Two more sights in Florence
We wound up the day with a visit to the Duomo in Florence. Then back to the hotel. I include a snap of the Palazzo Vecchio with the phony David in front. Great sights.
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Tintoretto Masterpiece
Finally, here is a masterpiece by Tintoretto, a work which has haunted my imagination since I first saw it 16 years ago, here at the Uffizi: The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. There are so many aspects of this work that are arresting: the light from God that nevertheless casts a shadow on the figures, particularly Adam; the stark asymmetry of the painting as a whole; the light on the Adam and Eve figures, contrasting with the darkness into which they are cast, highlighting their new-found shame; and the fine brushwork of the human figures compared to the crude, almost unfinished quality of the painting of God (those white lines on God’s arm are squiggles that you might get by squeezing a tube of white paint onto the blue arm); and finally, as the attached commentary notes, there is no gesture of expulsion, as commonly occurs in other renderings of this scene from Genesis 3, but rather, a necessary and organic separation, as with the light and the darkness: the Garden was no
Titian and Tintoretto
First a quick snack at the Uffizi roof garden, with the Duomo in the background (thanks, Ellen!). Then on to Titian and Tintoretto. The sepia-toned portrait called “The Sick Man” by Tiziano was arresting if only by contrast with the other brightly-colored canvases from this remarkable painter. “The Sacrifice of Isaac” by Tintoretto was far the best of many paintings of this important scene by various other artists. Tiziano, “The Sick Man” Tintoretto (workshop), “The Sacrifice of Isaac”
One last Botticelli
The Annunciation. Spectacular. Compare to the even more spectacular de Vinci Annunciation.
More Botticelli
A remarkable set of Seven Virtues by Botticelli. These are among the earliest known works of Botticelli. Prudence, Justice, Hope, Charity, Faith, Temperance, and Fortitude, respectively. Prudence Justice Hope Charity Faith Temperance Fortitude
Botticelli at the Uffizi
The first order of business in Florence is to go to the Uffizi Gallery. And the first order of business at the Uffizi is Botticelli! Below, the Birth of Venus, and some ceilings.
On to Florence
On Wednesday, Ellen Rose and I left Sperlonga and its wonderful Aurora hotel behind and drove to Florence. Fine hours. Tough driving. But we arrived at the Leonardo da Vinci Hotel in one piece and rested right away.