A Museo and A Duomo

If you ever need to know how to get on my good side brighten my day, throw me in an art museum and take away the key.

Well, maybe let me out eventually.

In all seriousness, what I lack in artistic capabilities I make up for in the ability to appreciate someone else’s. Considering Italy is in no short supply of such talents, I was happy to offer up my services.

I love the beauty of a piece of artwork in and of itself, but also what’s behind it. A portrait, a landscape, a figment of imagination–I take it for what it is, but then muse on the who and what and why behind it.

If you know of any good over-thinker support groups, feel free to pass them along.

 

The first museum halls I had the pleasure of roaming were that of the Uffizi Gallery.

The inside of the outside. [Please excuse the crane.]

 

As you turn the corner from the entrance, you stare down a long hallway lined with busts, sculptures, and portraits, and topped with intricate paintings.

 

So much to marvel already, but so much left to explore.

Duck into any opening from the main hallway and you’ll lose yourself in a maze of Renaissance artwork…

Michaelangelo

Leonardo da Vinci

Stumbled upon this old friend

 

…and sculptures…

 

…no issues spending an entire morning here.

 

After having our fill and fueling up with paninos [more to come on those!], we paid a visit to Il Duomo di Firenze, a cathedral known for its revolutionary dome that stands above the labyrinth that is Florence.

 

And that’s just the outside.

 

Looking back.

So much to observe, appreciate, soak in, and ponder. I’m once again lost in thought, contemplating the tenacity it takes to work day in and day out on a place that I wouldn’t see through to fruition in my lifetime.

The patience it takes to piece together a masterful fresco inch by inch, stroke by stroke.

The focus and determination it takes to meticulously chisel out each fold, each expression, each hair on each sculpture.

It all leads me to think that while there’s an art of this time that is lost nowadays, there’s another lost art of patience, endurance, and acceptance of not seeing the fruits of that labor (and working hard regardless) that, I would argue, is sadly fading away in a world that’s demanding instantaneous gratification, results, and rewards more and more.

So much to take in leads to much food for thought, and a hunger for more.

 

Speaking of food, don’t worry–we kept our minds and ourselves well fed, but more to come on the actual food later.

Till then, I’ll just leave this picture of the Arno River at night right here.