Renaissance – Paintings Through Ages: A Beautiful Travelogue
RENAISSANCE.
PAINTINGS THROUGH AGES.
Travelogue.
Being an artist it was my ever cherished dream to visit Louvre Museum in Paris , St Peters Basilica and Sistine chapel in Vatican which are renowned for its renaissance frescoes, paintings and sculptures. These iconic Masterpieces are home for breath taking paintings and sculptures of fifteenth century.
The enchanted travel was one of a kind and I landed in Rome from Paris. My daughter proceeded to Germany from Paris from a different terminal. In Paris airport, as most of the sign boards are not English I found it difficult to confirm my gate and aisle to Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
“Benvenuti in Italia”. “Benvenuti nella Citta Eterna” Welcome to Italy ,Welcome to the Eternal city.”
I was privileged to be one of the guests of a Priest, Father Patrick Chongo in Vatican along with my relative. He had arranged our stay in “Marian Hill” adjacent to Vatican a very huge estate where Priests and Bishops stay. Hectors of land in the middle of Rome with rare fruit trees and landscape.
The day starts with Holy Mass which was rejuvenating. During Mass the Priest won’t serve the communion. After the communion prayers the Host and vine will be on the Alter. We have to go and take the Host by ourselves and dip in the vine and eat with reverence.
Father Chongo made a convenient itinerary for the next 10 days to visit every place in Rome which is a dream come true for every Christian and especially in this year of Jubilee Celebration.
Other than Vatican, St. Francis of Assisi, Castle San Angelo, Piazza Venizia, ,Piazzo Novana, Colosseum, Romantic city Venice and burial place of St. Mark the Evangelist, St. Paul’s ’resting place Mussolini’s Rome, Castle Gandolfo and then to the Beach in Ostia Mediterranean sea.
Though overwhelmed I am giving only a brief account of the paintings in the Museums.
VATICAN CITY AND ST. PETER’S BASILICA.
Vatican city is the World’s smallest independent state, an enclave within Rome, Italy. Vatican serves as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of Roman Catholic Church governed by the Pope.
It is renowned for the iconic St. Peter’s Basilica which is world famous for its’ architecture marvel. As we were the guests of Father Chongo it was an added advantage for us to enter the premises without any hassle or waiting in the que. The priest explained every details of the marvellous architecture of St. Peter’s Basilica the largest Church built over the traditional Tomb of St Peter which is designed by Michelangelo, the famous sculptor and artist.
St Peter’s Basilica was constructed between 1506 and 1626 in Baroque style architecture. It is a monumental fusion of renaissance which has the largest dome designed by Michelangelo.
Michelangelo was able to finish only the lower part and the rest is completed after his death by Giacomo Della Porta with a height of more than 136 meters. St. Peter’s Basilica as a modest church was commissioned by Emperor Constantine around 319 AD. The Basilica itself is about 23000 square meters. [2.3 hectors].
I can write volumes about the Basilica but the core attraction was the interior paintings and the original “Pieta “sculpture of Michelangelo.
At the enclave stands the sculpture “Angels unaware” which depicts 140 life size people on a raft and in the middle, there are two wings of an Angel. They represent migrants and it is a message to show hospitality to strangers as Jesus said ‘’…I was a stranger and you welcomed me …’[Mathew.25.35-40]
The bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz was inaugurated by Pope Francis in 2019 in memory of the 105th world day of migrants and refugees.
Basilica features numerous stunning art works of actual paintings and frescos by Michelangelo. Some paintings are actually intricate mosaics like Raphael’s ‘’Transfiguration “!
Michelangelo didn’t paint a major work inside St peters Basilica like Sistine Chapel but his master piece ‘’Pieta “brought him all time fame.
I was spellbound when I stood in front of the famous ‘’Pieta ‘’ sculpture one of the most captivating piece of art by Michelangelo. The stunning sculpture with a poignant theme captured the sorrow and serenity of Virgin Mary with the lifeless body of Jesus on her lap after crucifixion. This is the only piece of art that Michelangelo ever signed.!
This sculpture next to the Alter of St. Sebastian is protected with bullet proof glass as this was vandalized earlier. The details of the expressions left me speechless. The word ‘’Pieta ‘’ in Italian means pity reflecting the sorrow of Mother Mary. This master piece was created in 1498 when Michelangelo was just 23 years old. The sculpture stands at 5.9 feet high carved from a single slab of Carrara Marble.
There are a lot of special features to write about this one statue which was made in deliberate subtle distortion in proportion that Mary is larger than Jesus. Her robe’s folds cascading downwards in sweeping and in a graceful manner even covering her hand where it touches Jesus.!
But when you look at it the sculpture looks normal and proportionate. It is said that Michelangelo’s meticulous attention to detail breathes life into the marble. Like his famous quote
‘’I saw an Angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free.”!!
The massive bronze canopy stands over the high alter and the tomb of St. Peter is also architectural marvel built in 1634. We attended Holy Mass there. St Peters Basilica contains over 40 Altars located in its Chapels and along its aisles each with a specific liturgical function.
Basilica’s Dome interior is also adorned by beautiful mosaic paintings that pay homage to Apostles.
I was blessed and privileged to pass through the Holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is a symbolic entrance that opens only during Jubilee years for catholic pilgrims representing the spiritual passage for the forgiveness of sins. Popes are usually buried beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. But Pope Francis requested a simple Tomb in the Basilica Di Santa Maria Maggiore also known as St. Mary Major. The Santa Maria church is a reminder of the four centuries of Spanish domination and is a unique structure with a diverse architectural design. I was fortunate to pass through the Holy door in Santa Maria Basilica also to visit Pope Francis Tomb.
