Fish in the ancient Roman mosaics

Near Rome there is the extensive archaeological area of Ostia Antica.
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Ostia at Roman times worked as a port. Goods arriving from the sea often were then transported on the river Tiber.
Ostia was a very populated city and lived there many foreigners, sailors and fishermen.
In the archaeological there are numerous interesting mosaics and some of these reproduce marine subjects.
Fish are often fanciful to put fear to the simple people. Sometimes the fish seem ready to be cooked.

photo a.p

photo a.p.

However the Romans sometimes bred fish and there were also scuba divers.
Fish are also represented in the mosaics of Pompeii (see photo wikipedia) and other ancient Roman cities.

Roman mosaic in Libya-old photo

Mosaic art was very important and popular for the ancient Romans. So in the mosaics were also represented many human activities.
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Ostia antica -wikipedia
Ostia antica-Lazio

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Nativity scenes in Rome

The tradition of the Nativity scenes in Italy begins in the Middle Ages and St. Francis personally executed one in Greccio, a village in north of Rome.
In Naples, the people are very fond of this tradition, and there is also a road where they sell the parts people need.
In Naples there is also an interesting museum at the Certosa di San Martino.
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In Rome, the tradition is a bit 'different but we say some.
In the ancient church of SS.Cosma and Damiano, not far from the Forum, you can see, almost all year, a beautiful nativity eighteenth-century, Neapolitan style.

The Nativity Scene in SS.Cosma Damiano (photo by Luciano B)

enlargeable pictures

Other interesting nativity scenes are usually set up in many Roman churches and always has a quite successful one proposed in Santa Maria in Aracoeli.
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On the subject of the Nativity we mention however two important works: the frescoes by Pinturicchio in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo and the nativity scene sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1291, now visible in the museum of Santa Maria Maggiore.

fresco by Pinturicchio

Detail of the Nativity sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio (photo ap)

see the full scene in wikipedia

Many inhabitants of Rome still make the Nativity scene at home and sometimes they build them with pieces of plastic.

There are also very modern representations.

composition of 2011 in Piazza Venezia (photo ap)

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Finally, almost every year at Christmas time, is an exhibition near the church of Santa Maria del Popolo.

show cribs 2015-2016

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Portelli, exhibition at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

From 30 December 2015 to 30 April 2016 proposed a new art exhibition in Florence.

The exhibition is dedicated to the painter Carlo Portelli that in the sixteenth century in Florence attended some important art workshops (with Vasari etc).
Tourists will see around 50 works by the artist who at the time was already known for some eccentricity.
Portelli in 1566 with the painting "Immacolata Concezione" shocked many people for the nudity of Eve. However, the artist often had important assignments.
Several paintings by Carlo Portelli, as well as in museums, are also in Florentine churches

details of the painting Martirio di San Romolo in the 

church Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi (photo Sailko/wikipedia)

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Lorenzetti, restoration of paintings in Siena

Some paintings by Ambrogio Lorenzetti are under restoration in Siena (Santa Maria della Scala).

Several paintings currently in villages around Siena or in the city will be transported in one place to receive treatment and during the work of the restorers, tourists will still be able to admire the artworks. At the end of the restoration planned in the year 2017, there will be a major exhibition about the artist.
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Ambrogio Lorenzetti (or Ambruogio Laurati) (c. 1290 –  1348) was an original painter of the Sienese school. The artist is well known because he painted the Allegory of Good and Bad Government a big fresco in the a large fresco in the most important Senese building.