Before this trip, I had very literal experience working with ceramics. Despite, the tile we made during class, my last time working with clay was probably in grade school. I was excited to learn something new and to create art using my bare hands. When deciding the design for my pieces, much of my inspiration came from the places in Rome that we visited. The first piece I worked on was my mug. The goal of this piece was to exemplify one of Rome’s most famous architectural characteristics, the arches.
Next, I worked on my plate. I did not have any design ideas when I first began this piece but by looking through pictures I had taken, I found a design I wanted to mimic. The original image comes from the Borghese museum. I took for floor design and attempted to mimic it on my plate. However, because of the shape of the plate, it was difficult to transfer every shape. Instead, I chose to simplify the design but use similar colors.
Lastly, the last two pieces I created were tiles that I plan to use as coasters. In these pieces I was inspired by the intricate tile designs that are often found within churches.
Overall, I am very happy with the pieces I was able to create. Almost accidentally I created a cohesive set with geometric features. After this experience I can confidently say that I have learned many more skills surrounding ceramics and working with clay. I valued this studio time because it allowed me to relax, learn and sometimes fail.
It is hard for me to choose just one thing to write about; I truly fell in love with this city despite the short amount of time we spent here. From the food to the people, architecture, art, foliage, music, wine and so on there are so many parts that I fell in love with. However, when I decided to attend this trip, I told myself I would submerge myself into their culture. One of the easiest ways for me to do this was to explore the food and the city. Food was a way for me to connect and understand the roots of Italian culture. I tried my best to expand my palette and try new things. I did not want to come here and eat American food. I ended up eating lots and lots of pasta. Some new things I tried included Italian rice balls and Parmigiana.
However, I have to say that what made my experience so very special was the people. First, I met someone here who showed me parts of Italy I would have never seen on my own. We spent many hours comparing and contrasting America and Italy. These conversations taught me so much and opened my eyes to what it truly is like to live here in Rome. In addition, our small group of strong, intelligent and wonderful women made this trip amazing. The friendships I formed here will always hold a special place in my heart.
One of the most prominent and famous monuments for tourism in Italy is the Colosseum. It is considered one of the seven wonders of the world and receives about six million visitors per year. Before the Colosseum was built, the land where it now stands was part of a vast palace for the emperor Nero. In the exact spot where the Colosseum sits, there used to be an artificial lake which was a part of Nero’s palace. Nero is infamously known for his cruelty and debauchery as an emperor which made him extremely unpopular with the Roman people. In fact, he would have been tried and executed if he had not committed suicide. After, the Flavian emperor built the colosseum as a gift back to Rome after the demise of emperor Nero. Construction of the Colosseum began around 70 AD under emperor Vespasin who was part of the Flavian dynasty. However, it was not completed under Vespasian but under Emperors Titus and Domitan. The structure is built purely from brick and covered with travertine. Anywhere between 60,000 to 100,000 Jewish slaves built and completed the construction of the Colosseum which was completed in 80 AD.
Left, before image of Colosseum, Right, after ruins
However, the structure was not always known as the Colosseum. In fact, the original name was the Flavian Amphitheater. First named after the emperor and called an amphitheater because it was a double theater. It received the name Colosseum in the middle ages from the colossal statue of the sun God that stands outside, This statue was not always there but was moved by Emperor Hadrian. The statue is truly colossal standing at 100 feet tall.
Statue of Colossu Nero or the Sun God
The original building contained five levels and could seat anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 people. Each level of seating was specific for different groups and social classes of people. Similar to today’s seating in arenas, seats at the top were cheaper and less valuable. Foreigners, slaves and women were forced to sit in these very top seats because of their lower status. The seats were even made with only temporary wood making them very uncomfortable. Next, below the lowest class sat the plebeians. Plebeians refer to the average working citizens of Rome. These were free male citizens who may have worked as farmers, bakers and the like. One row closer sat the businessmen and then senators who were both seen as more successful. Lastly, the emperors, magistrates and priests sat at the lowest as they received the most power. Their seats were made of marble to depict their higher class. These important figures also received a special entrance directly to their seats and were protected by netting to keep rogue gladiators and animals out. Everyone else entered through one of the 80 archway entrances. Each arch was numbered to allow for efficiency in finding one’s seat, similar to how arenas are designed now. However, the arches also are an important feature of Roman architecture and history; something they are well known for.
