San Salvi and Uffizi (6/4)
June 05, 2008 - by Molly MannThe morning was spent at San Salvi, a small museum that houses Andrea del Sarto's Last Supper. We were the only ones there at the time, and silence reigned for a good ten minutes as we all stood agape before this fresco. In contrast to the other last supper depictions we've seen in Florence, del Sarto's fresco is remarkably theatrical, full of action and emotion. The Apostles are all engaged in dramatic gestures, which are accentuated by the strong chiaroscuro effects in the folds of their clothing.
Another strong contrast was the one between the peace of San Salvi and the bustling Uffizi, where we spent the afternoon. The sheer volume of spectacular artworks, all concentrated in this first museum in the world, was overwhelming. Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Caravaggio's Medusa, and Artemesia Gentileschi's Judith Beheading Holophernes are just a few of the stars we got to see.
Over dinner, MaryEllen (Hackett), Melissa (Gandolfo), Hara (Stephanou), and I discussed our topic for the presentation we all have to give at the end of this trip. In addition to the eight page paper we'll submit over the summer, we'll all split into groups of four to give five minute presentations on the topic of our choice. With all we've seen in the past couple of weeks, all we've learned about art and the Florentine Renaissance, I can't imagine how any of the presentations could be that short!
