Eye-Candy and Melted Gelato

This is the story of how I ended up in a playground, crouching over a water fountain, and licking biscotti & tiramisu gelato off of my forearms...

But let me start from the beginning....

Again our morning began with french toast...we are slightly addicted...before we headed off to have class (our last one!) and take part of our final (the other part is a take-home essay due at the end of the trip).

The final was actually very interesting in that we had to look at two slides showing artwork similar to what we have been studying and then try and make an educated guess as to who the artist was, what time-period it was from, and what region. Although I missed the first artist, I was pretty darn accurate on the rest of it all and am very pleased to see how much I have retained from this experience! We've gone through so many years and so much artwork that it's nice to know some of it actually is sticking!!

Anyways, after the final, we had a lecture on High Baroque sculpture - specifically that of Bernini - whose treatment of flesh in sculpture and general skill with marble as well as other stones is equal if not even more impressive than his predecessors. 

Luckily, after class, we were going to be able to see some of his most impressive works at the Galleria Borghese! So, after Sabrina and I had our packed lunch (we even used an apricot carton as our lunch pail...isn't it cute?!), we met up with the rest of the group to grab the bus and go!

...what is now a wonderful art museum used to be the 'country' villa of Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the early-mid 17th century. He was also the main patron of Caravaggio and Bernini!

Unfortunately, we were required to leave all our bags and belongings at the door, so I couldn't take any photos of the works we saw. But here are some Google images that show a few of the key works that were so amazing to see up close and in person!

...the stunning sculpture of Apollo and Daphne by Bernini

...also by Bernini - Pluto and Proserpina...

....detail of Pluto grabbing Proserpina - is that not insane?!!! That's friggin marble!!

...another work of amazing skill in making stone look soft - Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix

...one of the several ancient Roman mosaics featuring gladiators!

...in keeping with yesterday's theme - Boy With Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio!

...Venus Blindfolding Cupid by Titian

And really the list goes on and on....Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, more antiques, more sculptures, more art - it was overwhelming! But the space really was built by the Cardinal as a place to display his collections, so many pieces he commissioned have not been removed from their original locations there in the Galleria. 

Overall, it was really a great high point of the day and for the rest of the time we were allowed to just meander throughout the extensive Borghese Gardens - the now, second-largest public park in Rome!

Then after we were all officially tired, Sabrina and I headed back to our apartment, but not before grabbing a snack on the way....

And can you guess what snack that was? Oh yes, that biscotti and tiramisu gelato! While Sabrina got a cup, I got a cone and we were so thrilled when the guy added whipped cream on top that I whipped out my camera to take a pic! But somehow in the process and due to the heat of the day, my overflowing scoops of deliciousness began an avalanche and somehow ended up in my hands rather than on top of my cone. It was the most sticky, drippy, but amazingly delicious treat I have ever had. I simply wish I didn't have to experience it while stumbling over cobblestones and having gelato running down my arms and all over my face! But I inhaled the melty treat as quickly as possible and eventually found one of those always-flowing water fountains to rinse off......and that is my entertaining story of the day. 

Yet, to truly finish off, once my not-very-helpful-but-hysterically-laughing roomate and I reached the safety of home, we ate our pasta leftovers and, of course, finished up Gladiator (since we fell asleep last night)! However, once Maximus was reunited with his family, we still didn't want to move, so we found another appropriately-themed flick, The Eagle, to watch. And the fact that Channing Tatum was the lead didn't hurt a bit :)

...every girl loves a man in uniform... ;)

So now with our sides aching from laughter, our hearts aching from the overload of Roman eye-candy, and our feet aching as usual, we are going to head off to bed and see you all tomorrow!