We started off the day early with art history at nine while the group was still recovering from our whirlwind trip to Florence and our weekend travels. However, Lisa being the pro that she is knew to treat us all to a caffeinated pick-me-up from one of the best cafès in Rome to ensure a lively discussion.
Our first destination was the Chiesa de San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) to see Michelangelo’s Moses. The artist himself said that this was his best work. After reading a glowing critique and detailed psychoanalysis by Freud, the class took upon the task of judging the sculptor’s true intent with the piece. We also experienced the quintessential example of an obnoxious tour group as their flashbulbs attacked the frescos with the urgency of the paparazzi when Brangelina enters an airport.
Next, we compared the Moses to Michelangelo’s Risen Christ in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. This is a lesser-known sculpture that throughout time has been criticized as what the kids today would call an “epic fail.” However, upon entering the church and knowing its intended orientation, we saw first hand the importance and influence of proper framing and viewing. The statue literally transformed before our eyes as we viewed it from different angles, going from a paunchy and disproportionate Jesus to a Christ ascending with fleeting majesty.
It was in this vein that we had to reconsider how we had viewed art thus far. How much of our opinion is influenced by how a work is framed? By what the “experts” tell us? The beauty of today’s exercise was that we could walk away preferring one sculpture to another and defend its merits beyond what any art historian had said before.
Later this afternoon we met again with Fede for Italian and learned some key Italian gestures. Some favorites were “You're crazy” and “Madonna Mia”.
Since we struggle with the language so much already, it’s nice to know that we can be understood in sign.
Now… forgetaboutit.
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