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The Art of Seduction in Tuscany
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February 19, 2018

The Art of Seduction in Tuscany

Everything about Tuscany is seductive: the climate, the food, the wine, the scenery. There is even something alluring about the Italian language. The paintings and sculptures in Tuscany’s museums, churches, and piazzas are overwhelming in their beauty and, to be frank, often more than just a little sexy. The human form is celebrated here in all its glory. So if you too appreciate an athletic body or an enigmatic gaze, check out some of these aesthetically stunning creations.

Medici Chapels: The Tombs of Lorenzo di Piero, Duke of Urbino and Giuliano de’ Medici

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Lorenzo di Piero and Giulano de’ Medici were only minor members of the Medici family, but their tombs are magnificent. They were designed and sculpted by Michelangelo who left a bit of a mess when he abandoned Florence for Rome in 1534. He hadn’t even installed some of the statues. The tombs are monumental; the central figures are not meant to be life-like representations of Lorenzo and Giuliano but idealized symbols of beauty. We agree—the allegorical figures at the bases of the tombs are incredibly alluring.

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The reclining, allegorical figures at the bases of these tombs are particularly voluptuous.

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Greek and Roman Sculpture at the Uffizi

The photo below depicts a Roman copy of a Hellenistic sculpture, depicting the sleeping Ariadne. Her apparent state of bliss is an illusion because in Greek mythology the goddess is left by her lover, Theseus, while she is asleep. How anyone could abandon such a stunner is a mystery.  

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RealWrestlers.jpgEqually captivating is this pair of wrestlers (right), another Roman copy of a Greek original. Just check out that muscle definition. Every part of their bodies is strained and defined as a result of their intense physical effort. And yes, in Ancient Greece they wrestled naked.

Of course Venus (below, left), the Goddess of love, whose hands cover (or draw attention to) her breasts and pubic area is another captivating piece of artwork. The statue was a high point of the Grand Tour in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. It’s easy to imagine well-educated young men and chaperoned young ladies getting overly excited when encountering such an erotic statue. 

Venus.jpgThe Statues of Piazza della Signoria

Being one of the busiest piazzas in central  Florence, the area is filled with tourists and locals, whose scurryings are ignored by the square’s many marble and bronze sensations.

The most famous is Michelangelo’s David (what many people don’t know is that the one in the square is actually a copy, as the original was moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia in 1837.) David’s magnificently athletic body is poised in anticipation of his battle with Goliath. His godlike features are creased into a frown of intense concentration. Michelangelo’s David is a symbol of strength and determination; this guy looks more than capable of felling giants and we’re sure women would also have swooned at his feet.

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David is not the only one with a six pack in the square. Fine torsos and honed glutes abound. Neptune, sculpted by Bartolemeo Ammannati, brings in some real poser competition.

 

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Perseus in bronze by Cellini is another famous sculpture in the piazza. The subject involves a bit of gore; Perseus has just killed Medusa, a hideous gorgon with hair of snakes, but the young hero’s grace and strength are awesome. The Gorgon’s gaze could turn men to stone, an idea that Cellini played on, as the other statues in the square are made of marble. 

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Perseus and Medusa

The Birth of Venus Botticelli, Uffizi Galleries, Florence

Could anything be lovelier than Sandro Botticelli’s goddess? Kenneth Clark, the art critic, described her as ‘……not standing but floating.’  Her pose resembles that of the Medici Venus above, but her body is longer and more elongated; her steady and serenely assured gaze, directly at us, is confirmation of a sex appeal that only the immortals know best how to handle.

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Birth of Venus

Venus of Urbino, Uffizzi Galleries, Florence

This Venus by Titian is no less erotically confident. She stares at us, completely unconcerned about her nudity. There is some debate about whether the figure represents a goddess or is a portrait of a courtesan. Whoever she is, her charm is undeniable.

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Enchanted by the passion on display in these paintings and sculptures? Join us on a Tuscany bike tour and immerse yourself in one of the most sensual regions of Italy.

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