Our morning started out in the classroom where we had a ninety minute orientation to the highlights of the Uffizi by an American art history professor who lives in Florence. Since the Uffizi took is through the history of Renaissance art, this lecture was greatly appreciated.
After the lecture, we hurried to the Duomo museum for a guided “tour,” really more of a gallery talk, of the Baptistrie. No one could enter the cathedral without being baptized, so a building just very nearby made baptism convenient. The Baptistry is being restored, but we could still admire the amazing mosaics.
We had a little time for a panini and a visit to a leather and gold shop for a lesson on how to tell real leather from fake (and a smooth sales pitch, although it was interesting.) Then, finally, off to the Uffizi.
The endurance test of the museum starts with a climb up four flights of stairs. We emerge into a hallway filled with ancient Roman art. The ceilings are painted and beautiful.
Even a person without a Christian background could move through these galleries if they learned just a couple of things.
The renaissance seems to have loved Madonnas. The Annunciation, especially, was important. There are lots and lots of Madonna and child paintings. The Adoration is the third these these that seems to be in every gallery.
Here is an even earlier one, by Martini in 1333. Mary does not look happy to see an angel appearing to her.
The photos below were taken from windows in the hallways. It was a rainy night, and Firenze reflected light like the gold leaf we’d been seeing in the galleries.
We walked back to our hotel in the rain, feeling pretty proud and definitely ready to put our feet up.
One Response
I believe it was standing in front of paintings in the Uffizi that I saw it – for the 1st time I saw the difference in pre-renaissance art where painting “perspective” (distance) had not been figured out – to renaissance paintings where the awaking was happening and incredible differences in skill in painting depth perception could be seen. Very cool for me.