Friday, December 10, 1999

Part One: lessons about life from art history...

There are some works of art that seem to be particularly significant with regards to life, how it is lived, how things might be afterwards, etc....

So this is the first blog of a few that will tell you about these works from Renaissance masters, one was mentioned in a previous post....

Located in the new sacristy of the San Lorenzo basilica, two blocks from my apartment are two tombs commissioned by the pope in the honor of two Medici family members. The artist commissioned was Michelangelo, who hated the Medici but was also extremely pious and could not refuse the pope. The first tomb is that of Giuliano Medici: he lived his life in action, visible by the sculpture in the middle. He looks ready to move and act. Underneath him lie the sculptures of night "la notte" and night "il giorno".

The second tomb belongs to Lorenzo Medici. This depicts a contemplative life. The statue of Lorenzo in the center is very different from Giuliano's, showing deep thought and a life that is pensive, filled with knowledge, studies and thoughtfulness. Underneath Lorenzo lie the statues of dusk "il tramonto" and dawn "la alba".

Michelangelo was able to show two contrasting ways of living, that both accomplished morality. The secret of life through these sculptures shows that there are two ways of life: one of action and one of thought, both equally moral. Michelangelo also represented the idea of eternity through day and night and dawn and dusk. These subjects suggest the cycle of life, that has no actual beginning or end...the eternity of the soul. I very much like this idea presented, that however you choose to realize your life, it is moral and good, and that there was more to you than what came to be on earth, and still more to come.

1 comment:

  1. What a wonderful post to read today. You brightened my day in a BIG way, darlin'. Thanks for this perspective. What an amazing time you are having. Love you.

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