Saturday 14 September 2013

Loggia dei Lanzi with a collection of mythical cruel statues, Florence

The Loggia dei Lanzi is an open air art gallery on the Piazza della Signoria. The sculptures are protected from the rain by an arched ceiling. It is undisputed that the marble and bronze statues are of exceptional quality but they display violence and cruelty.

Perseus has just decapitated Medusa and holds her bleeding head high in the air. A group of men are raping the women Sabine, a marble statue made out of one marble piece. In the background we see Herculus fighting with a half men, half horse mythical figure called a centaur. The violence continues with fighting, fierce Medici Lions, scary skulls and rape.

Looking at the art and the history of the Roman Empire we have difficulties finding back the romantic nature of the current Italian society.

De Loggia dei Lanzi is een open lucht kunstgalerij op de Piazza della Signoria. De standbeelden worden onder een geboogwelfd plafond beschermd tegen de regen. Het staat voor kijf dat deze marmeren en bronzen beelden van onberispelijke kwaliteit zijn maar ze worden overschaduwd door geweld en wreedheid.

Perseus heeft net Medusa onthoofd en houdt haar bloedende hoofd hoog in de lucht. Een groep mannen verkracht de vrouw Sabine, een beeld gemaakt uit een blok marmer. Op de achtergrond zien we Hercules een half man, half paard, een mythisch wezen centaur genoemd afranselen. Het geweld gaat verder met vechten, de gevreesde Medici Leeuwen, angstaanjagende doodskoppen en verkrachtingen. 

Het aanschouwen van deze kunst alsook de geschiedenis in acht nemende van het wrede Romeinse Rijk, maakt het moeilijk de link te leggen met de hedendaagse romantische Italiaanse maatschappij. 
 
Piazza della Signoria Florence

Loggia dei Lanzi Florence

The Rape of the women Sabine Florence
The Rape of the women Sabine

Medici Lion Florence
Medici Lion

Loggia dei Lanzi Florence

Loggia dei Lanzi

Loggia dei Lanzi

Loggia dei Lanzi Medusa
Medusa

Piazza della Signoria Florence

Previous Florence article: The Duomo of Firenze or the Cathedral of Florence

Previous Sculpture article: Palazzo Vecchio with the statues of David and Hercules, Florence

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12 comments:

  1. Definitely looks like a time of violence. Great shots Filip!

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  2. What a wonderful place where you were, beautiful photos.

    Groetjes Tinie

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  3. Great monuments showed in his wonderful pictures.
    Greetings.
    Lucia

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  4. I have to say that the artistry is exceptional. But the things that aredepicted are horrible and I do not think such images should be put in our minds. I hate to think of little children seeing this and what how we would explain it.

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  5. I don't understand why statues with such a violent nature would be displayed in public areas. I personally find them distasteful!!

    The buildings in the first image are very pretty and the horse in the last image is a beauty!!

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  6. Lovely captured photos.
    Brutal indeed, but that was what happened at that time so it was captured in statues.

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  7. I have such wonderful memories of this square. Late one night while strolling thru I heard a guitarist and ventured to find where the music was coming from. Wound up spending at least an hour beneath the moonlight in Florence listening to a gentleman named Ken Mercer...such a wonderful way to spend an evening in Florence :)

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  8. This square is absolutely amazing and your photos do it justice.

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  9. wrede kunst, maar mooi uitgebeeld en mooi van je gefotografeerd. Groetjes, Dietmut

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