I recently returned from a two-week visit to both Florence and Bologna, Italy. Such a grand trip!
I had a goal of doing a drawing a day while there. So, I am going to share a select few with you, with commentary. At left, see my favorite photo taken of the River Arno which bisects Florence. Then, on to drawings. All of these drawings were done on my iPad, using the Sketch Club app.
I had a goal of doing a drawing a day while there. So, I am going to share a select few with you, with commentary. At left, see my favorite photo taken of the River Arno which bisects Florence. Then, on to drawings. All of these drawings were done on my iPad, using the Sketch Club app.
This early work by Michelangelo is part of a much larger piece, the Arca of San Domenico, which contains the remains of Saint Dominic, in the church which bears his name: Basilica San Domenico in Bologna, Italy.
I stood and drew for about on hour on my iPad, using the Sketch Club app. My back was killing me afterwards! People think doing artwork is relaxing. Tell that to Michelangelo, doing hard labor, chipping away at the marble to release the statue he believed it already contained.
Do we see a foreshadowing of the David in this face, in this hair? I hope my quick sketch gives you at least a feeling for the so much greater mastery of the young Michelangelo.
I stood and drew for about on hour on my iPad, using the Sketch Club app. My back was killing me afterwards! People think doing artwork is relaxing. Tell that to Michelangelo, doing hard labor, chipping away at the marble to release the statue he believed it already contained.
Do we see a foreshadowing of the David in this face, in this hair? I hope my quick sketch gives you at least a feeling for the so much greater mastery of the young Michelangelo.
At the Accademia at Florence, along with Michelangelo's famous David, you will find a number of his unfinished works. Yes, he actually left quite a bit of sculptures before they were done. He would get a commission, start to work. Then, the funds might get lowered, or taken away entirely. His unfinished work seems to struggle for release from the rock. Most of these works are known as the Unfinished Slaves. But, not all of them. I sat (yes, the luxury of a seat!) and drew his sculpture of San Matteo (Saint Matthew). A powerful figure emerges from the rock. How I wish my drawing could do him justice!
The Bargello in Florence contains extremely important works, including works by Michelangelo. Instead, I focused on a carved wood crucifixion, purportedly by Michelangelo (which means probably not). It profoundly moved me. Christ is completely naked, which is historically accurate. The victims were stripped naked, this being part of the shame and humiliation of the Cross. Where the piece strays from historical accuracy is in the smooth, unmarked skin (except for the wounded hands, feet and side). The physical torture before crucifixion would have left Him horribly mutilated and bloody. The smooth, unmarked skin, the serene face of the traditional crucifix? It was a few centuries after the beginning of Christianity that people began using the Crucifixion as a subject of art. They had to get away from the reality first. I drew, again for about an hour, and I show you his nudity, as the artist portrayed it. The New Testament describes Jesus as wholly man and wholly God. In the Crucifixion, we see the weakness, the utter vulnerability of human flesh. My name circles behind Him, not simply to watermark the image, but to say, simply, He died for me.
I think we are at an appropriate place to stop for now. Perhaps tomorrow I will post other drawings. For now, I leave us to reflect.
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