Italian historian discusses why Michelangelo painted
By PATRICIA PRUITT
Giorgio Spini lifted the veil on Michelangelo's mind last night.
The artist, Spini said, was skilled in the "game of symbols dear to the Florentine mind and liked to conceal his mind under a veil of mystery that puzzled even his contemporaries."
But with the insight of history, Spini continued, "we can see his mind better than his own contemporaries."
Spini, professor of modern history at the University of Florence, Italy, spoke on "Michelangelo as the Artist of the Florentine Republic."
TONIGHT, HE gives the second half of the story with "Michelangelo and the Tragedy of Florentine Liberty," at 8 p.m. in the Kansas Union Forum Room.
Michelangelo's work reflected the political situation of his native city. Besides, he was called a moral philosopher by his contemporaries.
Religion and the Italian religious reformer Savonarola greatly influenced the works discussed by Spini.
"Beauty for Michelangelo," said Spini, "equaled religious and philosophic truth. The beauty in his works was an allegorical cover for
his message, but it was clear for the initiated few."
MICHELANGELO DREW upon mythology and Biblical tales frequently to disguise his dogmas.
His sculpture "Sleeping Love" represents "a great cosmic power through which God is present in the world. This is a reflection of the Neo-Platonic philosophy of that era," Spini said. "I can speculate only that the work represents divine power sleeping in an unhappy and troubled time in Italy."
The statue of Bacchus holding the lion's skin was inspired by the myth of Bacchus' capture by Etruscans and his escape by turning into a lion. His bonds became grapevines. It symbolizes for Michelangelo the triumph of the mysterious divine power of God over the wicked stupidity of man.
He created the piece at the time the suppression of Savonarola was failing in Florence.
DAVID SYMBOLIZES the triumph of liberty over the brute force of depotism and was done at the time Michelangelo experienced his greatest working harmony, balancing political and social classes, Spini said. It was a glorification of the civil situation.
Advent services planned
Advent, the penitential season in anticipation of the coming of Christ, is observed in various ways by different KU religious groups.
For the third consecutive Advent, campus protestant groups will participate in special services to be held at 4:30 Wednesday afternoons in Danforth Chapel.
Campus groups participating include the Roger Williams Fellowship, Wesley Methodist Foundation, United Campus Christian Fellowship (UCCF), Canterbury Association, United Church of Christ, Lutheran Student Association, Lutheran Missouri Synod and KU-Y.
SERVICES WILL be conducted on Dec. 7, by the Rev. Norman Steffen, pastor of the University Lutheran Church and on Dec. 14, by the Rev. Maynard Strothmann, pastor of UCCF.
The liturgy of Advent will be reviewed for Catholic students in
daily mass held at 6:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Student Chapel, 1915 Stratford Road.
The second presentation will be held at the Wesley Foundation, 1314 Oread.
UCCF, Wesley Foundation and Canterbury groups will meet at 5:15 p.m. on Dec.4, at the UCCF Center at 12th and Oread to hear the Rev. Ronald Sundbye give the first of two presentations on the "Mission."
LUTHERAN STUOENT Association graduate students will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9, at 1566 Crescent Road, for a discussion entitled, "The Virgin Birth" led by the Rev. Don Conrad, Lutheran campus pastor.
Activity-wise, Christmas comes to KU early since most students leave the campus when classes are dismissed for the holidays.
The Southern Baptist Student Union will entertain international
The Nazarene Group or Breeze Fellowship on Dec. 4 plan to pack Christmas boxes for former Fellowship members who are now serving in Viet Nam. On Dec. 17, they will pack a box for a needy family and then sing Christmas Carols.
students at a Christmas tea at 3:30 p.m. on Dec.4, at the Community Building at 11th and Massachusetts Streets.
It's religion with a beat when the Gamma Delta group (Missouri Synod Lutheran) get together at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14, for their second pre-Christmas Masper service. Parts of the Folk Mass, "Rejoice!" and traditional Christmas carols will be sung to the accompaniment of guitars.
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