| The Sistine Chapel 2 Monday Evenings May 10 and 17, 2010 Fee: $25 per person Fee includes course syllabus / lecture notes. TIME: 7:00 - 8:30 pm LOCATION: Bagby Parish Hall St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 717 Sage Road Houston, TX 77056 Click for registration form. The proceeds from this lecture benefit The Texas Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research |
Two New Lectures by
Dr. William J. Neidinger
benefiting the Texas Foundation for
Archaeological & Historical Research
Dr. William J. Neidinger
benefiting the Texas Foundation for
Archaeological & Historical Research
Dr. Neidinger holds degrees from Fordham University, University of
Madrid, and Rice University. He is an archaeologist with the Texas
Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research (TFAHR), and
has been directing excavations in the Mediterranean area for the past
25 years. During this time he has also lectured extensively at
universities, colleges, adult education programs, and churches across
the state of Texas. He is currently working on TFAHR
archaeological excavations in the Republic of Macedonia. For
information on Dr. Neidinger’s current and upcoming projects, please
visit www.tfahr.org.
The proceeds of this lecture series will benefit TFAHR's 2010
excavations at Bylazora.
Madrid, and Rice University. He is an archaeologist with the Texas
Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research (TFAHR), and
has been directing excavations in the Mediterranean area for the past
25 years. During this time he has also lectured extensively at
universities, colleges, adult education programs, and churches across
the state of Texas. He is currently working on TFAHR
archaeological excavations in the Republic of Macedonia. For
information on Dr. Neidinger’s current and upcoming projects, please
visit www.tfahr.org.
The proceeds of this lecture series will benefit TFAHR's 2010
excavations at Bylazora.
Although it is now one of the most trafficked locations on the tourist route
through western Europe, the fate and fame of the Sistine Chapel were far
from secure throughout most of its history. It was constructed by Pope
Sixtus IV in 1477 because he wanted a chapel that was not in an advanced
state of decay (like most of the other buildings in Rome) and that he could
also use as a defensive redoubt from the mobs of the city. The upper
portions of the original chapel collapsed early on and were hastily mortared
up for appearances’ sake. The greatest names of the day (Perugino,
Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, et al.) were commissioned to fresco the
walls of the shaky structure.
To fresco the chapel ceiling Pope Julius II contracted a temperamental
artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti, who claimed that he was not versed in the
art of fresco, and he wasn’t. His first attempt was disastrous. But despite
regular altercations between Pope and artist, Michelangelo managed to
complete the project a good four months before Julius died.
When Rome was sacked by the troops of Charles V in 1527, the Sistine
Chapel came within a hair’s breadth of being destroyed. In 1535 the sixty-
year-old Michelangelo was summoned back to paint The Last Judgment, a
work that, at the time, was hailed a masterpiece, but only by some. Within
a few years of its completion the prelates of the Roman Church were
debating whether to rip it from the walls or not.
Having survived mildew, wars, and inquisitions, Michelangelo’s work was
finally subjected to well-intentioned and horrific attempts at preservation
and restoration (coating with wax, washing with retsina). But the most
recent restoration returned it as close as possible to what it may have
looked like when Michelangelo finished it.
In this two-lecture series we will discuss the history of the chapel and
examine the theological, philosophical, and artistic forces that lay behind
this Renaissance masterpiece.
The lectures will be richly illustrated with images, and course material will
include detailed lecture notes and an extensive syllabus including maps and
ground plans.
through western Europe, the fate and fame of the Sistine Chapel were far
from secure throughout most of its history. It was constructed by Pope
Sixtus IV in 1477 because he wanted a chapel that was not in an advanced
state of decay (like most of the other buildings in Rome) and that he could
also use as a defensive redoubt from the mobs of the city. The upper
portions of the original chapel collapsed early on and were hastily mortared
up for appearances’ sake. The greatest names of the day (Perugino,
Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, et al.) were commissioned to fresco the
walls of the shaky structure.
To fresco the chapel ceiling Pope Julius II contracted a temperamental
artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti, who claimed that he was not versed in the
art of fresco, and he wasn’t. His first attempt was disastrous. But despite
regular altercations between Pope and artist, Michelangelo managed to
complete the project a good four months before Julius died.
When Rome was sacked by the troops of Charles V in 1527, the Sistine
Chapel came within a hair’s breadth of being destroyed. In 1535 the sixty-
year-old Michelangelo was summoned back to paint The Last Judgment, a
work that, at the time, was hailed a masterpiece, but only by some. Within
a few years of its completion the prelates of the Roman Church were
debating whether to rip it from the walls or not.
Having survived mildew, wars, and inquisitions, Michelangelo’s work was
finally subjected to well-intentioned and horrific attempts at preservation
and restoration (coating with wax, washing with retsina). But the most
recent restoration returned it as close as possible to what it may have
looked like when Michelangelo finished it.
In this two-lecture series we will discuss the history of the chapel and
examine the theological, philosophical, and artistic forces that lay behind
this Renaissance masterpiece.
The lectures will be richly illustrated with images, and course material will
include detailed lecture notes and an extensive syllabus including maps and
ground plans.
| Registration Form Advance registration by mail is recommended. Registrations will also be accepted at the door. |
About the Lecturer
Dr. William J. Neidinger
Dr. William J. Neidinger
| LECTURE ROOM LOCATION AT ST. MARTIN'S BAGBY PARISH HALL Click here for map |