Rome is known as the eternal city, and with due cause. It is home to the Roman culture and the many ruins, artifacts, and pieces of art left behind. Considering the sheer amount of time that these many objects have endured, it is not surprising that most of them have undergone some sort of conservation or restoration during their lifespan. Among these items is the famed Bocca Della Verita found within the portico of the church of Santa Maria in…
The four horses that now stand just inside of Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice have a long and varied history across the European continent. Dating back to classical antiquity, they have stood as a prime example of empirical looted art and have been associated with four separate empires. Starting with Constantinople, and the Eastern Roman Empire, which later turned into the Byzantine Empire, they were later taken in the13th century, when the Venetians sacked the city and placed them at…
Jacques-Louis David, in the painting The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of his Sons, exemplifies the French preoccupation with Roman thought, art, and history. His depiction of this family tragedy represents how David interpreted the gender roles during Roman times and, in context of his contemporary history, how he thinks that these values ought to be embraced by the French. Consideration of the brooding figure of Brutus and of the emotional women highlight the necessity for both parties to…
The work Psyche Abandoned by Pietro Tenerani is a beautifully crafted sculpture, which provides an interesting look into both the neoclassical movement, and the later Purismo style in which, Tenerani was known for. While the work itself is a wonderful example of the neoclassical style, Tenerani himself was a major proponent of the Purismo movement, which rejected the ideals of Neoclassicm and sought to emulate medieval visual aesthetic. This juxtaposition between art and artist provides the modern viewer with an…
In 1545, artist Benvenuto Cellini began work on his famous bronze sculpture of Perseus Beheading Medusa. Commissioned by Cosimo I de ‘Medici shortly after his appointment as Grand Duke, it is believed to hold additional meaning than that of the myth associated with the sculpture. By commissioning the statue of Perseus and Medusa, Cosimo successfully infused hidden meaning into artwork. The myth of Perseus and Medusa served as a perfect outlet for Cosimo to represent two messages; he effectively gave a…
