So, I didn’t run to Piazzale di Michelangelo. But that may have been a good thing. Rest is highly overrated, especially when you walk a good deal.
San Marco Museum in the morning. I got to see one of the paintings I’m writing about: Annunciation by Fra Angelico. I’ll repeat: it’s always so nice to see the work in context. Not only did I get to see it in the monastery it was made for, but I also got to see the other frescoes in the series. I was never really into religious art, but I’m starting to really appreciate it. So much that I’m considering actually attending a mass. Not that I’m religious or anything, but I feel like I visit so many churches that I should know what they’re really intended for.
Lunch (shrimp couscous and octopus with peas and shrimp tempura….don’t ask) then Uffizi Gallery (my third time). This time, I got to see all the painting rooms….I think… and all the important pieces we learned/will learn about: Botticelli, Lippi, Titian, etc. It’s also really nice to know a little background about the art before you see it. A few paintings really stood out for me: “Madonna and Child” by Lippi, Botticelli “Spring”, a bunch of Titian portraits, and “Adam and Eve in front of God” by Tintoretto. Textbook nor Google images do artwork any justice.
Before I left, I predicted that I would be so overwhelmed about all the art that I would give up my biology related dreams and become a starving artist. I want to be in art restoration now. LdM does have a program for that…. Okay, I’m bluffing, but if my suitemate can mini-dream about being a gondolier, I want to be an art restorator (is that even the proper word?).
Shopping through the leather markets. Finally got myself a bracelet with the evil eye and some gifts for people! Be very excited, people.
Dinner at a Chinese restaurant- shrimp spring rolls and beef with bamboo and woods ear. With Vivoli for dessert. Being awesome, I got three: raspberry/chocolate sponge cake, chocolate crostini, and gelato (fragole and meringue). At least I walked it off by visting the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica.
Rome for the weekend! I’m excited to see all the major landmarks/things I learned in class.