this initiative. This project explains the emerging educational strategies that landscape industry employees and environmental policy-makers need in order to fulfill this initiative.
Access to fresh food and green spaces is vital for well-being, yet downtown Cincinnati remains a food desert. This capstone explores how integrating living art and edible plants into urban spaces improves people’s mental health and well-being. Through the design of a community garden and a living art installation, this project blends horticulture, public health, and art to promote food access, reduce stress, and foster community a vibrant, restorative environment.
Ohio currently has 2 extinct, 5 extirpated, 5 threatened, and 10 endangered bird species. 36% of the birds on the lists call the prairie landscape home. In the 1700s Ohio had over 1,000,000 acres of prairies, today it is less than 10% of it. This project inspires and teaches people to bring prairies back into the modern landscape and bring nature back into these areas where they have been pushed out.
The way plants have been utilized in interior spaces has shifted from stand-alone houseplants to incorporating them within functional aspects of the home. This can be seen in interior green walls and indoor gardening. This project expands how green design can be incorporated within home decor items that maintain functionality and promote interaction with natural elements to promote mental well-being. Proximity to the proposed plants has been proven to promote psychological well-being.
This project consists of taking an existing property in Anderson Township, Ohio that serves as an urban farm and community education center and incorporating a working arboretum into it. The project consists of a ten-year timeline of how the arboretum can be incorporated into the existing property with necessary upgrades. The property has existing trees and shrubs planted on it. This research illustrates the benefits of an arboretum.
