Becoming an Art Historian: a work in progress

I arrived in Italy just three short weeks ago with not an ounce of art history knowledge in me apart from the bits of information my art history major mom has shared with me in various museums across the world. My retention of these bits and pieces was very limited, so I was a little nervous about how I would do in my classes this fall despite my excitement for a totally new educational experience that didn't include how to teach second graders about school in Colonial Times or the different strategies children use to solve a math world problem. While I adore my Early Childhood Education classes, I have been really looking forward to changing gears this fall. Which I totally have.

I am truly amazed at how much I have learned about art history in just three weeks and how differently I look at a piece when I see one. When I first arrived in Florence, I could look at a statue and think to myself, "Okay, it's bronze. It's a man. He has a sword. It's called David. That must be Goliath's head at the guy's feet." But I couldn't really think about anything past that. Now, through my various courses here, I am learning how one David is different from the next, why these statues are so important, and how the artists in Florence during the Renaissance made totally revolutionary changes. It is so fabulous how many amazing pieces we can study and then visit in this city alone.

Yesterday, my Renaissance Art History class had a site visit to the Bargello, a museum here in Florence that was the headquarters for the police. I enjoyed our visit so much because it makes such a huge difference to see the pieces in person rather than just on a slide. I hadn't realized how much that can be misconstrued or misinterpreted all together from a slide.

One of the first pieces we looked at was Donatello's David commissioned for the Palazzo Medici (where I am going this afternoon with my Medici History class!) to be displayed in a very visible place where the Medici family's clients would come to do their banking. This piece is totally bizarre and was considered totally bizarre at the time--David is depicted in a very feminine, erotic way. He is naked apart from a strange hat and tall boots that were originally gold and a wing from Goliath's helmet runs all the way up David's inner-part of his leg. Part of Goliath's bead seems to be caressing David's toe. My teacher told us that no one is quite sure what statement the Medici family wished to make with this piece at their palace and that there were no statues like this anywhere at this point in time. Although there are potentially some references to Antiquity, she said that this version of David was totally out there, then and now. She polled us and asked if we would put this piece in our garden, and most everyone decided that they would not. I think it is so fascinating to think about clients of the Medici family looking at this statue and saying, "Huh. Isn't that interesting?"


After looking at this piece, we continued on and looked at other pieces we had discussed in class as well as ones which we hadn't, like Michelangelo's Bacchus. Our teacher is so energetic and passionate about Renaissance art history, so it is such an experience to power through a museum with her and see works by such amazing artists.

In short, I am becoming more and more of an art historian each and every day! As I walk around the city, everywhere I look I am recognizing more and more pieces as works that we have discussed in my classes. It is so cool to see a work in real life and think to myself, "Hey! I know what that is!" It's also cool to think that there are still so many works that I don't know about yet but hopefully will in the next few months. Come to Florence, and I can show you around!

Now I must pack for our excursion to the Amalfi Coast this weekend- Sorrento, Pompei, Capri, and Positano! Ciao for now!

Grace