Memories from Durham

When I'm telling people that I'm doing my PhD everybody, especially those who did their studies some time before, are telling me that I am living the time of my life. And actually it's true. Even if sometimes it is not easy but I truly love my studies. I am particularly grateful that I could meet all those wonderful people who are studying with me at the University, my colleagues and all that I've met last winter. 

Durham being a tiny small town pushes students into passing their time together because there are not so many choices of spending free time. 

Moreover passing time with my colleagues was fun so we were doing many things together: going for trips outside Durham, going to the swimming pool together, hanging out in the evenings and admiring Durham evening fashion and so on. 

The pictures that I put here I made on a Sunday during an autumn walk with Lorenzo and Giulio. It was during Lumiere festival in Durham so I photographed some of the installations that during the evenings where colorfully illuminated. 

Guys did also some other pictures... I can only say that falling autumn leaves were a great inspiration for their creativity. Undoubtedly that we had great fun. I don't remember when I was laughing so much as on that day! 

Voyageur, Durham 2011. 

I love Durham, Durham market place 2011.

Durham Cathedral, Durham 2011.

...following the white rabbit...

When you do your research in art history it is very easy for you to loose all the passion you have for art. Art for an art historian has to become an extremely rational issue. You deal with commissioners, social background of the artistic production, exchange between different centres, iconography, style, school and so on. And then you forget why actually a work of art attired you attention. You don't see the work of art anymore but you see all that surrounds it.

On one hand I like it because I become more and more conscious of what I'm seeing. On the other hand sometimes I want to forget that art is actually my profession. In those moments I just go to see an exhibition (likely of contemporary art). Looking at the works of art I have never seen before I move my imagination just to remember myself that in the end to believe in art you have to have the courage of a child who sees a white rabbit and decides to follow it. 

Piazza Santa Croce, Firenze 2012.

Sculpture and space

I wanted to write this post already some time ago but I've never had a quiet moment to sit myself with a cup of tea and tell you something about the photo that you'll find below. 

It's not a great picture but I like it because it shows one of my favorites squares in Florence, Piazza Santa Trinita. 

It's one of the places in Florence where the space is invaded by the sculpture. 

On the square there is the Santa Trinita church on the left, the Palazzo Spini Feroni and the Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni on the right, the Column of Justice in the middle of the square. Palazzo Spini Feroni was built in the 14th century, Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni in the '20s of 16th cenutry by Baccio d'Agnolo. The column of Justice was donated to Cosimo I de Medici by the pope Pius IV in 1560 and the facade of the church was redesigned 30 years later. In this case the chronological order is quite important. The point is that the statues on the facade were the last element added to the square. If you look closely you see that they unify all space. Saint Alexius from the facade is looking up at the Justice. His glance directed out of the facade makes the space of his niche 'weaker', he seams less attached to the wall. He is also giving meaning to the space, to the distance that separates him from the column and from the figure of Justice. It creates a sort of meaningful tension between them.

It's not the only place in Florence where the statues virtually occupy the space of the city. Saint Thomas is slides out from the niche on the facade of Orsanmichele, Perseus is jealously observed by David and Hercules (there is a great essay on that by John Shearman in his Only Connect if you want to read more...) and probably many others that I still haven't discovered. 

So walk carefully through the city, the statues are watching you!

Piazza Santa Trinita, Firenze, 2011.