If one has a spot of big cash then here are a few ideas for home improvements.
Perhaps replace that staircase with a square one (Bernini)?
Or an oval one (Borromini)?j
Require a make-over for your private chapel? There’s a nice idea for one here.
Does that empty ceiling in your ballroom oppress you? Then why not call on someone to paint it up. (Pietro da Cortona)?
Bored? Why not wile away time with an elephant automaton!
Wife a feminist? Then the ideal anniversary present could be a painting of Judith hacking off Holophernes’ head. (Caravaggio).
Lots of possibilities are there! Especially if you are a busy bee and your surname is Barberini… (and you were born into that family’s city palace in sixteenth century Rome).
Here are a few extra snippets from the Barberini’s private gallery (recognize the Raphael, the Murillo and the stunning portrait or Beatrice Cenci – yes she of Shelley’s drama – by Guido Reni?).
PS. Why does this post have the title I have given it?
People from Rome would vent their grievances through Pasquino, the most famous talking statue in Rome, denouncing injustices and bullying both of the Roman curia and the patrician families. Among the various “pasquinades” of the seventeenth century there was a satirical phrase, addressed to Pope Urban VIII Barberini and to the members of his family for the building havoc they caused.
By virtue of their power the Barberini damaged the city more than what could have been caused by a barbarian invasion. In one of the most sadly famous episodes Pope Urban VIII in 1625 had the bronze beams of the Pantheon pronaos removed and melted, to build the baldachin of Saint Peter’s main altar and also the cannons for Castel Sant’Angelo.
Here are some pictures I took of perhaps Ancient Rome’s most iconic building during my recent visit there:
The origin of the saying was also ascribed to the construction of Palazzo Barberini with materials taken from the Colosseum.
“Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini”.
(“What the Barbarians did not do, the Barberini did”).
I adore the busy bee bas relief looks very regal seems it is wearing s beaded cloak. The barbaric act of Judith is horrendous but I prefer the Borromini oval staircase any day. The frescoed ceiling would hardly suit our lives now reduced to mediocrity seems that most people are wary, stuck and concerned or they are irresponsibly throwing themselves into dangerous activities. The happiest solution maybe is to enjoy the delights and quirkiness of that elephant automaton the mystery remains though what does it do to amuse us I wonder! I remember with great fondness the excitment of visiting a museum in Switzerland crammed full of automaton of all genres musical, games, interactive items a plethora of delightful objects to tease please and amuse to help while away time this. Even in Wales we came across a similar museum and shop of wooden automata most delightful you can buy small size kit versions to contruct and I feel this is what is needed. But maybe we should search within ourselves to find that connection with the Supreme Being Creator of all things and enjoy Nature that abounds with such energy and is truly challenging. Here too now exist automaton to cut the grass for example an aide for the busy gardener but that defeats the purpose of good healthy exercise! Enjoy Nature and connect with your true inner Nature! We crave for Peace, Joy, Love and Beauty in our lives.