On Saturday, after our class trip to the Protestant Cemetary, Sarah Breitenfeld led Demaris, Emily, Mark, Sarah, Ally and I to an excursion at the Villa Giulia. To get there from the cemetary, we took two Metro trains, arriving in the area of Villa Borghese. Upon arrival, we decided to stop for lunch. We went to Mondo Arancina, the same chain that is right across the street from our St.John’s University campus. This was my first time eating there, but I hear that this restaurant is much bigger than the one in our neighborhood. We sat outside, which was great because it was a beautiful day. The tables were all for two people, so we split up. I had lunch with Mark which was really nice. Although we have dinner together almost every night in a big group, I have never spent time with him one on one, so it was fun to do so. After lunch, we took our first tram ride a couple blocks down to the Villa Giulia. The tram was great, a nice relief from both walking, the bus and the Metro.
Upon arriving to the museum, I automatically knew that I was going to like spending the afternoon here not only for the purposes of looking at the displayed works, but for architectural means as well. The complex was gorgeous. It contained several gardens within the building’s structure, layers of decks, perfectly manicured grass, a bright paint color, detailed columns and trim work and a painted covered pathway. As I wandered, I was trying to imagine what it must have been like to have lived in such a space.
Inside the museum were lots of ruins ranging from busts, detailing from buildings, bowls, vases and various tools. What stuck out to me was the contrast in all the pottery work on display. The pieces were, for the most part, two toned, containing both the natural clay color and a black glaze. This black glaze added a deep contrast to all of the works it was added to, really catching my attention.
Not only were there functional pieces such as these ceramics and tools, there were also sculptures in the exhibit. It was especially great to finally get to see the Sarcophagus of the Spouses after having studied it in various art history classes. The sculpture was even better when examined in person. This is because I was able to get up close and appreciates its details, including the carved pupils in both the figures’ eyes (which is rare as the eyes are usually just painted in). I was also able to appreciate it for its scale which, although is always written next to a photograph, can not truly be appreciated until seen first hand.
What I enjoyed the most about the museum was that the pieces on display had a story to tell as did the space on its own. This added layers of complexities to the way in which I carried myself throughout the space, setting me in a more historical mindset. I really had a nice, relaxing experience in the space and appreciate it not only for its history, but also for its serenity.
(30.5.2015, Villa Giulia)