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Apr 23, 2024 17 tweets 8 min read Read on X
The Greatest Minds to Have Ever Lived (A Four-Part Series) - Part 3.

Here are luminaries who have laid the foundations for the arts, philosophy, and the sciences that shaped our world, some even at cost of their lives.

Let's look at how they were immortalized in art.🧵 Credit: https://memoirsofeinstein.blogspot.com/p/home-page.html
"Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fancies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing." - Hypatia

Hypatia was an influential Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician in Alexandria. Her teachings and works, although largely lost, contributed to the development of mathematics and philosophy.Hypatia by Julius Kronberg, 1889
By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, h"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection."
- Michelangelo

Michelangelo, an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance, is celebrated for his immense artistic versatility and detail in works such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David.By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125633750
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, a renowned theoretical physicist, developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics. His famous equation, E=mc², has had a profound impact on the scientific understanding of energy and mass.The famous image of Einstein taken by United Press photographer Arthur Sasse in 1951
Fibonacci (Leonardo of Pisa) was an Italian mathematician who introduced the Fibonacci sequence to the Western world through his book "Liber Abaci." His work significantly influenced European mathematics.

The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones, typically starting with 0 and 1, and is famous for appearing in various natural phenomena, from the arrangement of leaves on a stem to the branching of trees and the spiral patterns of shells.Monument of Leonardo da Pisa (Fibonacci), by Giovanni Paganucci, completed in 1863, in the Camposanto di Pisa. By Hans-Peter Postel - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1739679
"To play without passion is inexcusable!" - Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven, a German composer and pianist, is regarded as a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music. He is known for his innovative compositions, including the Ninth Symphony and the Moonlight Sonata.Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis Credit: Joseph Karl Stieler - Google Arts & Culture
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - Marie Curie

Marie Curie, a pioneering physicist and chemist, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields - physics and chemistry - for her work on radioactivity.Marie Curie Monument in Lublin This file was created and uploaded by User:SzaterTen plik został stworzony i dodany przez Wikipedystę:SzaterSzater Wikimedia CommonsPolska Wikipedia - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2898616
Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk and scientist, is now known as the father of modern genetics for his research on the inheritance of traits in pea plants. His work laid the foundation for the modern understanding of genetics and heredity. In 1910, this statue of Mendel was erected "by the friends of science." It orginally stood in Mendel Square in Brno. The statue now stands in the garden at the Mendelianum, the Mendel Museum, in Brno. Credit: https://dnalc.cshl.edu/view/16183-Gallery-4-Statue-of-Gregor-Mendel.html
"Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise."
- Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. His theories have profoundly influenced the humanities and social sciences.Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud, signed by the sitter ("Prof. Sigmund Freud") By Max Halberstadt - https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=6116407, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64082854
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right." - Henry Ford

Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company, and the sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T revolutionized transportation and American industry.Time magazine, January 14, 1935
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration."
- Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla was known for his groundbreaking contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) electrical systems, including the AC motor and transformer, which have had lasting impacts on electrical power distribution.Room 3327 of the Hotel New Yorker, where Tesla died
"The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between." - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Perhaps the most influential composer from the classical era, Mozart is known for his mastery across all musical genres of his time. His extensive body of work, including operas, symphonies, and chamber music, remains popular and influential.Mozart family, c. 1780 (della Croce); the portrait on the wall is of Mozart's mother.
"That brain of mine is something more than merely mortal; as time will show." - Ada Lovelace

An English mathematician and writer, Ada Lovelace is often considered the first computer programmer for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. She theorized a method for the engine to repeat a series of instructions, a process known as looping.Portrait of Ada by the British painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter (1836)
"Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated." - Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin was an English chemist who is often overlooked but whose work on X-ray diffraction was critical in the discovery of the DNA double helix. Her photographs of DNA allowed Watson and Crick to create their famous model of DNA.Credit: Rosalind Franklin, 1953 is a photograph by Illustration by Jody Hewgill for TIME
Elizabeth I, the Queen of England and Ireland, is celebrated as one of the greatest monarchs for her adept governance and the establishment of the Elizabethan Age, a period marked by the flourishing of English drama, led by playwrights such as Shakespeare, and the expansion of global maritime power.

Her political acumen in navigating complex domestic and international challenges, including religious divisions and threats from powerful adversaries like Spain, solidified her legacy as a shrewd and effective leader.Portrait commemorating the defeat of the Spanish Armada, depicted in the background. Elizabeth's hand rests on the globe, symbolising her international power. One of three known versions of the "Armada Portrait".
"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world." - Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist, and chemist, is renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization. His work in disease prevention has saved countless lives.Louis Pasteur in his laboratory, painting by A. Edelfeldt in 1885
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More from @CultureExploreX

Feb 1
“Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her.”
– G. K. Chesterton.

