Tuesday, December 14, 2010

galleria nazionale d'arte moderna







This photo was taken exactly 1 year ago.
The National modern art museum is a beautiful 19th century building nestled in the Valle Giulia, between the river Tiber and Villa Borghese. It contains works by Burri, Colla, Capogrossi, Fontana, Balla, De Chirico, Guttuso, Schifano; but also Picasso, Mondrian, Pollock, Calder, Moore.

On the north-facing wall is engraved my favorite Michelangelo quote,  

"Questo sol m'arde, e questo m'innamora."


Michelangelo employs the word "sol" in a way that could be interpreted as 'sun' = sole; and 'only' = solo. 
It is a complex phrase. And so romantic, in both it's meanings:


"This shining sun makes me go up in flames, and it makes me fall in love."
OR
"This alone consumes me, and seduces me."


What is Michelangelo referring to?
Art? Beauty? A person's smile? Or is he really only talking about the sun?

9 comments:

  1. "This alone consumes me, and seduces me." - wonderful words...and sometimes dangerous! :)

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  2. Hello Eleonora, I like this museum. In 1962 I was inside - and I remember one "painting". There was nothing but the wall - that lead to long discussions.
    I think Michelangelo was thinking of the sun in your smile.
    Have a nice time.

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  3. Thank you for sharing this quote! Amazing, and baffling. I'll have to spend some time thinking about it now.

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  4. T. Becque~
    Michelangelo got inot a lot of trouble all the time, for his art, his poetry, his political views and even his sexual orientation. And his legacy has changed the world!

    ~~~

    Jørgen~
    Aw, thank you!
    I have mixed feelings about modern/contemporary art. Mainly because sometimes... I just don't get it.

    ~~~

    Mary Ann~
    I think you've nailed Michelangelo's desire, then! Stirring thoughts.

    Ciao

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  5. Non penso che si riferriva semplicemente al sole, ma qualcosa piu profonda, come "This alone consumes me, and seduces me."

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  6. What a lovely quote - makes me think of a lot of things he could be thinking about.

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  7. J'y ai vu il y a deux ans une superbe exposition sur les Etrusque, où les photos étaient malheureusement... interdites.

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  8. I think he is talking about the light

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Thank you for visiting Roma Every Day. Your feedback is always hugely appreciated, though it is no longer possible for me to reply individually to your comments in the post thread.

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Grazie!
~Eleonora

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