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Published: January 9th 2018
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So far this week has been all about the history of Florence; specifically it’s founders and artists. Back when renaissance men ruled the artistic world new buildings, plays, paintings and sculptures were being created frequently. Reflecting on what we have learned from Antonio and Elizabeth, I can certainly say my perceptions of art from the renaissance have changed.
On Monday Antonio took us on a tour to different parts of the city, including the duomo, baptistery, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici, Biserica Santa Maria Maggiore and the statues of David and Perseus. This tour was full of information and gave us insight to the landmarks we have been walking by every day since arriving in Florence. We were told that the wealthy bankers of the city, who also supported artists in the hopes of beautifying their beloved city, owned the Palazzo Medici. When we went to the duomo we stood facing the baptistery and Antonio told us about the creation of perception in art. Though I create and appreciate all forms of art I am certainly not a professional artist, but when I sketch I do try to focus on the perception and making my cartoons look as realistic
as possible, and I now know who to thank for this style of drawing. Filippo Di Ser Brunelleschi, the architect for the dome on the duomo, was sitting on the steps of the duomo one day while sketching the baptistery when he realized that connecting the top of the building to the bottom and drawing diagonal lines on either side would create a three-dimensional look. This happened in the 1400s and helped to mold the way artists of the renaissance period would draw portraits and landscapes.
Today, Tuesday, our group went to the Uffizi Gallery and viewed many of the great paintings and sculptures of the renaissance period. We saw classics such as Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Sleeping Ariadne, dedicated to Michelangelo, as well as works I have never heard of and tons of paintings of Mary and Jesus. In the halls were beautiful images all over the ceilings of gods and goddesses, as well as strange images of people with horrifyingly long necks or frog legs and wings for arms. These odd pictures were created in the hopes of entertaining leaders from other parts of Italy so they would support
Florence if it ever faced political trouble or fell under siege. In some ways they are similar to images we search for entertainment today, but on websites rather than in buildings. Though the sculptures and paintings of famous dukes and duchesses were also used for entertainment, they were typically viewed for inspiration and as works of beauty, whereas the stranger paintings were more for humor. This stood out to me and allowed me to appreciate their art, being able to connect it to our sources of entertainment today.
The most memorable piece in the Uffizi, and of all the art I have seen so far, was the restored version of Leonardo da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi. The piece was housed in a room adjacent to his original work, as well as his sketch. To see where he began planning such an intricate painting in his sketches, and then the midway point and final product was quite fascinating. He did not stray far from his sketch and, though the lines on the splotchy paper were hard to differentiate, he was able to fill the canvas with various characters and sceneries. His final painting (though unfinished)
was very dark from years of aging, as well as the paints and canvas he had access to at the time, so to see the restored version was helpful in determining exactly which characters were whom. Our guide, Elizabeth, told us that some paintings were done on wood with paint made from egg whites and crushed bones and berries. Though at first I was unsure of how you could attain such lustrous colors this way, da Vinci’s painting proved that the artists of the renaissance knew exactly what they were doing when creating their mediums.
I have already sent many pictures to my family and explained the art I have been seeing, but as a student and daughter/sister and not as a tour guide. This will be my strategy for inspiring my friends and family to delve more into the artistic world, especially art from this time period. Though I myself need to discover more works and artists from the renaissance I am happy to be bringing my knowledge back to Kentucky to share, and in my own words so it is all easier for my people to understand.
STEPS WALKED
Jan.
8: 29,140
Jan. 9: 12,562
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