It still haunts me now, the trip to colour a year’s worth of work, that led only to countless ruined sites, museums, churches, and then the dorms, bars and pavements stamped SPQR. Whilst some translated Latin, took modern sense from ancient lives, my efforts were barred by the immovable (and immutable?) form of the Swiss Guard.
Braccio Nuovo, Vatican Museum
A (half)faltering exchange in italian. The Braccio Nuovo closed today; the Pope has a …party? (God hates me. It’s ok, God doesn’t exist.) A raised arm in alcove glimpsed through plumes, silk, glass and exasperation. What can I tell about imperial intent, craftmanship and contrapposto, cuirass symbology and hairstyle (never to be underestimated) from here?
Augustus of Prima Porta, nearly.
So I made do with a replica. Does authenticity matter that much? Should I go back and see or look to see something else?
sarahpips 