Out and About

Sightseeing this morning began early with a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal to the Accademia, a museum of Venetian Renaissance art.  We'll begin with the vaporetto ride down most of the length of the Grand Canal.  The sky was still overcast then, though it cleared up quickly: 

 

 Some Byzantine influence here

 

 

Though this one is looking into the sun, the effect is lovely.

The museum openss with a single, large room of altarpieces. This is a genre I have always enjoyed, and I think my jaw dropped in awe several times. Here are a few from that gallery:

I particularly admired the fellow on the right, here's a close-up:

Then the Virgin with a lively baby:

and a breath-taking Mary Magdalene:

a sweet-faced Virgin

and a lively angel delivering the Annunciation

My favorite Annunciation had a large and lively angel descending to deliver the message to Mary cowering in a corner, a sensible reaction to the event, I think, but it didn't photograph well. 

One more saint here.

Away from the altarpieces, the paintings became huge in scale and in size, incredibly complex--

and glorious. Another, too large to capture cleanly on my camera, showed a similarly complex scene with the Last Supper tucked into the hustle and bustle of Venice, relating the event and all its meanings to their own time and place.

It was an art-full morning as I visited St Mark's Basilica. I hadn't remembered it so dark inside, though the mosaics were striking. No photos allowed there, but on the balcony overlooking the expansive piazza, the world stretches on:

 

Isn't it splendid!

Then to Florian's one more time! I arrived first and so, started first with a fine, large sundae topped with fresh fruit:

The orchestra is clearly visible this time. Bob and Denise arrived and we all enjoyed pots of tea! What a delightful setting!

I trust you had a pleasant day as well.