thanks Patterson. You are right about the crowds hiding it all...it is such a shame that our wonderful placed are being loved to death. Parque Guell in Barcelona was so lovely in the 1980s and when I went back I was appalled by the crowds.
Of aaall the city squares I’ve been to studying architecture and urban planning in Italy… this is the one space where I really slowed down, had some gelato, and just took it in… scaffolding on the basilica and all…
I didn’t draw, at all - no sketches, no notes… I was oddly at peace in the ‘hustle and bustle’, once I got a seat.
Drawing also puts me at peace. I guess I’m taking notes now. :D
its all about manipulating space and adjacent buildings, paving and more. They know how to do that in Japan - in the approach and large space in front of temples.
As I was initially reading your lovely post here, the principle of perspective disorientation (darn it - am I using jargon - per your latest post???) made me instantly recall St Peter’s Square at the Vatican… which is super-intimidating - if you are there, without the GIANT crowd. It made me feel tiny and insignificant: entry into a grand space that does not conform to what your mind tells you to interpret.
PS I have not had the chance to catch up with Frank about his trip to Japan. I need to specifically ask him to do that. Thank you Jan.
Can’t wait to read about that Jan! I was based in Castiglion Fiorentino, outside of Florence, when I studied there. Also life-awesome-to-visit and close(ish), if you’ve had the opportunity: some of the most lovely preserved Roman architecture is in the Lubéron, in the South of France, and the lavender (which we sadly, barely missed) at-awe-inspiring in season.
Really interesting post, Jan. The paving is invisible most of the time, thanks to tourist crowds. I wonder if the elaborate mosaic flooring inside the basilica bears any relationship to the paving outside. I doubt it but the geometric shapes inside are so rich and varied that the question seems worth asking.
thanks Patterson. You are right about the crowds hiding it all...it is such a shame that our wonderful placed are being loved to death. Parque Guell in Barcelona was so lovely in the 1980s and when I went back I was appalled by the crowds.
Of aaall the city squares I’ve been to studying architecture and urban planning in Italy… this is the one space where I really slowed down, had some gelato, and just took it in… scaffolding on the basilica and all…
I didn’t draw, at all - no sketches, no notes… I was oddly at peace in the ‘hustle and bustle’, once I got a seat.
Drawing also puts me at peace. I guess I’m taking notes now. :D
its all about manipulating space and adjacent buildings, paving and more. They know how to do that in Japan - in the approach and large space in front of temples.
As I was initially reading your lovely post here, the principle of perspective disorientation (darn it - am I using jargon - per your latest post???) made me instantly recall St Peter’s Square at the Vatican… which is super-intimidating - if you are there, without the GIANT crowd. It made me feel tiny and insignificant: entry into a grand space that does not conform to what your mind tells you to interpret.
PS I have not had the chance to catch up with Frank about his trip to Japan. I need to specifically ask him to do that. Thank you Jan.
I am finally going to Italy in late May - first full day is a trip to the Vatican!
Can’t wait to read about that Jan! I was based in Castiglion Fiorentino, outside of Florence, when I studied there. Also life-awesome-to-visit and close(ish), if you’ve had the opportunity: some of the most lovely preserved Roman architecture is in the Lubéron, in the South of France, and the lavender (which we sadly, barely missed) at-awe-inspiring in season.
So interesting. The Venetian painters Canneletto and Guardi visually expressed their city from a forced perspective, perhaps borrowed from Japanese painting. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/30/style/IHT-a-rare-look-at-venetian-view-painters.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
do you think they knew of Japanese perspective back then? wow.
Really interesting post, Jan. The paving is invisible most of the time, thanks to tourist crowds. I wonder if the elaborate mosaic flooring inside the basilica bears any relationship to the paving outside. I doubt it but the geometric shapes inside are so rich and varied that the question seems worth asking.