Cameron Highlands Tea Plantation, Malaysia

Monday, April 2, 2012

Our World - Renaissance sculptures

One of the best things I love about Florence is that you don’t need to visit galleries and museums to see fine art especially if you’re running out of time or money. You can easily find art almost everywhere you go. This is one of the fine examples of an outdoor art gallery we came across at Loggia dei Lanzi. It houses a wonderful collection of thought provoking sculptures from the Renaissance period.


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The first to stand out under the arcade is Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus (1545-1554) with the severed head of the Medusa complete with blood gushing from the neck. It's really gruesome and fascinating at the same time!


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This is one of my favourite artworks and as seen here is the Rape of Sabine Women (1579-1583). It's an interesting piece that depicts two Romans fighting over the Sabine woman.


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This is also another timeless masterpiece which depicts Hercules fighting with his opponent, Centaur Nessus. Hercules has him by the neck and is throttling him mercilessly.


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The Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi (1866) is an illustration of Trojan War and it depicts the abduction of Polyxena by Achilles. Looking at his feet is her mother, Hecuba, clinging and pleading for her return in desperation as Achilles raises his sword, ready to strike her down.



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and here's one of the two imposing marble lions that welcome visitors on the entrance steps.

Our World

15 comments:

  1. Super scuptures, your pictures are very sharp.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  2. All the pieces you show here are wonderful, Life Ramblings! But they also show us how cruel a war is...

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  3. Bonza photos, i especially like the first photo, it certainly is very gruesome indeed :-).

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  4. Beautiful!!Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. Wonderful display of artistic treasures all around the city.

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  6. Awesome sculptures and such a wonderful city! I love all the places I was able to visit in Italy and I do regret not being able to have gotten to Florence! Your photos are the next best thing! Thank you for sharing! Have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  7. I like Hercules fighting with his opponent, Centaur Nessus statue. It looks more noble compared to the rest. :p

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  8. Wonderful collection of statues. I have seen a twin of the lion here in Maryland. Thanks for sharing, have a great week!

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  9. Yes beautiful pictures, stunning Renaissance sculptures. Greetings.

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  10. Timeless masterpiece indeed. Wonderful.

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  11. Ah, wonderful! Takes me back to my trips to this amazing art city!

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  12. This is wonderful to see out in public!

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  13. this is a gr8 tour.
    Florence is indeed a city worth visiting, esp. if you're a lover of arts. ^0^
    tnx for the informative details.

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