Michelangelo at Last!

This morning we were supposed to meet on the stairs of the Duomo to visit the church itself and the Bargello along with our art history professor, however plans changed when the professor injured himself on the way to the Duomo and was forced to cancel class. He said that we would make it up at a later time, because there is no way that we can miss any class since they are so integral to the experience, so I can still look forward to going to those places and writing about them in my blog.

Katie and I decided to go back home to get our cash and then visit a museum that was not included in our trip, and wisely we decided to go to the Museo della'Opera di Duomo, located right behind the Duomo. It houses the original sculpture programs from the Baptistery and the Cathedral (currently the facades have copies). Upon entrance we saw the original statues of Christ and John the Baptist with an angel attending, and further in many sculptures and pieces from the original programs spread all around but with an effort to keep similar elements together. Here's a couple photos:



I turned a corner and my heart leapt to see one of Michelangelo's final "Pieta's" at the top of a set of stairs, set in its own room with dramatic lighting. The figures were life-size and the experience was all to real! You could see Michelangelo's handiwork on the face of the stone--it was amazing! I walked around it and viewed all of the angles and it was awe-inspiring... when I went to leave the room and took a seat in the next I almost cried! I think Michelangelo is my favorite artist... : )

Here are more pictures of the deposition group:




It is interesting to note that Michelangelo actually smashed the arm of this piece in frustration (should be visible in the post's introductory image). He had worked on it on and off for 8 years, supposedly intending it for his own tomb before discarding it. Upon his death one of his servants recovered the pieces and sold them to someone who was able to restore the arm. One of Michelangelo's students (Calcagni) completed the face of the Magdalene on the left.

We also got to see Donatello's "Penitent Mary Magdalene" which was also housed the in Museo della'Opera and like the Pieta we were also able to walk around it. I found the view behind her fascinating--what do you think?