More Moments...Art in Florence

We've been back home at The Nut now for a couple of days, but I still wanted to post some moments from our time in Florence...

It really was a nice side trip, and we can't thank our friends enough for letting us use their voucher for Kraft Hotel. The hotel is way nicer than places we normally stay, so what a special treat.

We're sad they couldn't make the trip, but thrilled they thought of us to gift it to!

Again...

Grazie Mille, Dee & Sasha!!

The requisite hotel elevator Mirror Shot!

For three days, we just walked the streets, visiting favorite spots, and finding new places. 

For me, it's just a treasure trove of photo opportunities....

One of many frame shops we spotted.

Waiting outside as Johnny did some shopping for art supplies at his favorite place.

Evening in the piazza. Such great people watching!

So nice to be in Florence without the massive crowds.

 

Time for a Spritz!

Campari for me, Aperol for Mr. J.

Another evening, another favorite spot for wine.

We visited The Uffizzi for the first time in over 20 years...again, taking advantage of less people traveling. We booked an early time slot, and had the place to ourselves, for the most part.

Here is a piece that particularly touched me...

BEATO ANGELICO
The Pontassieve Madonna
Tempera on wood 134x59
c. 1435

There was just something so extraordinary about the eyes of both the Madonna and the Child...

Plus, the loving way they are touching each other...I don't know. Maybe it has to do with me losing my Mom recently...

Most of the 'babies' in these paintings are pretty scary and/or creepy...but this was just lovely.

I also really enjoyed seeing this trippy dome in a side room. The cupola looked like it was made of glass bottle bottoms, and then there is this super cool inlay of maybe oyster shell? Not sure, but I loved the light and textural contrasts...

Not the best close up, but you get the idea...mosaic of some type of shell.

Great detail.

Because I'm a fan of installation and conceptual artworks, I was happy to see some works by Giuseppi Penone, a contemporary Italian artist we've seen exhibits of before.

There were several works scattered throughout  The Uffizzi, as well as a few huge pieces outside around the piazza.

His works a lot with natural materials, and these pieces were my favorites...

Here, he takes trunks of dead trees down to the core, which is just an amazing concept to me.

We saw this piece at the Venice Biennale a few years ago.
I loved it then, and was excited to see it again.

But...just as stunning were these massive canvases. There were maybe 3 or 4 of them, and I didn't know what they were until I got up really close. (no...I didn't set off any alarms. This time....)

At first I thought it was an old map or something...
This was huge.

These are acacia tree thorns. Thousands of them.
I love this!

Anyway, it was loads of fun to see some art, old and new.

Here are some moments just walking around on a pretty day...in Florence...

And, as always, we made our pilgrimage to the Church of Santa Felicita to warm ourselves in the glow of the artist Jacopo Carucci, simply known as 'Pontormo'....

Sublime.

Other Worldly...

That's it for Florence.

We are happily tucked back into our Nut, waiting for some much needed rain, and thinking we might run to the weekly market for veg and flowers, before the showers start.

I'll keep posting!

Thanks for being there, Dear Readers...

Florence In Bloom

  We needed to hop the train and head back to Florence for more art supplies.

  My husband, Johnny, has been on a tear painting here in Umbria, and he ran through the last batch of oil paint pretty fast. Good for him!

  Good for me, too...I had a feeling we'd see some good spring blossoms coming on, and we did!

  A perfect day of Art and Garden!

  Just walking the streets, I spotted these beauties...

  Of course, what's a day trip without a rest stop that includes a glass of wine...?

  It was my idea to walk over to the  Bardini Gardens, since I wanted to see if the wisteria were blooming...We were a little early, but it is perfect timing for the redbud (Cercis) trees! They are in their glory right now!

Here you can see the long tunnel of wisteria just starting to bloom...

See the wisteria on the top right?

Not in full color quite yet...I may have to go back in a week or so!

Still impressive from above, though!
A good shot, for sure.

Thanks, Firenze, for another fine day...

Day Trip To Florence

  Johnny needed some art supplies, so we hopped the very early train from Castiglione del Lago to beautiful Florence...and were there by a little after 8am. Sweet! 

  Fun to be there before the hoards of people hit the streets. Boy, September is a different world than March here. Way more people, of course, and quite warm, too. 

  Still...it's FLORENCE! FIRENZE!

  I'll enjoy her beauty anytime I possibly can. Art supplies is just one of many excuses to make the hour and a half train trip here.

  

  We started by grabbing a quick caffè, then stopping into the Medici Chapels and the Church of San Lorenzo to say 'Ciao' to Michelangelo's amazing sculptures.

  I'll admit, Johnny stops in here often, while I usually choose to stay outside somewhere nearby with a book. I am so glad I made my first visit inside...

The lovely cupola in the Chapel of the Princes.

  

  The main event were the sculptures, which I very much enjoyed. My favorite, by far, were Michelangelo's 'Day' and 'Night', at the Tomb of Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. 

He's Day. She's Night.
Don't ask me, you can find loads of info online, I'm sure.
I just liked it.

She does look tired.
I was captivated by the owl, Spirit of Night, as far as I'm concerned.

Isn't she just grand? 

'Day' is cool, too.
I love the way Michelangelo works with muscles.

  We walked all over the city, stopping here and there for this and that. It was just fun having no real agenda. We just needed to stop in at Zecchi, Johnny's favorite art supply store, at some point later in the day.

  We headed over to the Mercado di Sant'ambrogio to check out the clothes. There are a couple of vendors that sell used cashmere. I just love going through the racks to see if there is something I can't live without.

  Being that it was hot, I was surprisingly uninspired. I'll wait until October and go back when the temperature drops down a bit. We still had a blast looking around, and even stopped in for a prosecco at a favorite off the beaten track spot.

  It was slow and relaxing.

I love this little park.

 There is always good street art in Florence, and on Wednesday, I was not disappointed.

Art of our times...

  We had lunch at our favorite Volpe e L'uva. Someday we'll get gutsy and try somewhere new, but why fix it if it ain't broken?

  The usual crew were out on vacation, but we still had a great time just people watching and eating good, simple food prepared most excellently. A bottle of wine had us there for a nice long time. 

   

We will be internally grateful to Elizabeth and James
for turning us on to this place!

  We wandered about in a food and heat induced haze for awhile, stopping into this cool church and that air conditioned shop, then as things cooled down we found ourselves drawn to the Bardini Gardens, knowing that the views from the terrace bar/cafe might be pretty nice at this time of day.
  Plus, it was about time for a glass of something cool.

Not a bad view...and all the bells went off just as we sat down
to relax with a glass of wine.

  If you have not been to these gardens before, you should make it a must do. There is villa on the grounds that often has great art exhibitions. We always make it a point to see what's going on here.

  On this visit, it was just about the view in late afternoon. Perfection.

Heading back down to the exit.

  We had just enough time to go to the art store and make it onto the 7:50pm train. What fun!

  We actually toyed with the idea of staying over night, but quickly realized that the entire town was booked up, so we stuck to our original plan. We'll go spend a night in a couple of weeks, when it's cooler and there are a few less people.

  All in all, it was another great day in Florence!

  My parting shot....

Johnny loving his new roll of canvas...a little too much, me thinks.
Take it easy, big fella!.