Pre-Tour: Rome, Italy – Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Today our first stop was the Galleria Doria Pamphilj – which houses a fabulous art collection and which is likely the largest in Rome still in private ownership.

Walking to the Galleria Doria Pamphilj:

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This is the first stop today on our way to the Galleria Doria Pamphilj. This is a first century fresco:

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At the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, some of the collection highlights we viewed:  Caravaggio’s St. John the Baptist – a young John with his arm around a ram’s neck is how he painted him.   The painting is based upon Luke 1:80 – “the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”

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There are actually two different versions of this painting. One has a dove in the corner symbolizing the Holy Ghost.

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We saw another Caravaggio – Rest during the Flight into Egypt – an unusual portrayal of the biblical story – with an angel intent on playing the violin. 4-Doria pamphilj gallery_Caravaggio's young John the baptist-2 4-Doria pamphilj gallery_Carravaggio_RestIntoTheFlightofEgypt

Another Caravaggio we saw was his Penitent Magdalene – painted fully clothed, seated, squatting in a low chair, a single tear running down her check. Caravaggio’s penitent magdalene. Her youth and humility was notable. She’s painted very differently from other magdelenes

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Our next stop was IL GESU – a church which houses a sculpture “Religion Overthrowing heresy and hatred” – done to attack Protestantism and to attempt to assert the Church’s authority after Luther and the Reformation. This certainly gave our group a lot to think about!

Here are 2 of 11 ancient Egyptian obelisks that are spoils of war:

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Finally, we visited a Church – Santa Maria sopra Minerva – which has Michelangelo’s Jesus’ Carrying His Cross.  But the artist carved a diminutive cross – giving the viewer the impression that Jesus had dominion over it.

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The afternoon was free for the group to wander the streets of Rome.

 

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