Bronzino

Hey all,

Went to the Bronzino exhibition yesterday, which was well worth it – lots of portraits of the Medicis, beautiful if all very solemn, even the children. Except for this fat and happy little chap who looks very pleased with himself and proud of his pet bird. Also one of the really famous versions of Dante, and a rendition of Saint Sebastion as an extremely pretty young man who looked like he was enjoying the fact that an arrow was thrust into his body. The little museum plate underneath it noted a touch dryly that the painting appeared to depict an “erotic fixation” more than an interceding saint...

Had coffee this morning with the minister at the Wesleyan church here – I went to their English service on Tuesday night – and am meeting her and her husband for morning tea tomorrow which should be good. She told me about this monastic vespers that happens in a church here at 6PM every night. There is a monastery here, in the middle of the historical centre of Florence, that I hadn't heard of and frankly am not sure how many people have – anyway, she showed me the fairly unimpressive entrance to the church and I went back at 6PM to take part.

Was amazing – you can't see the church: I walked around the whole block looking for it. It would be like a small door opening off Burke street mall, then a corridor, through a small courtyard, and suddenly you are inside an enormous church right in the middle of the block itself, which is hidden by all the office blocks and shops built around the edge. Amazing inside, an intricately carved wooden roof, arches, frescos, that awe-inspiring use of space. And then about 20 monks, of both genders, singing in response to plain chant prompts. Was just beautiful – very moving although I had no idea what they were saying and felt like a bit of an intruder because in addition to the monks there were about twice that many people in the pews with me who appeared to all be Italian and know what they were about.

In other news – off to Scotland on Monday – I have always had a burning desire to go there – that is, it was the cheapest flight I could get to the UK – and hopefully I will be able to rustle up some kind of job for a few weeks – don't actually need to make that much money, just don't want to go backwards for a month or so.

Photos. 1. One half of a line of parked scooters. 2. A cool street – stood there for a while thinking how fantastic it would be to live up there above that arch.
Cheers, B.