I am forever changed because of the impact that this class and this experience has had on me. This class is one that pushed me to my limits. You have to memorize quite a few artists, as well as artworks. So many, that it may seem impossible to remember them all. However, everything that happened within this class is one that is needed and meaningful! The content within this class is Italian Art. However, that is a broad term. Italians have changed their ideas and culture quite a few times. The first part of Roman history is pagan, and the last part is Christian. This can make it hard at times to understand what icons are being used and what they mean. This class has prepared me extremely well to understand the content within the artwork. 
               The experience itsself has been one that I will never forget. My time was spent between Rome and Florence. Rome and Florence are both beautiful cities. The amount of beautiful artwork and architecture cannot be matched anywhere else. Saint Peter's Basilica is one structure that every person should see. It is beautiful at night when it is all lit up. It also has a ton of historical elements to it that other churches and such just do not have. This building also houses Michelangelo's first Pieta sculpture.   
                    In Florence there are many many wonderful things to see. The Florence Cathedral that houses the Duomo is such a beautiful structure! The engineering within the duomo is also such a fascinating site to see. Florence also has some really cool graffiti that you can follow along the streets, and see multiple artist’s works. None of Banksy works are here in Florence, but displays many others who are very talented. This was neat to explore because you can see what the people of Florence cared about. Believe it or not, a few times these artists were putting their own spin on art works that are important to art history. This was neat to observe, and walk through the city trying to find. 
                           Even though the graffiti experience I had was wonderful, the experience that spoke to me the most was the Academia Gallery. This gallery is one that houses Michelangelo's David sculpture. it also houses his Slave sculptures. Seeing the Slave sculptures was the exact experience I thought it would be. After writing many papers about these sculptures, and studying them in a few different classes, it was so wonderful to finally see them in person.  These sculptures are ones that many people debate about, whether they were finished, or incomplete. That conclusion is one that you can decide yourself, but regardless of your choice, seeing these sculptures was one that is wonderful!! 
                           This trip has been great!! I have learned a lot, and I now understand a little bit better the ideas behind the Italian history, and Italian Art. The impact that this class has had on my way of thinking and knowledge of art will go on to influence the students that I will teach, as well as the community that I will be involved in as well. 

                  This sculpture was one that I was so looking forward to seeing. However this setting for this sculpture is one that is not ideal. It is part of a tomb for a former pope. This tomb is setting within a small church called San Pietro in Vincoli, meaning Peter in chains. St. Peters chains that he was freed from are located within this church as well. 
                    However this sculpture is part of a tomb, and it is roped off to where you cannot get very close to the tomb. Also the lighting that the church has set up for this tomb is one that is not ideal. It creates a harsh light that just allows the sculpture to get lost within all the other marble. It was not the experience that I was hoping for. The church seemed to not like visitors coming into the church just to see the sculpture. I understand how frustrating it can be having tourist come into a church, and ruin a wonderful experience that someone might be having with their creator. However the tourist that are coming to experience this maculate sculpture want to have a spiritual experience. At least I do. Especially this sculpture is one that is very important to the christian, and jewish faiths. So I want to be able to go into a church and see a sculpture in its natural setting, and let it do what it was intended to do. This sculpture might have been created out of greed from a controversial Pope, however now it is used as a memory to what is taught in the old testament. It is one that is suppose to remind us christians that Moses stood in front of God, and when he came off the mountain he had a heavenly ora. Its suppose to remind us that the Israelites were traveling through the dessert for a very long time, and that these people God's people were resilient, and faithful. They had little bumps along the way, but they mad it to the promised land. This sculpture is suppose to encompass the idea of a manly leader that was not going to put up with any thing that was not God's plan for these people. This sculpture would do that, if it was in a little different setting. All in all I love this sculpture, just not the location, or the tomb that it is attached too. 