Colosseum levels
The original structure was 189 meters long, 156 meters wide and 48.5 meters tall. However, only partial ruins of the Colosseum stand today. Much of the structure suffered damage due to the great earthquake in 1349. Later on, attacks of World War II caused even more damage to the structure. In addition, because the Colosseum was built where Nero’s artificial lake once was, this ground was less stable. Luckily, what is left still allows us to see many of the beautiful details built into the monument. One very important example is the columns on the outside of the structure which reflect the Greek orders. One style of column is piled on top of the other. At the top is Corintian order, followed by Ionic order and lastly Tuscan order. This classical architecture was originally designed by the Greek and was later adopted by Romans in the 1st century.
Greek Orders, different columns used in the Colosseum
The Colosseum hosted a variety of events and often there was entertainment that occurred all throughout the day. Many of the shows put on by emperors were to gain popularity with the Roman people; they wanted to be well liked in order to stay in power. Events would include processions, exotic animals, executions, gladiator battles, chariot races and mock battles. Gladiator contests were some of the most popular events hosted in the Colosseum. These often occurred as a form of entertainment and celebration. The earliest gladiator battles began in the fourth century but the first to occur in the Colosseum was in 264 BCE for the funeral of Lucius Junius Brutus Pera. Eventually, schools were established to train gladiators. One specific school was Ludus Magnus; it even included dorms for the gladiators to stay in. Gladiators could be anyone but most often were male slaves and on special occasians there could be female gladiators. Successful gladiators were seen as heroes and often had fans. However, they were also seen as a good investment because prominent figures could own several gladiators and rent them out to those who wanted to host their own gladiator events. These battles were brutal and often resulted in death. Therefore, when the country adopted Christianity as its primary religion, gladiator battles stopped which occured in 404 BCE.
In addition to gladiator fights, other events such as exotic animal hunts occured. Emperors would purchase animals such as tigers, elephants, and giraffes from Africa to include in their shows. The animals would have hunted each other, hunted a human, or been hunted by a human. The exoticness of the animal only added to the prestige. Next, triumphs and processions occurred to celebrate military victories. They would display captives, money, flora and fauna from the conquered territory for the general population to view. At the end, they would execute the enemy leader as the final celebration of their victory. Mock naval battles were also a part of commemorating victories won at war. In fact, Nero once flooded an amphitheater with water to mimic a battle won at sea. In order to help put on these elaborate shows, there was an elaborate network of tunnels and chambers beneath the colosseum floor known as the hypogeum. Gladiators, animals and prisoners were kept here before entering the arena. In addition, there were trap doors within the floor which were actually caps to elevators. These elevators were used to bring animals to arena’s floor and were manually operated by slaves.
Current photo of Colosseum, tunnels and chambers beneath the floor
Despite no longer holding any events, the Colosseum still received many visitors from all over the world. Spectators are able to fully immerse themselves into the rich history of events that occurred hundreds and thousands of years ago. However, it is important to remember that much of what happened here was brutal. Similar to watching an action film, the Roman spectators used these events as a form of entertainment and escapism. However, the deaths that occurred were real and gruesome.
UPDATE:
Learning the history of the Colosseum was interesting but nothing can compare to seeing it in person. Before our actual visit, I traveled to the Colosseum at night. The warm lights of the city were absolutely beautiful across the white travertine of the Colosseum. When we actually attended our tour of the Colosseum, it was much easier to visualize everything that I had learned prior. Although it is in ruins now, it is not hard to imagine the great shows that took place in the giant arena. As I walked these ancient floors, I could not help but think about the emperors, gladiators, and wild beasts that walked the same floor as me thousands of years ago.
