Just back from an Italian vacation where my creative journey took me to Rome, Umbria, Tuscany and Florence (or as they say in Italy: Roma, Umbria, Toscana and Firenze).
Italy was a cultural cornucopia. Every street was so visually interesting, interspersed with piazzas of various sizes, magnificent statues dotting the city, and paintings of a previously unimaginable scale. I felt both inspired and intimidated at the same time.
We not only saw some of the most fantastic art from the old world, but also had the privilege to meet some extremely talented contemporary artists.
So this entry isn't a look at my work, but a chance to share some of the incredible masterpieces that we enjoyed.
Godere dell'arte.
ROME: Column of Marcus Aurelius - erected in 193 AD
VATICAN CITY MUSEUM: The Laocoon - original Hellenistic work 1st century BC
VATICAN CITY MUSEUM: Raphael's Rooms
VATICAN - St. Peter's Basicilca: Michelangelo's Pieta
ROME: Arch of Constantine (AD 315) and the Colosseum
We were there when it was raining and about an hour before closing. We almost had the place to ourselves!
ROME: The Pantheon
Inside the Pantheon with it's unique and fascinating architecture
ROME: The Trevi Fountain (the real one - not the Vegas one!)
ORVIETO - Etruscan art
ORVIETO - Duomo di Orvieto
CORTONA: The Diocesan Museum
painting by Luca Signorelli (1512 )" Madonna with child and protectors"
PERUGIA: Ancient architecture and Etruscan gates
FLORENCE: with view of the Duomo and countryside
FLORENCE: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori (look how small the people are). Construction of the cathedral began at the end of the 13 century, and the duomo was added in the 15th century.
The Duomo itself has a very interesting history. Built by Filippo Brunelleschi, the dome is octagon shaped and was constructed without the use of any scaffolding. To build this self supporting dome which spans 42 meters and exceeds the span of the Pantheon in Rome (the largest dome for over 1000 years) Brunelleschi used a very unique and controversial double shell construction. It took more than 16 years to build and was the largest dome in the world until modern materials permitted construction of stadium-sized domes . The climb up the 463 steps to the top is unforgettable.
FLORENCE: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori at night - look no crowds!
FLORENCE: The bronze doors of St. John's Baptistery (which is located across the piazza from the Cathedral)
There are 8 depictions of scenes from the Bible carved by Lorenzo Ghiberti.
This is panel #8 - "The fall of Jericho"
Magnificent ceiling in the Baptistery
FLORENCE: The Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza Signoria
FLORENCE: the magnificent Salone dei Conquecento in the Palazzo Vecchio
Difficult from this photo to appreciate the scale of the room and the art.
FLORENCE: Palatine Gallery in the Pitti Palace (takes 3 days to see it all)
Palatine Gallery: "Madonna and Child with the Birth of the Virgin and meeting of Joachim and Anna"
Filippo Lippi 1761
FLORENCE: Ponte Vecchio (old bridge)
The oldest of the six bridges in Florence, and the only one not bombed in World War II.
Originally the shops were grocers, butchers and fishmongers, but were replaced in 15 century by goldsmiths. As you walk across the bridge you are in the middle of lots of tourists and cruise tours who come to visit the high end jewellery shops.
FLORENCE: Galileo Museum
Ptolemaic armillary sphere -1593 - model of the universe according to the ptolemaic system
CORTONA: Bronze sculptures by Andrea Roggi.
We visited him at his home and artistic workshop near Arezzo.
The bronze sculptures are made using the lost-wax casting process. His commissioned sculptures adorn squares, parks, and churches throughout Italy.
Not included here (because cameras are not permitted) is our visit to the Galleria dell'Academia in Florence to see Michelangelo's "David", the Galleria deli Uffizi in Florence (Sandro Botticelli's "Primavera" and "The Birth of Venus" plus Michelangelo's "Annunciation"to mention a few), plus numerous other museums in Umbria and Tuscany.
CORTONA: il gatto on a stone wall
Photography by yours truly.
