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(Return to Father John's Log!)
OLM
Parish Reporter revisits Vatican Museum!
(click on tiny picture to view original)
"We had a crushing visit to
the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - incredible numbers of people moving
through these vast buildings and if you were faint in the Chapel you would
not have hit the floor for the people present. Below are some familiar
pictures that were seen both on the way and in the Chapel itself." You
might remember these words from my previous visit to the Vatican Museum.
On a free day from class, I ventured forth to make another visit. Instead
of viewing all the ancient art and maps and frescos, I headed straight
toward the Contemporary Christian art rooms and then revisited the Sistine
Chapel.
Vatican Museum Contemporary Art
| This second visit also gave me a chance to show the Pomodoro sculpture
in the center of the Pinecone Courtyard at the beginning of a trip through
the galleries. Contemporary art also found in Pepsi Galleries in NY. |
|
|
Entering the Vatican Museum means you need to travel upstairs. This
is accomplished in a unique way. Like the Guggenheim in New York, there
is a spiral staicase-ramp up to the entrance. |
| The contemporary art is displayed in the Borgia
rooms. It is placed in the context of some of the architectural work from
that time like the adjoining image of a sculpture counterpoised with a
fresco on the walls. |
|
|
There are many renditions of the Pieta in these rooms. On the left
is a sculpture of Christ seeming to bear Mary! On the right, a stained
glass window shows a classic pose. |
|
Among the many interesting and captivating sculptures,
I found this one depicting John the Baptist. Interesting in that among
other things John is portrayed as a rather young boy. There would be more
images from these galleries but you have been spared since my digital camera
only takes eight (8) photos and so I have to be very selective. Interesting
that there are not many postcards of this part of the Vatican Collection.
I think it is a shame since this is as important as the classical collection.
| l also chose to take a picture of this wall on which a clay artist
has sculpted the life of St. Paul in a panel containing 12 smaller panels.
It is new, refreshing and moving to behold and captures the Apostle to
the Gentiles!!! |
|
Another thought provoking thing after seeing these works
of art is the current concern over both SECULAR culture and Faith as well
as the fear that too much adaptation in the Liturgy is bad for the church.
Viewing the Sistine Chapel again pointed out to me
a number of things even about Michelangelo as well as art and Faith. He
used classical art sculptures and images as his models for the great frescos.
Also, he included in the ceiling not only the Biblical Prophets but classical
prophets and prophetesses along the borders of the ceiling. I share this
since art is a necessary part of Faith and its proclamation as one gathers
from viewing the whole Vatican Collection on display. To eliminate something
out of fear or as some guide books do tell people to "...just skip the
Modern Galleries...nothing to view..." is narrow and also dangerous to
art, faith and our own humanity. The Eternal City is eternal not because
it was untouched by life and history but rather because through its history
it constantly interacted, contacted, formed and was formed by the life
it contained and still contains today.
On the cusp of the Third Millennium, it is worthy to
note this and to open our vistas rather than close them down and retreat
to the past which isn't any purer than our present - in fact, the danger
is that the past is dead and gone and we might miss the chance to affect
the future and be part of the Spirit's movement in the new century to come
here and in our universe.
-fr john
glogowski, sabbatical 1998 roma
WHAT MORE COULD THERE BE???? MAYBE ANOTHER TREK OUTSIDE ROME
MAYBE ANOTHER PAPAL AUDIENCE = WOW! Never-ending reporting!!!!!
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