Captioning made possible by the Annenberg Cpb project this is siena, a wonderfully preserved Medieval City in central italy. At its heyday around 1300, it was one of the most civilized and prosperous places in europe. Siena and other italian citystates can stand as a new beginning in our story of western art. Hitherto, the old medieval world view had, put simply, divided the classes of society into the aristocracy at the top, the church, and the laboring peasantry at the bottom. In places like this, we see for the first time a new class, conscious of its own identity the merchants. These cities were no longer controlled by feudal lords. They were republics. Here in siena, several thousand citizens were eligible for election to the governing bodies which met down there in the palazzo publica. And in the palazzo, there is a fresco painted in the 1340s which encapsulates their faith in the secular arts of government, in the moderating power of reason in human society. Its called the effec
Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History and this very special graduation ceremony. Im richard curran, the smithsonians distinguished scholar and ambassador at large. First and foremost, i like to extend the welcome to our colleagues and friends from the u. S. Army, distinguished leaders, and, of course, our officer our graduates and their rightly proud and maybe families. Id like to welcome distinguished guests from the Monuments Men and women foundation, including members of the board and relatives of the world. Two monuments officers. This is a very special occasion. I dont usually wear this every day to work at the smithsonian. But id also like to welcome our guests from, bank of america, whove supported the initiative from the beginning. And finally, my smithsonian colleagues and those from sister organizations involved in Cultural Heritage protect like the department of state, the fbi, the international council, museums and others who in this program, as instructors, guide
Natural history and this very special graduation ceremony. Im richard curran, the smithsonians distinguished scholar and ambassador at large. First and foremost, i like to extend the welcome to our colleagues and friends from the u. S. Army, distinguished leaders, and, of course, our officer our graduates and their rightly proud and maybe families. Id like to welcome distinguished guests from the Monuments Men and women foundation, including members of the board and relatives of the world. Two monuments officers. This is a very special occasion. I dont usually wear this every day to work at the smithsonian. But id also like to welcome our guests from, bank of america, whove supported the initiative from the beginning. And finally, my smithsonian colleagues and those from sister organizations involved in Cultural Heritage protect like the department of state, the fbi, the international council, museums and others who in this program, as instructors, guides and enablers. The ceremony tod
On behalf of the Smithsonian Institution and its secretary, lonnie bunch, id like to welcome you all to the next Smithsonians National museum of Natural History and this very special graduation ceremony. Im richard curran, the smithsonians distinguished scholar and ambassador at large. First and foremost, i like to extend the welcome to our colleagues and friends from the u. S. Army, distinguished leaders, and, of course, our officer our graduates and their rightly proud and maybe families. Id like to welcome distinguished guests from the Monuments Men and women foundation, including members of the board and relatives of the world. Two monuments officers. This is a very special occasion. I dont usually wear this every day to work at the smithsonian. But id also like to welcome our guests from, bank of america, whove supported the initiative from the beginning. And finally, my smithsonian colleagues and those from sister organizations involved in Cultural Heritage protect like the depar
Institution and its secretary, lonnie bunch, id like to welcome you all to the next Smithsonians National museum of Natural History and this very special graduation ceremony. Im richard curran, the smithsonians distinguished scholar and ambassador at large. First and foremost, i like to extend the welcome to our colleagues and friends from the u. S. Army, distinguished leaders, and, of course, our officer our graduates and their rightly proud and maybe families. Id like to welcome distinguished guests from the Monuments Men and women foundation, including members of the board and relatives of the world. Two monuments officers. This is a very special occasion. I dont usually wear this every day to work at the smithsonian. But id also like to welcome our guests from, bank of america, whove supported the initiative from the beginning. And finally, my smithsonian colleagues and those from sister organizations involved in Cultural Heritage protect like the department of state, the fbi, the