The New Sacristy
Both parts of the Medici Chapels, the Chapel of the Princes and the New Sacristy, opened their doors to the public last week after a lengthy delay. The people of Florence will now have two more beautiful chapels in their cultural city to remind them how proud they can be of their hometown.
The new sacristy was created by Michelangelo, who wanted this funerary chapel to express solemn magnificence. Because as many of our readers have probably heard, what Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici commissioned Michelangelo to create in 1520 was not a sacristy for the priests garments and fittings to be kept, instead a chapel that shows that “amidst the eternity of time, human life is but a brief flicker.”(Fusi, Fusi). Hiring a sculptor with such craft, who successfully produced figures of the Medicis, the Virgin and Child, Saint Cosmas and Damian to name a few. Picking two saints that stayed true to their faith and had to endure a hanging and being beheaded enhances this mourning chapels atmosphere by reminding visitors of the suffering these saints endured. The chapel features figures made to represent Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk. This goes with the common theme of the eternity of time. The dome’s somewhat unusual trapezoid-shape ceiling and windows create an optical illusion of soaring upwards. Perhaps this is the type of architecture we will see more of in the future. Lorenzo and Giuliano will most probably be buried beneath this chapel, seeing as the intended tomb has not been built.
7
The Chapel of the Princes, located behind the San Lorenzo church was designed by Matteo Nigetti, who was commissioned in 1604 by none other than the Medici duke Ferdinando. (This was only one year before bishop Alfonso Paleotti commissioned the reconstruction of the Cattedrale Di S. Pietro in Bologna to architect Ambrogio Mazenta)The “elaborate Baroque interior is a fitting way to denote throughout the centuries the glory and grandeur that was the Medici.” (Fusi). Some of the earliest examples of “Florentine mosaic” can be found covering the walls. And the materials used are some of the finest that the Medicis could get their hands on! Jasper* from Bohemia, Sicily, and Egypt. Not to mention all kinds of agates, opales, and topaz. The base of this phenomenal sanctuary shows the 16 Tuscan cities under Medici rules coats of arms. Unsurprisingly, a grand statue of Cosimo greets visitors to this holy site. We have been hearing rumors that perfecting this statue was what delayed the chapels opening.
Chapel of the Princes
Sailing Boat Auction down at the Dockyard!
Stop by the great harbor of Lisbon to take a look at these beauties! A wide variety of ships for sale, all with a 3 year guarantee. Courtesy of the Pinzon Brothers