Ok, everyone has a list in the
back of their minds of things they'd like to see or dream of doing.
Well here is mine. Of course this doesn't include everything
I'd wish to see. That would be pages and pages long! Instead
I've compiled a list of things I'd like to see that are art-related.
Since I AM going to be studying in Bristol for the 2003-2003 school year
I hope to see as much of Europe as I can. Hopefully I won't have
to wish to see these things and it will be accomplished during my year
away. If not, well..I've still got time!
My Imaginary Dream Journey begins in Athens, Greece. The Parthenon
is a very well known ancient building. It was dedicated to the goddess
Athena. It's located on a hill at the hightest point of the city.
You can bet that when Greece hosts the Olympics it will be shown on
T.V. time and time again! The exterior sculpure shows a procession
that wraps around the building. Of course, Lord Elgin of England
bought pieces of it and brought it to London which is still a hot debate.
(Hmmm!) You can see the freeze in the British Museum. The illusions
found on the building are amazing once you know what to look for.
Move on to Rome. This building is one I'm sure you all recognize...it's the Colosseum! Anyone who has seen Gladiator has a pretty good idea of what went on here. It is a circus (meaning circular!) used for entertaining and the admission was free to keep the plabians busy. They put arches everywhere, which is the Romans' trademark architectural feature. What is cool about the design is that there are 3 layers/stories to it and each one has a different phase of architecture to it. The orders advance with each story: Doric, Ionic, and Corintian. One thing one might not notice by looking at pictures is that the concrete and metal used to build it is full of holes (and cats, apparently!). The metal was dug out of it to make weapons and bullets when needed. This will be toward the top of the list of things to see WHEN (!) I get to Rome. Of course, it's so big, how can you miss it?
The Pantheon (not to be confused with the Parthenon!) is from Imperial Rome. In art class I learned how to remember the difference between the two. The Parthenon is highly decorated on the outisde since that's where a majority of the people were. The Pantheon, on the other hand, had it's main focus on the inside. On the exterior it has a later Corintian order with the colums, pediment, and dome. It has a very large scale exterior and looks powerful and overwhelming.
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The interior on the other hand, is very light and welcoming. Above is both a picture from the inside and and oil painting from 1750 which better illustrates the overall atmosphere. There is an occulus, or hole in the ceiling. How cool is that? I want to see how the drainage system works! The coffers in the ceiling of the dome make it look lighter on the inside. This is something that I really, really want to see!
St. Peter's Rome
This is another classic and famous landmark that is just a must-see! The original Basillica set up during Constantine's time is gone but a bigger, more extravagent church was built in it's place. The colonade by Bernini showing the power of the church symbolizing the arms of the mother church reaching out to embrace you. It looks HUGE and one of those thing you just have to go check out. Along with Bromante, Bernini also designed parts of the interior, including the alter over where St. Peter himself is said to be buried. St. Peter's also has the largest dome in the world. I have seen St. Paul's the 2nd largest dome, but we must see the largest as well. ;)
Below is Michaelangelo's Pieta, one of the many amazing things located inside!
The Journey Continues...
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