Taking full advantage of the open door policy for residents, today I happily visited the cathedral’s Museo. I’m a greedy little art historian: tomorrow I will pay the museum another visit. Because I can! Oh, the luxury of living in Florence! I feel so blessed.

I was beguiled by the carvings for the cathedral, created in the 1330s, by Andrea Pisano and his workshop.  Please join me in enjoying their naive loveliness:

God creating Adam:

 

Can Eve be far behind? No!

 

You know what follows. Eventually Adam is going to have to go to work.

 

 

 

Jubal: the beginning of sheep herding.  Complete with his tent and little dog.

 

Jubal: the beginning of the art of music:

 

Tubalcain, the beginning of the art of metal work:

 

The Drunkenness of Noah: the beginning of wine making:

 

The art of building:

 

The art of medicine:

 

The art of weaving:

 

The beginning of law making:

 

 

 

Perhaps, since I spend some time teaching English online to children in China, I really liked “grammatica”

 

Here’s “architecture”

 

 

 

And here is Phidias, who was the first famous sculptor:

 

The sacrament of baptism:

 

Appelles, the art of painting:

 

And an image that soothed my soul: “Reconciliation”

 

But, today, of all the stunning things I saw, I like this one best of all.  The Madonna and Child by Andrea Pisano’s workshop:

 

I love, love, love the way the madonna seems to genuinely enjoy the humor of the Christ child, as she tickles him??!!

 

 

 

When in Florence, you must go see these charmers!