Rome’s art doesn’t just impress—it overwhelms, with frescoed ceilings, opulent marble halls, and masterpieces that leave you breathless. 🧵 Doria Pamphilj Gallery Insta: @avanicastrophoto
1. Vatican Museums

Home to rooms like the Raphael Rooms and the Gallery of Maps, where walls and ceilings explode with color and detail, leaving you stunned by the sheer scale of human creativity.

Which room in the Vatican has overwhelmed you the most? Image
2. Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo’s ceiling isn’t just famous—it’s a visual thunderclap, pulling your gaze upward into a world of divine drama and impossible beauty.
Read 20 tweets
Jan 31
War isn’t just fought on battlefields.

It’s immortalized on canvas, revealing both horror and glory.

These wartime paintings lay bare history’s most brutal and haunting moments. 🧵 The destruction of the Ottoman fleet on 7 July Jacob Philipp Hackert
1. The Battle of Alexander at Issus (1529) by Albrecht Altdorfer at the Alte Pinakothek, Munich

What if Alexander had lost the Battle of Issus—would the Persian Empire have crushed his ambitions and rewritten the course of history? Image
2. Battle of Chesma at Night (1848) by
Ivan Aivazovsky at the Central Naval Museum, St. Petersburg Image
Read 21 tweets
Jan 30
She was a teenage girl who led armies, defied kings, and was burned alive at 19.

But Joan of Arc didn’t vanish in the flames—she became immortal. 🧵 Joan of Arc by John Everett Millais in Private Collection (1865)
Joan of Arc's story begins in 1412, in the small village of Domrémy, France.

At 13, she began experiencing visions, claiming that saints instructed her to support Charles VII and help expel the English from France. Jeanne d'Arc écoutant les voix by Eugène Thirion (1876) at the Notre Dame Church, Ville de Chatou
Determined, Joan approached local officials, seeking an audience with Charles VII.

Initially met with skepticism, her persistence paid off.

She convinced Charles of her divine mission, and he allowed her to accompany the army to Orléans. Joan of Arc Enters Orléans by Jean-Jacques Scherrer (1887) at the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans.
Read 14 tweets
Jan 29
Germany hides towns so breathtaking they seem taken from fantasy—places where medieval legends, secret treasures, and cinematic beauty come alive.

Yet, many have never even heard of some of them. 🧵 Known for its porcelain, Meissen was the birthplace of Europe’s first true porcelain in 1710, a craft that had eluded the continent for centuries. But here’s something even more fascinating—beneath the town, there’s an intricate network of tunnels, rumored to be ancient escape routes or secret paths used during conflicts. Some even say they were used by alchemists trying to transform base metals into gold! It’s this mix of medieval magic and craftsmanship that makes Meissen far more than just a porcelain capital.  Credit: @_TraveltheEarth
1. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

It looks straight out of a fairy tale because it is.

The town’s medieval charm influenced the visual design of Godric’s Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Do you know which famous animated Disney film drew inspiration from its dreamy medieval streets?Image
2. Bad Wimpfen

Before it became a spa town, Bad Wimpfen was home to one of the largest Romanesque imperial palaces in Germany.

But it's true treasure?

The saltwater springs, revered for their healing properties since Roman times. Image
Read 23 tweets
Jan 27
"Paris isn’t just a city—it’s a universe of its own." — King Francis I.

And you know what? He was right.

Let’s wander through its streets and uncover why Paris stands in a league of its own. 🧵 Beneath Arc de Triomphe, lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, added in 1921 to honor unidentified soldiers who died during World War I. The eternal flame, which burns continuously, was the first of its kind to be installed in Western Europe after the Great War. What many don't realize is that this flame has never been extinguished—not even during the Nazi occupation of Paris in World War II. It is rekindled every evening in a solemn ceremony, a tradition that has remained unbroken for over a century. Credit: Breezechai
1. Sainte-Chapelle

This 13th-century Gothic jewel dazzles with its stained-glass and once held relics of Christ's Passion.

Do you know which French king commissioned the construction of Sainte-Chapelle to house relics of Christ’s Passion, including the Crown of Thorns?

A) Louis IX
B) Charlemagne
C) Philip IV
D) Francis ICredit: @JeremyTate41
2. Palais Garnier

A temple of opera and grandeur, this 19th-century masterpiece inspired the setting for The Phantom of the Opera.
Read 21 tweets
Jan 26
Modern art is becoming classical again!

These sculptors prove that classical techniques are thriving and turning heads worldwide. 🧵 Kris Kuksi's Tribulation (2015) is a breathtakingly intricate sculpture that feels like a dystopian cathedral come to life.
1. Jago (Jacopo Cardillo)

Jago’s been called the ‘modern Michelangelo’—do you agree?

His marble sculptures are so raw and lifelike, they almost seem to breathe
2. Benjamin Victor

When your work ends up in the U.S. Capitol, you know you're doing something right.

Victor’s sculptures bring classical artistry to modern icons, packed with emotion and dignity. Image
Read 23 tweets

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