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David. That Michealangelo guy carved this when he was 25. Sheesh. Academia, Firenze |
| I'm the babe on the left (not one of my better
moments). Uffizi Gallery, Firenze. |
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This image is of a life-size knight on a life-size steed... all made from
iron. Pitti Palace, Fiernze. |
| In Firenze, you get used to seeing objects and edifices
that you cannot at first believe exist. This work of art, from the Medici collection at
the Pitti Palace is one such object. You immediately know that the rows of
iridescence have to be pearls... but, then you think about the craftsmanship and
style that went into the creation of this object (which I think is a pocketwatch
case) and you stop and get out your camera... About 3 inches (12cm) diameter.. |
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The crossbow; the weapon that obsoleted armor. Here is a fine specimen
that stood out in a little weapon section surrounded by other object of warfare and
beauty. About 70 cm across the bow. Pitti Palace, Firenze |
| You may be familiar with those little chinese balls carved
from ivory; one ball inside another, inside another, inside another. Some call them
patience balls (for obvious reasons). Well, this is an even more clever idea: on top, a star inside a sphere, below that, a cube inside a cube, and at the bottom, a patience ball - all carved from a single piece of ivory!
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Zany, huh? Another one of the "all one piece of Ivory"
carvings. About 50cm tall. Pitti Palace, Firenze |
last updated: Monday, January 03, 2000