On Our Best Behavior...

Oh the case of the Mondays. Apparently it is international, because being on the other side of the world has done nothing to stop the beast. Even the fact that it was Tuesday morning did not stop the Monday fatigue, because yesterday didn’t really count with its relaxed schedule – not in true Monday form. But needless to say, I peeled myself out of bed to make it to the Rome Center on time, my body still confused as to which day it was.

After deciding that it was in fact Tuesday, it became evident upon approach that this was to be no ordinary Tuesday. Distracting Shawn and Lisa as I slipped amongst the crowd were the first new Seattlites we had seen pretty much since arriving: the University of Washington provost Phyllis Wise, and Richard Meisinger, Assistant Dean for UW Medicine. Our pre-med students paid closer attention today than I had seen all trip. Strange.

After introductions and a sincere Happy Birthday tune to Mindy, we formed the signature Honors train, snaking slowly but surely by our favorite places en route to Palazzo Barberini. Like a seasoned tour guide, Lisa blazed us by the Pantheon, where a movie was being filmed, and then teased us with the Trevi Fountain as we continued without stopping. Many of us had not seen the amazing artistic feat yet, so we frantically took a few on-the-spot – and in some cases moving – pictures, knowing fully well that we would be able to come back in a couple hours.

A few blocks later we crossed the street into the 17^th century countryside and under the presence of Palazzo Barberini, a place probably recognized more for its use in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Roman Holiday, of which I have seen neither. In its own front piazza, we assembled to hear from Anyie and Erina an introduction to the family we had only read about. The two gave us a view into the propaganda value of art at the time, a hint as to what we would see inside. The outside of the Palazzo was something new to the studies within our class – the family’s French ties were obvious in the building’s floorplan and décor. But the main attraction was inside.

After the always mysterious group free entry, we spent our class day in the few rooms of the palace museum, focusing on three ceiling frescoes. The audience hall, our first stop, showed the intense iconography used in the Barberini art, along with additional adornments, from family symbols to simply heads of Pope Urban VIII. The second was the room Lisa wrote her paper on in school; it was quite amazing to hear all the connections and conclusions within the painting of Apollo and the four seasons (and senses), among countless other things, that could be made by one person. The evident awareness that the painters had with how their works would be viewed and by whom was similarly undeniably brilliant.

As if our necks weren’t sore already, Erina brought us to our final destination, Divine Providence, a huge ceiling fresco with a very busy scene. The family dualism into ecclesiastical and secular power ambitions were themes throughout the piece, and in addition to the endless iconography and symbolism, the illusion was amazing. The architecture in art created a whole additional floor above, though we were told of the near flatness of the ceiling. It had been called a “riot of color” and “second only to the Sistine Chapel,” and to that, I say: I agree, and we’ll see.

The group went their separate ways after finishing the tour on their own, with plans to meet up later for a group birthday dinner. When we met, Matthew took the reigns of the train this time, taking us to a quaint and inexpensive restaurant, reservations and everything. The food was great, and despite Junko’s wrestling with the candle, I think Mindy managed to blow it out at one point. The group treated themselves to gelato afterward, and there was some rumor about karaoke in the Campo, but I have yet to hear stories. For me at least, sleep sounded like a much better choice.