Written by Sophie and Daisy, Art History students
As Art, Photography and History of Art students, we were given the amazing opportunity to visit Rome, a city full of historical and artistic influences. Being able to walk amongst the ancient art and architecture allowed us to immerse ourselves in the various periods that this city has experienced, ourselves focusing upon Classical Antiquity and Baroque.
As part of our itinerary, we had the opportunity to visit the wonder of the Colosseum, situated in the heart of Rome. It stands at 164 feet tall, having lasted through 2000 years of history, demonstrating its longevity and architectural excellence. It features various columns such as Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders, each including its own unique ornamentation. Walking through the impressive structure, it transformed us back to Ancient Roman life and leisure, allowing us to imagine and absorb the history embedded within the site.
Next up, we travelled to the Vatican City, a location in which the Baroque style surrounds you and is expressed through Catholic traditions of art and architecture. Our tour through the Vatican Museum enabled us to soak up various types of art such as Classical marble sculptures, colourful frescoes, intricate tapestries and finally, the esteemed Sistine Chapel, in which we could view the stunning panels painted upon the ceiling, including the ‘Creation of Adam’. Being able to view these works in person showed us the vivid colour and accurate detail of the figures within the panels, which is impossible to see when viewing the image on a digital screen or reproduction.
Moving on, we proceeded to take a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, a majestic and monumental building. From the ‘Pietà’ to the ‘Baldacchino’, we saw how the old masters such as Michelangelo and Bernini created their works to express their iconic Italian style. Looking up, the extravagantly decorated domes were overwhelming in scale, with light flooding the interior due to the carefully constructed oculus, allowing the frescoes and mosaics to be illuminated with ‘divine’ light.
Another architectural wonder which we had the privilege to experience is the ‘Pantheon’. As you turn the corner of the busy backstreets of Rome, you are greeted with the staggeringly imposing stone structure. The fact that the 2000-year-old self-supported dome still stands today reinforces the wonders of Rome and the artistry and skill which is on display throughout the city.
Having been a part of this trip, we have been culturally immersed in the creative hub that Rome is so well known for. Seeing these artworks in person allows us to reflect upon how artists throughout history have been influenced by the innovative works that are engrained in the city.
