Art in Florence
- Feb 26, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 24, 2024
I love the art in Florence, full or art in various forms, painting, sculptures and well crafted espressos too.
I thought on this visit I’d take along a pad, pens and pencils and do some sketches. I first went out at 8am, but it was a bit chilly (5 degrees) and my hands would have got too cold.
During the day it was a bit too busy and there were a few too many tourists, so I thought I’d try at night.
So I just got perched and started drawing and the ‘Art Polizia’ came along and asked me not to sit on the ledge, I was ok to stand, but not sit.
I’ve found out it’s far easier to draw sitting down than standing. So I continued drawing the ‘Rape of the Sabine woman.’
Something that made me laugh and huff in disgust was I overheard an American tourist who when they saw the statue of The Fountain of Neptune (built in 1575) said.
Gee, is that the guy from Narnia, who’s half man, half goat!
I didn’t want to point out that the statue came out around 400 years before Narnia.
I know exactly what you mean about Florence - it’s almost impossible to sketch there without something interrupting. The cold hands at 8am, the crowds by noon, and then the art police… I’ve been shooed off more ledges than I care to count. Standing to draw is a special kind of torture for your wrist. But that American tourist comparing Neptune to Mr. Tumnus? I had to laugh too, even though it hurts a little. Still, it reminded me how easy it is to see things out of context. That’s actually how I found https://www.gambody.com/ a while back - because I kept staring at statues and wishing I could hold a miniature version at home, to study the angles and…