So I 've been here a week and a half and today I decided it was finally time to see the legendary Uffizi. The Uffizi is Florence's most famous museum and holds an overwhelming amount of famous artwork. Some of the famous artists include: Massacio, Fillipo Lippi, Boticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Carvaggio(I know I'm forgetting some)!
I went on a guided tour provided by the school which was completely in Italian. Our tourguide, Lara, explained everything simply and slowly enough that I understood what she was pointing out. Both Lippi and Leonardo painted pictures of the Annunciation in entirely different styles. Lippi's had actual Latin words bridging the gap between Gabriel's mouth and the Mary's ear. Leonardo's was much more realistic, in the sense that he was attempting to imitate nature. For the angel he took the best earthly elements he could find(bird wings) and melded them together.
Michelangelo's sacred family was a confusing marvel of perspective. It was difficult to tell where one body was and the other began, but it was impressive nonetheless.
Lippi's Mary with child had a very personal touch to it. The child just wants to get closer to his mother, and does not have any regal aire about him. Her halo is transparent, and you can tell that Lippi has broken with Gothic tradition.
Botticelli's two portraits in the main room are huge and incredibly memorable. His "Birth of Venus" represents the tension and unification of pagan and Christian ideas.
Venus stand in the center, covered with nothing but her beautiful flowing blond hair(this image is everywhere in Florence). A weak, yet prominent figure, Venus is simultaneously beckoned by two forces. In the top left, eros is sweeping in with another girlfriend to take her away. However on the other side, there is another woman with garb to hide her nakedness who is also beckoning. The pagan god of love and the Christian church come together in this beautiful photo.
On the wall to the right stands Botticelli's Primavera. The Graces are having a great time dancing in the center and it is another mix of roman(hermes) and traditional images.
After the tour we wandered down stairs and I saw Gentileschi's beheading of Holofernes, and Caravaggio's Medusa which was painted on a shield.