My favorite part of this tour was walking through the hypogeum or the tunnels beneath the arena floor where gladiators and exotic animals were held. This was something I had hoped to do but was not sure if I’d have the chance. Even these tunnels are large; it is hard to imagine that all of these winding tunnels were beneath the floor. We also were able to see the elevators that were used to raise the gladiators and animals to the arena floor. After seeing the Colosseum in person, I understand how it is one of the seven wonders of the world. I can not imagine walking past such a magnificent structure everyday.
The great Uffizi gallery includes a total of three museum complexes to hold all of the art pieces within the collection. These three galleries contain the quintessence of Western art from the 13th to 18th centuries. The collection began with the Medici family. Anna Maria Luisa was the first to leave her collection to the city of Florence in 1737. After her, the predecessors did the same. The Uffizi palace was built over the period of 1560-1581 and features beautiful architecture. The gallery has been open to the public since the 16th century.
Uffizi Gallery
Not only is the art an attraction for people around the world, the architecture of the three complexes is also quite magnificent. The great architect Girogio Vasari originally designed the building to house the art collections of Grand Dukes. One of the most talked about features of the museums is the corridor that connects each one to each other known as the Vasari Corridor. As a result, the three structures connect the two banks of the Arno River. Another prominent feature of the gallery is the Tribuna degli Uffizi, the famous octagonal room.
Tribuna degli Uffizi, Uffizi Gallery
One very popular work of art within the Uffizi gallery includes The Birth of Venus. This painting was created by Sandro Boticelli in 1485. It is unknown which family member requested this painting. The painting depicts the goddess of love and beauty, Venus, arriving on the Island of Cyprus. She stands within a giant scallop shell as if she is as pure and perfect as a pearl. Around her are three figures, it is believed that the man and woman holding each other are Zephyr and Aura. They are the winds blowing her into shore. The second woman is believed to be the Hora of Spring wrapping a blanket around Venus to cover her bare skin. The painting is Tempera on canvas and came from the writings of the ancient poet Homer. Although there are many paintings depicting the birth of Venus, this one is known for her nudity which was something new at the time. Botticelli received inspiration for Venus’ figure from other ancient sculptures but specifically from the state of Aphrodite. This style of painting and demand for this type of scene come from humanism.
The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli, 1485
This is most often what I think of when I think about art; large museums filled with hundreds of famous artworks. In addition, painting is the medium I am most familiar with and most enjoy. However, I do think that places like this can be overwhelming when it comes to deciding what to look at. I could spend days analyzing and looking over each piece. When visiting I would like to have a list of specific pieces I would like to see before leisurely exploring. In addition, after researching, I am excited to see the architecture. I think we often forget about architecture being an art form as well. Especially in museums where the main attraction is other forms of art.
Niki de Saint Phalle, Giardino dei Tarocchi, Garavicchio, Italy.
One of the most popular Tarot Gardens in Italy, and the world, was designed by Niki de Saint Phalle, a French-American. These magnificent creatures were erected in the hills of the Italian village of Capalbio in the late 1970’s. She, the mother of the sculptures, first envisioned the garden in a dream while locked in an asylum. In the early 1950’s, Niki was sent to an asylum for her mental health and as a result was known as the “mad woman” with her monsters. At the time she was merely 22 years-old, was married and was a mother. She expressed that art was her way of healing and by producing art she hoped it would help others heal too. She is also known for her famous shooting paintings. She would assemble knives, scissors, egg beaters and baby doll arms into plaster along with bags of paint. She would then shoot a rifle at it causing chaotic splatters of color.