SISTINE CHAPEL.
Sistine Chapel is originally known as “Cappella Magna’’ It is in the Apostolic palace, the Pope’s official residence in Vatican city. The Capel’s fame lies mainly in the paintings which decorate the interiors. The main attraction is the paintings of Last judgement on the ceiling. Sistine Chapel’s ceiling may be the most lauded in the ceilings of the world.!
Michelangelo earned fame already with his sculpture “Pieta” and “David “before the age of 30. Although he did not consider himself as a painter his paintings on the ceilings of Sistine Chapel is heavenly.! Though we strain our neck to look at the ceiling for a long time but the breath taking and unbelievable paintings leave a feeling that those are made by the fingers of God!
At the age of 71 Michelangelo painted those master pieces by hanging from the ceiling. It is said that he was daunted by the difficulty of the task but was imposed on him which made history. The dazzling complexity and beauty of Michelangelo’s frescoes and paintings on the ceiling still astonish visitors even now after 500 years .There is no match for those amazing works.
The scenes from Genesis The creation in seven days, Adam and Eve, her temptation, the conversion of Saul [St. Paul] and many more. 20percent of his works are there in Sistine Capel.!
Creation of Adam, may be one of the most coveted painting. He depicted Adam waking up from the ground with stretched hand ,while God on the right side from heaven with Angels touching him.
In “Last Judgement” Michelangelo surpassed even himself having imagined the terror of those days in which he depicted for the greater punishments of those who have not lived good lives.
Religious objections were there and Michelangelo was accused of insensitive to proper decorum in respect of nudity of his works.
The paintings in St Francis of Assisi is also remarkable. Colosseum Old Rome and many places were a treat for my eyes and mind. Everywhere I found incredible paintings and all of those are mainly characters from the Bible.
LOUVRE MUSEUM.
My daughter accompanied me to Paris and I couldn’t help myself from talking about all the famous artists like Leonarda Da Vinci and Michelangelo nonstop . She patiently listened and was surprised to watch me talking as I had a rendezvous with them.
Paris is the largest city and capital of France which is known for its iconic land mark Eiffel Tower romantic atmosphere and status as a global centre for fashion and cuisine. Louvre Museum in Paris is considered as the world’s number one museum consistently topping lists for visitor numbers. It is the largest Museum and a historical Monument in Paris.
It was built as a Fortress by King Philip II. Remnants of medieval Louvre are still visible. This Palace is home to the world’s iconic pieces of paintings, sculptures architectural elements and art objects. The core attraction is a pyramid of glass serves as the main entrance that symbolise the Museum itself. We can start the tour from the basement. It refers to its medieval foundations visible below the modern museum including the remnants of the original 12th century Fortress built by King Philip II Augustus.
We entered Louvre Museum through the basement of the Fortress in which prisoners were kept in medieval period. The stone walls bore carving done by prisoners then. Many a stone bore carving of cross and on some shape of a heart. The guide was narrating that the prisoners carved it with their nails or some possible sharp item. I wrote a poetry about that prisoner who carved a heart then in Napoleon time. Louvre was a palace before it became a museum, Kings, emperors courtiers wandered its maze of hallways long before. Every room of the palace is preserved with its splendour for the visitors to jaw drop. Louvre Museum officially opened to the public on August 10 1793, during the French revolution.
I was enchanted and travelled centuries back and walked through the corridors watching all those amazing paintings. Corridors halls, and galleries filled with works of Masters. The Louvre’s painting collection spans 13th to the 19th century with the majority of its European paintings. The core attractions are Monalisa, the Venus De Milo, winged victory of Samothrace and liberty leading the people.
Leonarda Da Vinci’s 17th century painting of last supper is very famous. Volumes of explanation is not enough. Painting of John the Baptist and his death and many more which are coming out live from the canvas. In olden times artists usually make handmade oil colours from ground pigments, natural colours from plants and trees and from egg white. Different artist applied different techniques, like ‘’ sfumato’’ frescoes, of Michelangelo’’ impasto ‘’of Van Gogh etc.
Leonardo Da Vinci conceived ideas vastly ahead of his time. He made many inventions as an engineer. He took sixteen years to paint his masterpiece “Monalisa’’ the young woman with an enigmatic smile. Historians discovered that Da Vinci applied thin layers of oil paint with his fingers and applied as many as 40 layers. He used to carry this painting where ever he goes and kept on refining it until his death.!
Monalisa is in a glass cage because it was stolen from Louvre once in 1911 by one of the employee who believed that the paintings belongs to Italy.
“Wedding at Cana’’ depicts the biblical story of the first miracle of Jesus by Paolo Veronese is the biggest painting in Louvre at over 6 meters high and 10 meters wide. It is opposite to Monalisa.
There is one statue considered as the oldest, dated back to 9000 years .I visited ‘’Musee d’ Orsay Paris where the famous ‘’whistler’s Mother “ by James McNeill kept. Visited Notre-Dame Cathedral a world famous medieval Catholic Cathedral. It houses significant 17th and 18th century French paintings depicting especially biblical scenes.
Though it was summer the climate was cloudy and cool after one or two showers. Our hotel was near Eiffel Tower the metal marvel ,one of the wonders of the world. We could go every night to watch the intermittent illumination.
Return journey was in a trance, as I was lost some where in the corridors of Louvre or somewhere in Sistine Chapel.!
BRIJI.K.T.
