On July 19, our fourth day in Rome, we had an eclectic and full day of experiential learning. We began in the Borghese Gallery. Each student was randomly assigned one significant artwork, and was asked to find it and spend at least five minutes with it. This is a technique of close looking that can aid in deepening both analysis and experience of an artifact.
Along with locating and considering their single assigned work, students had time in the gallery to connect with pieces they admired. Many of us--staff and students alike--were affected intellectually and aesthetically by Bernini's sculpture of Apollo and Daphne. We had learned about the story of Daphne in Athens, and seeing Bernini's all too realistic version of this fantastical story was amazing.
After taking a long lunch break to explore the grounds of the Villa Borghese, we went to a very different site of art. The
Capuchin Crypt, also known as the Bone Church, was awe-inspiring. The crypt is a multi-room monument to mortality. In the 18th century, parts from over 3,000 skeletons were used to make an extraordinary art installation. It's a remarkable place, and it's also a place where photography is prohibited. The rule against photography meant that students looked at the crypt only with their own eyes, and fully experienced the aesthetic and spiritual elements of the crypt. It was a very special day for many of us.
We ended the day with a walk through the Roman Forum. In Athens, we had looked at the use of public space in the Agora and other spaces; we continued that thematic thread in our analysis of the Roman Forum, learning about political rhetoric, market practice, and sacred space.
Standing on the very ground where the ancient Romans stood was truly powerful.
Photos by Hannah Welch
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