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Full of Art is Not that Bad!

March 18, 2012 by orvietoorbust

You’ve probably heard of the Stendhal syndrome, named for the famous French author who detailed his experience of being overcome with emotion by the immense beauty of Florentine art. In 1979 an Italian psychiatrist finally gave the syndrome its official name after reporting nearly 100 tourists at the Galleria degli Uffizi had fainted – some sent to hospital when their heads hit the hard marble floor. Personally I have never actually swooned from viewing a painting, but I do get a bit light-headed at the sight of Michelangelo’s David.

Art: The Good, the Bad and….

Unfortunately there won’t be any swooning happening here. You see, at the base of the rock that I live on, in front of the town’s train station sits a sculpture in a fountain. This “work of art” makes a very strong first impression to visitors arriving by rail on their way up to town. It is my understanding (I did some asking around) that the artist is internationally renowned and important enough that the City commissioned not one, but two of his works for installation. I don’t get it. I can’t even describe the fountain to you without using terms that would make a 9 year old boy collapse in a heap of laughter at my “potty” humor. Fortunately no one really cares what I think about the fountain, and why should they? Who the hell am I to judge the merits of a piece of art? What I know about art couldn’t fill an espresso cup. Art, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Enough said.

by Toni DeBella

Posted in Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italy, Living abroad, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Travel, Umbria | Tagged art, Florence, Fountain in Orvieto, Galleria degli Uffizi, Italian Art, Michelangelo's David, Stendhal syndrome, travel, Uffizi Gallery | 18 Comments

18 Responses

on March 18, 2012 at 4:56 pm | Reply gail fleming

does it have a name?
- on March 18, 2012 at 11:24 pm | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Gail, Yes, I am sure it has a name, but I don’t know what is it. Good question…I will try and find out. Hey, I’ve an idea! Let’s have a “Name that Fountain” contest! LOL. toni
on March 18, 2012 at 5:01 pm | Reply Rachael Herman

I think I’d have to agree with the nine-year-olds on this one…
- on March 18, 2012 at 11:28 pm | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Rachael, …perhaps the fountain was a class project? 🙂 Toni
on March 18, 2012 at 5:02 pm | Reply janinevasta

Well Toni…On my one trip to Orvieto to date I didn’t arrive by train but I’m thinking that might have been a good thing…. Suffice to say I see what you see. Or rather wish you didn’t have to see!! I’ve certainly suffered art overload in my time too. It’s easier to pace yourself when you’re in a city for a while. But I guess there are worse ways to go….

Oh and that you know the art you don’t like makes you as worthy a critic as anyone Toni. Anzi!!! 😉 Jxx
- on March 18, 2012 at 11:31 pm | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Janine. Yes, I DO know what I don’t like, I am pretty clear about that! When you come to visit me from Perugia, I will meet you at the station and we’ll sit in the sunshine, next to this fountain and have a picnic lunch…okay maybe not lunch…Hugs. toni
  - on March 18, 2012 at 11:51 pm janinevasta
    
    Haha. Yes maybe not lunch by the fountain. That might actually be humanly impossible….But the rest sounds fantastic and I cannot wait!
on March 18, 2012 at 5:44 pm | Reply Penny

LOl Toni I see what you see! Also thanks for mentioning the Stendhal syndrome. I first heard about that a few weeks ago when I was in LA at the Getty museum.
- on March 18, 2012 at 11:32 pm | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Penny, I imagine that they have “droppers” at the Getty Museum all the time. xxo Toni
on March 18, 2012 at 8:07 pm | Reply Gian Banchero

As a graduate of two art schools (and culinary schools) and having studied Fine Arts in Italy and Sicily I think I just might know why so much modern art isn’t aesthetically inspiring, that being is most modern artists have not had a classical education when it comes to writing, poetry, history, music, etc. (even art!!) as did the artists of yore, hence much of what should excite our imaginations and souls never makes the grade; most modern art and architecture is just plain leaden and dour, dour, dour. The new term for modern architecture is Brutalism, one just has to see the effects of such buildings in Europe and the States that have been built in centers of beautiful charming old towns, it’s truly brutal and far from the immature belief that it’s progressive and has something to impart to our soul and intellect. Looking at the works of the Renaissance artist one’s mind is excited at many levels plus one’s able to discern that the artist knew music, literature, poetry, etc., all this collective knowledge enters into the viewer’s psyche and allows a wonderful non-leaden experience that allows the viewer to soar (hence the fainting?). In the future our period in history shall be called for sure The Lugubrious Age, just one look at the pictured fountain proves that point. Thank you for the photos and article!
- on March 18, 2012 at 9:21 pm | Reply Eleanor Walden
  
  Gian, your comments are very stimulating. I like the words dour, brutal, and especially, lugubrious; refreshing art criticism in themselves. If that superficial little fountain elicits such verbosity I wonder what an Andy Warhol would provoke.
- on March 18, 2012 at 11:40 pm | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Gian, What can I say but, brilliant! Toni
on March 18, 2012 at 11:48 pm | Reply Debra Kolkka

It does look a bit like poo doesn’t it????? Maybe it will fall off the side of the fountain.
on March 19, 2012 at 8:28 am | Reply Martha Hubbard (@MeSaare)

I think it looks like a dead cow, but maybe my glasses are dirty.
- on March 19, 2012 at 9:07 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Martha, A dead cow would be an improvement over what I see….:) toni
- on March 19, 2012 at 12:33 pm | Reply Gian Banchero
  
  Dear Martha Hubbard; You said it all in just a few short words. Thanks for the good hearty laugh!!!
on March 26, 2012 at 8:25 am | Reply bzzaragoza

Very funny and wonderful post! Especially for me, the wife of a psychiatrist. Very very fortunately, there still is no medication for Stendhal syndrome. (People will just have to suffer through that one — and how great is that!) Thanks for this. 🙂
- on March 27, 2012 at 7:24 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Barbara…yes, a terrible cross humanity has to bear. Today I just went to see Davide again and got all misty and mushy. Let’s hope your husband never finds a cure! In the presence of genius how can one keep their cool? Thanks for writing and visiting my blog. Keep in touch. Toni

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