Monday, September 17, 2012

Innocence and Mansuetude

Statues, chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, church of the Most Holy Annunciation, via della Madonna, LivornoMost of us can't remember these statues in place, on the facade of the “Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata” (Church of the Most Holy Annunciation) in “Via della Madonna”. The church was almost destroyed by the by the Alled bombings of the Second World War and the damaged statues were stored elsewhere for safekeeping.Statues, chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, church of the Most Holy Annunciation, via della Madonna, LivornoLast week, after a long and thorough cleaning of the facade which took a few months, copies of the original statues have been placed where they once stood. The allegorical sculptures represent Innocence and Mansuetude, but don't ask me which one is what...

See also: United Greeks - Inside United Greeks - Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata - Annunciation

12 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

This is beautiful VP.

Michelle said...

The statues represent such life like qualities.

Taken For Granted said...

There was many a lass who lost her head during the Second World War. Interesting photo. Thanks for the post.

Jack said...

They are beautiful. It is remarkable that these restorations are being made seven decades after the end of the war. And, "mansuetude"? I had to look that one up. Not a word that comes up in conversation every day.

Randy said...

That 2nd photo close up is amazing.

Gunn said...

What a treasure!
Beautiful.

Dina said...

A headless lamb, a woman missing limbs--this carnage of war is infinitely sad. I wonder what the next war will destroy.

tapirgal said...

I imagine it means "calmness or serenity" rather than "leniency or indulgence," but who knows. A new word for me today, too. It looks beautiful.

Halcyon said...

I would venture a guess that Innocence is the lady with the lamb. But that's only a guess! Glad that these have been restored. They're worth seeing!

Arianna said...

Bella testimonianza di storia! Ciao, Arianna

Virginia said...

Sad that these beautiful works of art were damaged but are still worth holding on to.
V

Traveling Hawk said...

It's good that you have now the statues in place, even if they are only copies.