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Praxiteles' Aphrodite of Knidos is the first life-sized statue of a naked goddess. The sculpture depicts Aphrodite emerging from her bath. Through sensuality and naturalism, the sculpture became a symbol of ideal beauty, inspiring Western art for centuries. -
The Madonna of the Magnificat is a circular painting from the Early Renaissance. It depicts the Virgin Mary being crowned by angels while Christ's child sits on her lap. -
The Book of the Courtier is a guide to Renaissance etiquette, art, politics, and love, showcasing the shift from medieval knightly ideals to refined humanistic conduct, and it became hugely influential across Europe. -
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture. -
The Milkmaid is a famous Dutch Golden Age painting that depicts a domestic servant pouring milk. Vermeer's masterful use of light and rich texture represents purity and everyday beauty in the 17th-century -
Essay on Man is a philosophical poem that explores humanity's place in the natural order and aims to "vindicate the ways of God to man." -
The Songs of Experience is a collection of poems that explore the darker, corrupt side of humanity. These works use childlike language to critique societal ills, oppressive institutions like the Church, and the loss of spiritual purity to reveal life's dualities.