I will never forget the day when after a turbulent taxi ride through Rome, I stumbled through St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. I was overcome by a sense of otherworldliness and grandeur. I wandered from statue to statue, unable to take in all the details, simply taking in the sprawling architecture and resplendent gold finishings. I still cherish the memory as it transformed how I think not only of aesthetic beauty but also about my spirituality.
St. Peter’s was different from other churches we had seen earlier on the trip because of its renaissance style. Older medieval churches were beautiful, but almost in a way that seemed abstracted from reality, like a cartoon. However, St. Peter’s felt so rich and detailed, from the lifelike anatomy of the sculptures to the soaring marble architecture.
The renaissance is the relationship between skill and beauty. Technological and scientific progress was necessary to provide better forms of artistic expression, which then beautify the initial achievement. The renaissance shows us that all disciplines are in conversation, from history and theology to mathematics and metallurgy.
The exactness and detail of the churches, sculptures, and paintings that I saw on my trip to Italy challenge me. They resonate with me as a scholar, encouraging me to explore and showcase the beauty and detail of the natural world. Renaissance art also asks me to foster artistic excellence as I encounter it in the world around me.
Ciaowdy!
Mack