Rome: Saint Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter is the symbol of Rome, of Christianity and beauty for the magnificent artworks created by Michelangelo, Gianlorenzo Bernini and many more...

For any type of information on Saint Peter have a look to this site:

Saint Peter Basilica

Below are random photos back in 2007:

My children on Saint Peter Square in January 2007

The Barberini's heraldic symbol 

Gianlorenzo Bernini's Baldachin

Michelangelo's Pieta' (1497)

Michelangelo's Moses: speak!!



Moses by Michelangelo

 Pope Julius II commissioned this project, his tomb, to Michelangelo in 1506, but it was only completed in a later date, between 1542-1545, after many years of desegreement with the Pope's heirs. In fact, the pope wanted his monument to be exemplary and Michelangelo planned a burial chamber that would be a truly architectonic structure, with statues of the old and new testament figures at different levels, but obviously the project was never approved.


The project scale was reduced and the work was never placed in St. Peter's but in San Pietro in Vincoli, not far from Via Cavour, where Julius II was ordinated cardinal.

The statue of the Moses shows his extraordinary force, the tension in the veins and muscles, in the posture and in the furious expression: he can't only speak!! That's why this is considered one of his masterpieces, together with the Sistine Chapel and the David in Florence.

The Sistine Chapel

St. Peter's facade by Simona Albanese

Aerial view of the Sistine Chapel (center). Image © Google Earth

The Sistine Chapel is one of the most beautiful and perfect work in the art history!!!

Look this wonderful presentation on the Sistine Chapel clicking on the link .....it is amazing!! 

My dad has sent me the link...just because I have a strong passion for art like him!!

Here a brief history of the Chapel:

The Sistine Chapel was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV, from whom it derives its name, in 1475. It was designed to be the pope's chapel and the site of papal elections. In 1481 Sixtus IV called to Rome the Florentine painters Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli and the Perugian Pietro Perugino to decorate the walls with frescoes. The fresco project took only 11 months, from July 1481 to May 1482.

Michelangelo was called in a later time, being younger in comparison to the other artists. The Sistine ceiling was originally painted by Piero Matteo d'Amelia, who included a star-spangled sky. But in 1508 Pope Julius II della Rovere commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the ceiling. He worked on the project between 1508 and October 31, 1512, in cramped conditions high on a scaffolding and under continous pressure from the pope to hurry up. 

Michelangelo was later called back to paint The Last Judgment (1535-1541) on the altar wall. The work was commissioned by Pope Clement VII (1523-1534) shortly before his death, and Clement's successor, Pope Paul III Farnese (1534-1549), forced Michelangelo to complete it quickly. 

In recent decades, the Sistine Chapel has been carefully cleaned and restored, beginning with the 15th-century wall frescoes in 1965. The cleaning and restoration of the lunettes, the ceiling and The Last Judgment, a painstaking process using computer analysis, lasted from 1980 to 1994. The restoration included removing several of the "modesty" drapes (called braghettoni)   that were added over some of the nude figures later by Daniele da Volterra.

As a result of the restoration....some are happy ...some are not...you need to go and have a look by yourself and then you come make a judgement!!! 

Happy vision!!

An introduction to art history

Moses by Michelangelo in San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome

Works of art have traditionally been associated with vivid and abiding experiences and memories. Of the various form of arts, painting are usually the most highly privileged.

Sistine Chapel's ceiling by Michelangelo, Rome

Painting provide useful information by virtue of the events and scenes and people that they illustrate. Paintings preserve former layouts of cities and landscapes, the appearance of long-dead kings and queens and philosophers and artists, the configurations of formers battles and the scenes of terrible disasters.

When we stand in front a painting we expect to perceive something ....to understand the artwork we are looking at. The kind of paintings normally commissioned in the principal urban centers of Europe reflected the existing stratifications of the social world at a time when the main sources of patronage were the church, the state, the aristocracy and the increasingly independent mercantile class of bourgeoisie. 

Artists like Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci worked for various type of patrons in different city of Italy creating astonishing and impeccable artworks, which will be introduce during the next Term at new Farm State School Community between October 28th and November 11th.

For any information and to enroll to the course just download the form below:

New Farm State School Community Education

If you have any question just drop me a line!!!
Simona