The Tandem Spirits Meet the Marbles in Rome
A bronze Germanicus greets us in the 1st Room of the exhibit
The Tandem Spirits finally returned to Rome after a nine-month COVID lock-down! Last August, when we visited the Palazzo Colonna, Rome was virtually empty. This time it was still quiet, but there were definitely more people out and about. Even so, the throngs of tourists, traffic chaos and noise haven’t yet returned to the eternal city, so it was a very pleasant day!
Rome is still very quiet after a year of COVID!
The Torlonia Marbles at the Capitoline Museum
The Torlonia collection of marble statues is considered one of the most important private collections of classical Greek and Roman art in the world. They have been hidden from the public for over 70 years, but they have finally returned and they are spectacular! The collection consists of 620 sculptures and this exhibition has a selection of 92 of the works.
For those of you who are really curious about how the statues finally returned to the light-of-day, here’s a wonderful article from the BBC. The author actually saw the sculptures which were hidden in his flat some 40 years ago:
Torlonia marbles: ‘The priceless statues I saw covered in dust and dirt’
Barberini-Albani Nile with granite basin
Bassorilievo con veduta del Portus Augusti
Sample Gallery of the Marbles
Ancient Tandem Spirits - Roman Marriage
Virginia and I were particularly drawn to one of the statues: the married couple. When you’ve been married as long as we have been (almost 38 years!), you understand what “being joined together” really means!
The Roman marriage ceremony was called dextratrum iunctio, literally “joining of hands.” The handshake signifies the “concordia,” the mutual bond of affection, of the married couple. The pronuba joined the couple’s right hands.
About Historical Restoration
One of the most interesting pieces in the exhibit was presented right at the end. It is a statue of Hercules which demonstrates what an ancient statue must go through in terms of reconstruction and restoration. This statue is composed of 112 fragments. He is actually the combination of fragments of two different sculptures. To do this, the museum must consult extensive graphic and photographic documentation to come up with the statue.
The Tandem Spirits LOVE Rome!
We are incedibly fortunate to live in Foligno which is only 1.5 hours from Rome by train. Our usual plan is to take the train and get to Rome by 10:00. We then walk to a museum or exhibit. Afterwards, we have lunch. Sometimes we take in a second exhibit. If not, Rome offers endless opportunities to do some shopping or simply enjoy all the amazing sights of the eternal city! Then, we take the train back to Foligno and get home around 7:00pm.
