Rome via Brooklyn

360 Words, 2 Minutes

I was really struck by The Farnese Bull. Not only because it is so large (apparently one of the largest intact sculptures from Antiquity we’ve recovered) but because of the dynamic posing of the figures, their perfectly proportioned frames interlocking in a scene of violence and struggle. Professor Yarrow mentioned something during our viewing that stuck with me: “The dynamism of the Classical period is contrasted by the interest in the extremes of the body, and twists/contortions, or the Hellenistic period.”

I feel like the contents of that assertion are on ample display in this sculpture. One can best observe the spirit of this period in the angles of the figures’ hips. Never level, they jut out and clash with the shoulders, emphasizing these dramatic twists and contortions. Similar qualities are particularly palpable in the bull; its tensed front legs kicking up in the air, its neck twisting, the skin visibly folding in on itself. It’s quite harrowing.

The facial expressions of the figures also have a tremendous impact on the viewer. Their brows furrowing, their mouths hanging slightly ajar; you can practically feel the sweat beading down their faces. Their bulging veins add to this impression of arduous activity. The sculpture appears to us almost as a moment frozen in stone. 

Outside of the museum, I spent my time in Napoli wandering around with Julia. We visited the Duomo, which was quite beautiful. We attempted to see The Veiled Christ, but when we arrived the tickets were sold out. This was fairly disappointing. Additionally, we visited a few other churches and then went to a bar for an Aperol spritz and a Peroni. This was quite the experience. After we ordered, the owner asked us where we were from. When we said New York, he replied: “No, New Jersey.” We were fairly puzzled but thought it was the end of the interaction, only for him to pull out his phone and ask the same question, recording us. He posted it on the bar’s fairly popular TikTok, which has 350k followers. I won’t be including the link because it’s embarrassing, but I’ll keep the video saved for possible future reference.