Niki de Saint Phalle and one of her rifle paintings
However, she considered the sculptures in the Tarot garden as her life work. The structures are made of welded steel which is then covered with concrete.The designs and colors are made from mirrors, glass and colored ceramics. Similar to Egyptian style, the ceramics were molded directly on the sculpture, then taken off and cooked before being put back onto the sculpture. The first sculptures built included: The Sphinx, High Priestess, Magician and Pope. The second half of the garden includes the Emperor’s Castle, Sun, Dragon and Tree of Life. Overall, the garden covers 2 hectares and includes 22 sculptures that are up to 15 meters high. Each figure represents a mystical figure from the Tarot deck in the style of Antoni Gaudi’s Park Guell in Barcelona. In total, the garden took two decades to complete and was finally opened to the public in 1998. She was so dedicated to this project that she actually lived within the Sphinx sculpture. The large figure with mirrored blue hair included a small living space for Niki; her bedroom in one breast and the kitchen in the other.
The Sphinx, Niki de Saint Phalle, Tarot Garden
Another amazing piece from the garden is The High Priestess and The Magicianwhich features a water fountain from the mouth of the High Priestess. The High Priestess is the blue face on the bottom. She represents the irrational unconscious. Above her is the Magician made of mirrored glass who is associated with qualities such as imagination, originality, creativity and determination. The two together are meant to represent her completion of the garden. Her irrational unconscious on the bottom and her determination above.
The High Priestress and The Magician
I find this type of art very intriguing. At first glance, I was unsure what these figures were supposed to be. But, upon reading and learning about Niki, I have come to really appreciate the Tarot Garden as an art piece. I can see how these pieces sort of fit within the time period but also were seen as quite hectic. I think as a woman who suffered with mental health, it is quite astounding how well Niki was able to do for herself. She was known as a mad woman, but I am surprised she did receive more backlash especially for the time period.
Mosaics are an important part of Roman culture and also a large part of their history. Mosaic art can be found within both the Byzantine and Hellenistic empire. During this time, mosaics were most prominently used to enhance the beauty of villas and to decorate churches. The process of mosaic making began first with the artist drawing a preliminary sketch. Then, the mosaic would be assembled with small pieces of glass. These pieces of glass were called tesserae and were then placed into the plaster base which held them in place until it dried. One of the most magnificent mosaics can be found in the Dome of Baptistery in Florence. The entire dome of this church is made of little gold mosaics. Each depicts a different religious scene. Gold was often used in church mosaics to portray a sort of otherworldly background in addition to being quite beautiful.
Dome of Baptistery in Florence, Italy
In addition to churches and villas, mosaics were often used for the sides and tops of interior arches, apses and walls. In classical times, mosaics were even used for floors. This art form is usually meant to represent the dominant aspects of the political, intellectual, social and economic conditions of the time period. Also, mosaics are a great source of history. Unlike paintings, mosaics last much longer which make them better artifacts to preserve culture and history of certain time periods.
As previously stated, mosaics were a large part of the Byzantine empire which lasted more than a millennium and penetrated many regions spreading far past the capital of Constantinople. During this time, the art created is known as Byzantine art and includes pieces from the fourth and fifth centuries. Early Byzantine art included churches where many mosaics can be found. For example, the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna features a very popular mosaic known as Justinian and his attendants. Mosaics such as this are meant to evoke a heavenly realm. Justinian and his attendants feature a gold background which is meant to depict a heavenly realm; no identifiable earthly space. This is similar to the dome of mosaics found in the Baptistery.
Justinian and his attendants, The Church of San Vitale in Ravenna
Mosaics later made a comeback in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries but with a new brilliance. These new mosaics still had a Byzantine influence which is why they are referred to and known as late Byzantine art. The renewal of this art form was triggered by the calling of Greek masters to Monte Cassino by Abbot Didier. This time period was also marked by mosaics receiving more of a uniqueness. As time passed, mosaics were seen as extravagant and could not always be used; the art form became very special and used only on certain occasions.
