accademia

the accademia gallery in Florence was a highlight of our trip thus far, from the high Renaissance musical instruments to the David it kept my mouth open with ohhs and ahhs all afternoon. what caught my attention more than that of any other piece in the gallery including the infamous David were Michelangelo's slaves. Also titled the prisoners these four statues are unfinished works by Michelangelo that were originally created to Adorne the grave of pope Julius the 2Nd in Rome yet ended up in the grotto of the boboli gardens at the end of the 15Th century. the sculptures which are unfinished and at various stages in completion are simply awe inspiring. to see such works of art from an age where ever thing was completed so perfectly and for them to be in the state they are and preserved is amazing. i spent more time viewing them than viewing the centerpiece of the museum, the David.

to see the figures locked in stone and yet nearly released from the "prison" in which they are in cased makes me feel inspired. this is because they grasp tightly onto the unknown appeal of art and sculpture which was ultimately extremely rare and probably somewhat unheard of during Michelangelo's time. its like a contemporary work of art 500 years before the creation of contemporary art and most likely an accident. they portray a seance of dire frustration as they are in cased in the very matter of which they are. a somewhat interesting combination of feelings. although the works were never finished i feel that they are finished to a perfection years ahead of their time, that because i am clueless as to why they were never finished it leads me to hope to believe that this is how Michelangelo wanted this project to be exhibited.