Escape to myself

Last night I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Laura’s with some of her friends. I had met Gregorio and Roberta before. They are charming. They had a very rapid conversation about the Meloni situation which was amusing.

Cloister at Santo Spirito … a rather austere church

Santo Spirito contains a crucifix by the young Michelangelo…

Brancacci Chapel … a tour of the restoration of the frescos

This visit was a revelation and a privilege. I have tried to visit 3 times but it is often closed; this time I was successful. The chapel is being researched and is often closed but I managed to book a guided visit which took us up the scaffolding to get a close up view of the frescos … only one or two metres away. You could see the brush strokes and shadows and the smallest details. The frescos by Masaccio and Masolino were painted in the 1420s and mark a real break with the past building on the work of Giotto and his followers. Masaccio in particular painted with such emotion and you might say love. His use of movement, perspective and foreshortening injected a new naturalism and realism into art at this time. His depiction of the baptism of Christ is a revelation. A rare treat to visit this place. I have waited many years to see this. I’m glad I eventually got to see it.