          Details can make or break any situation, object, or building. Creating a very detailed schedule while you are on vacation can be troublesome. However, details when packing for a ten day trek through the woods can mean the difference in survival or not. The same goes for artwork; too many details and a piece can be over loaded, not enough detail, and a piece is bland and boring. However, this Sacrifice of Isaac piece that was done by Donatello, and ________ is one that has just enough detail. The detail is not over baring, and it is not too bland without the details. 
              Within this work there are many different Biblical details that you might not understand unless you have read the Bible story. These being that Moses is looking over his shoulder. This is the point in the story in which God provided a lamb, or ram to sacrifice instead of Isaac. This is most likely what Moses is looking at. Isaac is looking away towards the ground. Isaac is probably looking away out of fear, and not understanding what is happening. The next Biblical detail that has been added is the wood next to Isaac. This is important because this altar that Moses built was on top of a mountain. Usually the animal that is being sacrificed would carry the wood up the mountain, but in this case there was no animal. So Isaac carried the wood to the top of the mountain just like the animal that would have been sacrificed would have done. 
                   The details within the art work are spectacular. The first that I noticed was that one of Moses's sleeves is rolled up. It is super subtle, but kind of neat. The next detail I noticed was that the fabric in Moses's clothes is one that is wonderful and flowy. This cloth does not look like hard marble, but looks instead like soft fabric. The next detail is the one of Isaacs torso. While I was looking in the museum I thought it was one that somewhat resembled Donatello's David sculpture. However, referring back to that sculpture, there are a few similarities, but not a ton. This work is one that I enjoyed looking at in depth.

           Church, and State:  

                 You know that feeling that you get as a child on Christmas morning, and you just cannot wait any longer, and you just want to bust into your Christmas presents? This is the feeling I got at the Academia Gallery yesterday. This gallery houses Michelangelo’s David Sculpture, but it also has Michelangelo’s slave sculptures. Michelangelo is such a magnificent artist that his work is still debated about today! These slave sculptures split the art world in half! Some people say they are complete and some people think the are not. Regardless if they are or aren’t, if these sculptures do not move you, than you have not looked at them long enough!
                       There are four slave sculptures, and a sculpture of Pieta and Jesus. The two that I found the most influential were the one of the slaves and the Pietra. The Pieta sculpture is one that Jesus is finished. Therefore, he has been buffed out, and has less, if not any chisel marks on him. However, the two Mary sculptures in the background are both not nearly as refined. It is just such a wonderful way to show the feeling that the two Mary’s might have been feeling, even though they knew that Jesus was there to save them! Also the sentiment for Jesus to be fully refunded, and close to glowing around the two women, is just a wonderful sight to see. Especially as a Christian!
                            After the Academia Gallery, we walked through Brunesllesci's perfect Renaissance Piazza. After that, we went to the Bargello Gallery,  and saw a few more of Michelangelo's sculptures. However Donatello's David sculptures, and Vecchio's David sculptures, where both within this Gallery as well. At the end of the day we got to experience the Santa Croce Basilica, and Museum.  In all it was a wonderful day, except for it being a little rainy!

                 Pompeii is a beautiful city even if it is only ruins. The city is one that would have been thriving back in the day. The marketplace was huge, there was two theaters, and an amphitheater. The amphitheater could hold 20,000 people at the time. Vacationing here back in the day would have had to have been a ton of fun! 
               Events that would happen here if one was vacationing would be: attending a play of sorts, enjoying the marketplace, taking part in public baths, and attending a gruesome execution at the amphitheater. However, if I was vacationing in Pompeii, I would do things a little differently. I would enjoy the marketplace, speaking to the older locals of the town, and learning as much as I could from them. Because why not learn something while you are vacationing! I would also take advantage of the gardens that are there in Pompeii, just enjoying the smell of the rosemary and lemons. I would also go outside of the city. The terrain around Pompeii is so mountainous that it would be a ton of fun to go hiking in the surrounding areas. 
            Pompeii would have so much to offer any person who lived during this time. It is a beautiful city with many wonderful frescos. The architecture of the city is one that is immaculate. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to see the ruins of Pompeii.