Architecture, Early Renaissance, Out of Town
Tweet On the slopes of the Apennines, almost in the centre of Italy towards the Adriatic, is situated, as everyone knows, the little city of Urbino. … Among the blessings and advantages that can be claimed for it, I believe the greatest is that for a long time...
Art History, Fresco, High Renaissance, popes, Renaissance, Rome, Vatican
Tweet Negotiating the labyrinth of the Vatican Museums one runs the risk of running out of steam on the way to the Sistine Chapel. But do keep some energy in reserve for the Raphael rooms. In 1508, Raphael, then 26 years old, was called in by Julius II to decorate his...
Architecture, Art History, Rome
Tweet The Esposizione Universale di Roma planned for 1942 was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fascist rule. Initially known as E42, the project had begun in 1936, with construction on the buildings of the “new Rome” underway by 1938. As it transpired...
Archeology, Art History, Capitoline Museums, Egypt, Roman Art, Roman sculpture, Rome, Undervisited Rome museums
Tweet A couple of weeks ago I was once again invited to be involved in Context Travel’s admirable series of Tours in the Public Interest. The focus of this year’s series is on museums which are regularly open to the public, but which get far fewer visitors than they...
Archeology, Architecture, Art History, Churches, Early Christian art
Tweet The first version of this post was written for the fabulous, but now sadly defunct, 3 Pipe Problem blog. It was run by the fearsomely energetic Hasan Nayazi who died suddenly and prematurely last year. I met him in person once, on his only visit to Rome two...
Archeology, Art History, Augustus, Empire, Rome, Underground Rome
Tweet Last month saw a momentous anniversary of the sort that doesn’t happen often; on the 19 August it was 2000 years exactly since the death of Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. Much hand-wringing was employed over Rome’s lack of festivities, and it...
Archeology, Art History, Uncategorized
Tweet Last week my sister, visiting from London, and I made a brief foray southwards. We hadn’t been to Pompeii in years, and – shamefully, inexplicably – neither of us had ever visited Herculaneum. There was also a desire to lend solidity to all of...
Archeology, Architecture, Art History, Egypt, Empire, Out of Town, Palestrina, Roman Art
Tweet Last week a visiting friend and I braved the torrential rain to run an errand in Zagarolo. Our mission accomplished, we stopped for a spot of lunch before meandering to Palestrina. Snaking our way through the medieval streets, in a car as wide as the roads, we...
Archeology, Art History, Esquiline, Greek Sculpture, National Roman Museum, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Quirinal, Rome
Tweet Right by Rome’s Termini central station is one of my favourite museums of ancient Roman art, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (home to these spectacular Roman frescoes). Palazzo Massimo is part of the National Roman Museum which has four locations (can a museum have...
Aeneas, Aeneid, Archeology, Architecture, Art History, Augustus, Empire, Legend, Origins, Palatine Hill, Roman Art, Roman Painting, Rome, Virgil
Tweet This year is a big anniversary for all things Augustus; the two thousandth anniversary of the death of the first Emperor of Rome. The exploitation of art, religion, legend, history, poetry, dodgy family trees, you name it, in the relentlessly sophisticated...
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