"There is room for infinity in my heart...
-- a poem
Gherardo di Giovanni
Last summer I went to Italy for two and a half weeks. (See Story of My Trip to Italy Parts One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six.) I know it seems like that's all I ever blog about these days, but the whole experience had such an impact on me (it changed my life!) and I need to process it this way. So, for two weeks, I had an artist residency in Civita Castellana. Afterwards, I went to Florence for three days by myself. My second day was a trip to the Uffizi Gallery, which deserves a blog post all of its own. I'm sharing here some of my favorite photos that I took, but keep in mind they are a "drop in the ocean" of all the art within that incredible gallery.
I'm unsure of this artist... does anyone know the meaning behind all the paintings of baby Jesus holding a bird? There were a lot of these images around the museum. This one is a little concerning. It seems like he is too young to be holding that bird carefully... that's just my opinion.
I wandered around the gallery in complete awe. I had a lot of feelings. I sat down on a bench and wrote poems.
Masaccio (more on my feelings about him in Part 3, Florence)
Writing Poems in the Uffizi
There is room for infinity in my heart.
I’m so hungry,
but not for you;
It’s this painful beauty I desire.
I’m writing poems in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence,
writhing on an old carved bench, grasped tightly
by the moment, and by my own anguish;
Will I endure this hell forever?
I can’t bear it, yet I can’t turn away.
I feel the greatness within me,
but not my own greatness;
inside my soul are ancient rooms,
and gilded hallways with painted ceilings,
and hanging on those ornate walls
are all the paintings I love,
and all the paintings yet waiting
for my trembling brush…
Torso of a man.... I forgot to note the artist
I forgot to write down the artist. But man, I love the emotion in that smoldering face. I have been there! #feelings
Domenico Veneziano
This is Botticelli, but I forget the title. This woman was a minor character at the edge of the painting, but I felt really connected to her. It looks like she has something interesting to say. Or else she has some strong feelings she is holding in, or maybe just a very rich inner creative life...? #feelings
Botticelli's "Primavera"... I wrote a short story about this painting two years ago: "Botticelli's Weird Party." It was cool to finally see it in real life.
This is a detail of "Primavera," the feet of two of the Graces.
Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", detail. The photo isn't so great; I had trouble getting close. She's very popular.
I forgot to write down this artist. Does anyone know?
Detail of the painting above. I love these glimpses of dreamy mountain scenes you see through these windows in Renaissance paintings. Also, the cypress trees aren't as fantastical as I used to think, they really are growing all over Italy. In these paintings, reality and fantasy are interconnected.
I don't remember this artist, either. I love the emotion on Mary's face. I looked at this one a long time!
The ceilings were all incredible paintings themselves. Here is a sample: a painting that makes it look like a view of the sky through a trellis of birds and fruit and leaves.
Lorenzo di credi, "Portrait of a Man." He looks so pensive and beautiful. #swoon
Artemesia Gentileschi, "Judith Slaying Holofernes" She's a badass. If you don't know about her, go look her up right now! #feminist
Detail of blood running down the bedsheets.... wow!
Michelangelo (I'm pretty sure)
another ceiling photo... words can't describe
"I really can't put into words how intense my feelings are,
like my soul has cracked open."
--a letter to my husband, written on the cafe terrace of the Uffizi Gallery...
I want to leave myself here for awhile, drinking wine, writing a letter, and waiting for a thunderstorm to descend on the rooftops of Florence...
Sigh...