Wandering Bard: France (Nike of Samothrace)

You guys want to go to France this week? Yeah? Me too! Let’s go.

France was one of the most intimidating places I have ever been. We were told all sorts of scary stories about how the French hate Americans, how you have to say bonjour and au revoir as you enter and exit every shop, and how you can’t look any of them directly in the eyes.

Okay, I made that last one up. It was just the irrational fear talking.

Actually, you’ll be quite happy to know that the French were pretty awesome. Yes, there were some that were a little stiff – but isn’t it like that in every country? Some were positively delighted to share their wealth of knowledge with us youngsters (most of us on the trip were college-age) and genuinely wanted us to have a good time while we were in their country. As strange as this sounds, I felt less out of place in France than I did in some of the other countries that I have visited. Being in Paris sort of felt like being in New York City.

So, with that in mind, take a step off the plane with confidence and know that you’re with friends! We’re in Paris now, right outside the Louvre.

You may recognize this if you’ve seen The Da Vinci Code, as Robert Langdon (played by the amazing Tom Hanks) spends a fair amount of time in and around the museum during his trip to France. It’s pretty awesome to see in person, even if the Parisians aren’t all too thrilled with it yet. And even better is the view just across the way:

This is not in any way the best place to view the Eiffel Tower, but it definitely got me excited to see it up close!

Anyway, let’s move on, shall we? We’re inside the Louvre now, wandering the halls and grand galleries. This place houses some of my all time favorite pieces of art. The amount of history found in this single building literally gets my heart racing. [WARNING: Nerd Moment Detected] If I had to choose just one single piece to see (as hard as that may sound) it would be the one below.

May I proudly introduce Nike of Samothrace. She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Nike is the Greek goddess of Victory and is often associated with past victories as well as hope for new ones. This particular statue was on a pedestal that was supposed to represent the prow of a ship, indicating the hope for a naval victory. Pretty awesome, right? And I’m sure I know your number one question right now:

Um, where’s her head?

Oh, you noticed that, huh? Well, it’s missing. (Thank you, Captain Obvious!) We’re not really sure what happened to it (or her arms, for that matter…), other than it probably was broken or destroyed in some way or another. Even without a head or a face, though, the beauty of this statue is undeniable. This is from Ancient Greece, so it’s well before the masterpiece we saw last time, yet it seems just as beautifully carved and lifelike.

Let get to the good stuff now.

Interpretations:

- The base of the pedestal was a part of a two-tiered fountain. The splashing water added an auditory experience to the visual one and reminded viewers of the ocean and its splashing waves. Opposite of this statue sat another fountain that looked like jagged rocks, making it seem like Nike was guiding the ship to safety.

- The wind that blows her dress and the surrounding ocean are metaphors for struggle of any kind, but particularly those found in battle.

- It also suggests that the battle will be won if the soldiers believe in the gods and trust in them to help.

Cool Facts:

- This is from the 2^nd century BC, which means that it is well over TWO THOUSAND YEARS OLD.

- This is considered one of the most prized possessions of the Louvre.

- Her hand and some fingers were discovered separately and are now reunited – they sit in a case near the statue.

- This is a break from earlier statues where the figures were ideal and self contained. Nike interacts with her environment and looks like she will come to life at any moment.

- This was originally set on a cliff, which would just add to the display as the viewers heard the ocean and felt the strong wind blowing.

Why I Love It:

I have to admit that it probably wouldn’t matter what this statue actually looked like, because I’d still love it. I love the idea of it. The fact that some ancient Greek carved this with his bare hands. The fact that it depicts my favorite subject: mythology. The fact that it has survived for so long, against all odds.

There are other more technical reasons, too. The use of wet drapery (that’s what we call the style where the clothes seems to cling to the body) is incredible. The shape of the body and the folds in the fabric are so natural. The realism in general is just incredible. Just think that this was done with a hammer, a chisel, and a lot of hard work – well before the invention of any modern technology. This took pure and raw talent to create.  And lastly, I love that even though the statue is utterly still and made of solid rock, you can just about feel the wind blowing against her gown and see her landing on that boat with her hands raised in victory.

What do YOU guys think? Does the lack of a head really throw you off, or do you overlook it in order to focus on the beauty that the rest of the statue holds? We’ll be heading somewhere else next week (and I’ll make sure we talk about something other than a statue), so get your passports ready!

 

Wandering Bard: Italy (La Pietà)

This is a new series that I’ve decided to start called “Wandering Bard.” I’ve been to a few countries outside of the United States, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit some pretty spectacular places. I wanted to combine my love for travel with my love for history and art. Thus, “Wandering Bard” was born. In this series I’m going to pick one place or artwork per post and give you a little history on it, some cool facts, and my personal experiences. I know a lot of people hate learning about history and art, but I’ve always loved it. I hope I can keep these posts short, fresh, and fun, and that’ll you’ll be able to appreciate things you never thought you would!

So, in your mind why don’t you hop on a nice comfy plane, lean back, and envision your destination: Italy. When I was a freshman in college, I was lucky enough to find an opportunity to visit Italy and Greece. This was (and still is, in a way) my dream trip. For someone who is obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, classical art, and Renaissance art, these two countries were THE place to go. I had to do a whole lot to get there (like, nabbing the absolute last two spots for me and my best friend, borrowing A LOT of money, and then taking an entire summer to repay the debt), but it was worth it! This remains my favorite trip.

Okay, we’ve landed! Quick trip, huh?

Let’s start off with one of my favorite places in the world and one of my favorite pieces of art. We’re standing in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City right now:

This is the dome of the Basilica, found in Vatican City

And we’re staring at this beauty:

It's a little blurry, but I had to take the picture standing behind a crowd of people while holding the camera over my head. Good thing I'm so tall!

This is called La Pietà (“The Pity”) and it was created by Michelangelo. It shows the Virgin Mary holding Jesus after he has died. Now, this is not an original concept – it has been used over and over again in paintings and sculpture from all sorts of artists from before and after Michelangelo’s time. Most of these are also titled La Pietà. But, in my opinion, this is the best example of this subject. (I’m biased. Michelangelo is one of my favorite artists of all time.)

Interpretations:

- The overall pyramidal shape represents the Trinity (pyramid = triangle = 3 sides = 3 members of the Holy Trinity)

- Michelangelo depicted Mary as a young woman, instead of the mature mother that was the norm. This represents her purity as the Virgin Mother.

- Both Jesus and Mary are serene. They don’t symbolize the pain of death, but the acceptance of death.

Cool Facts:

- Michelangelo was 23 when he made this.

- It took one year for him to finish.

- This is made out of a single piece of marble.

- This is the only work he signed – and he signed it because no one believed he had made it.

- Mary and Jesus are actually disproportionate to each other (she’s much larger than he is).

Why I Love It:

There are a lot of reasons why I love this sculpture so much. The most obvious one is the beauty – this is just incredible to see in person. You forget that it’s made out of solid stone, and that he had to chisel it away in order to create what you see before you. The fluidity of the rock and exactness of the anatomy are breathtaking.

I also like this because it just goes to show that amazing people know no limitations. Who cares if he was only 23? He was talented, and this was just the beginning of an amazing career for him. It makes me sit back and realize that there’s nothing holding me back but myself. If Michelangelo can carve this thing at 23, can’t I publish a book at 23? I think so!!

So, what about you guys? How do you like the series so far? I have a lot of material to choose from, so I hope you stick around for this one. We’ll be jumping all over the place and I’ll try to put in a little something for everyone.