S. Maria in Trastevere: Detail of the facade:, XIIIth century mosaic
In my own experience, I often forget about mosaics as an art form. I have had very little exposure to this art form and have never really practiced it. I think that images displayed are even more beautiful considering the time, expertise and patience that goes into creating a successful mosaic. In addition, I enjoy learning about a
UPDATE:
Throughout our three weeks in Rome, we saw many, many churches. The art within some of these spaces was magnificent; the detail extraordinary. Because of my prior research into the use of mosaics in churches, this was something I sought for and analyzed during our visits. Pictures can not do these works of art justice. The amount of precision and detail that goes into creating an image out of pieces of material is incredible. My favorite piece was found in the Basilica of St. Praxedes. This byzantine mosaic depicts the Madonna and Child. Similar to other works during this time period, the color gold is used to depict an unearthly dimension. Although it is hard to tell from the photo, it is truly incredible how these images are created.
In addition to mosaic art pieces featured on the walls of basilicas, it is also very common for mosaic art work to be utilized in the floors. As stated previously, these ancient Roman churches are filled with detail. Every inch of wall and floor is filled with beautiful artwork. During the Byzantine era, it was common for artists to fill the spaces with minute detail. Below are some images of the detailed floors within these spaces. Often many of the ancient Roman patterns are depicted in these floor mosaics. The ones below are a little more unique but illustrate the elaborate detail that went into these worshipping spaces. If the floor is this detailed, you can only imagine how the rest of the church is decorated. Seeing mosaics up-close and in person made me appreciate this form of artwork even more.
Food is a large part of culture. As we all know, people from different cultures eat different foods. As a result, a specific cultural identity is formed. Personally, I believe that food is a great way to learn about a new place and to submerge oneself into the culture of that place. I see food as a means for bringing people together. Although I may never understand what it is like to be a native Italian, I can begin to experience their culture by trying unique foods associated with Italy.
Gelato:
I first heard of gelato at an Italian restaurant near the border of Wisconsin and Illinois. However, I did not try it until recently at Sara’s Artisan Gelato located in Green Bay. Sara, who has Italian roots studied gelato making in Italy. The flavors of gelato are endless, similar to ice cream. So far, my favorite flavor has been a seasonal apple crisp made by Sara.
Gelato did not become delicious overnight. In fact, the origins of gelato date back 12,000 years. Gelato is said to have originated in Anzola dell’Emilia, just outside of Bologna; the museum of gelato is now located here. Because gelato has been around for so long, it has very strong roots in Italian culture. For these reasons, I am very interested in learning about the craft and culture associated with gelato making while we are in Italy.
Coffee:
Another important food in Italy is coffee. Not only is coffee made different in America, the experience of drinking it is also different. Italians enjoy coffee all throughout the day. Usually they start the day with a milky coffee such as a latte along with a pastry for breakfast. Throughout the day, it is normal for Italians to sip on shots of espresso as a pick me or to drink other speciality drinks (not with milk though, that is only for the morning). Finally they end the day with espresso after dinner.
I am a big coffee drinker but it’s hard for me to find a coffee I like. I am interested in learning more about Italian coffee because it is such a large part of their culture but also because I would like a good cup of coffee.
Wandering the streets of Rome, coffee and gelato are not hard to find. In most cases, a cafe or Gelateria can be found on almost every street. Not only were these Italian delicacies a tasty experience, they also were engrained into the Italian culture. The Italian coffee experience is very different from that of America; it is most common to order a simple shot of espresso and maybe add some sugar. Unlike America, Italian coffee is not very sweet and the sizes are much smaller. It is simple and the coffee speaks for itself. As someone who enjoys coffee, this was something I was looking most forward to and I have to say it is something I will dearly miss when returning home. My favorite drink to order was a cappuccino and I drank one almost every morning with breakfast. I did try to drink coffee like the Italians and have only a shot of espresso but my taste buds were not quite ready. This was very bitter to me and I enjoy my coffee with a touch of milk. A lesson I will take with me is to order more simple coffee drinks instead of a Starbuck’s venti with shots of vanilla and flavor swirl.
Rome in Winter 