Baptistry Mosaics

As promised,

here are photos of the interior of 

the octagonal Baptistry in Florence from last week.

Oh to be in Florence again! 

I know of an author who rents herself an apartment 

in whichever country she happens to be setting her next novel

and then spends that month writing there. 

One of my future goals! 

And actually, that's why I'm posting photos of Florence,

because part of my novel is set there

and this way we can feel like we're there. 

I love that most of these photos and mosaics

depict angels in them. 

The scene below, of course, needs no explanation.

Can you imagine being responsible for putting all of these tiny mosaics in place?! 

I'm setting up a schedule 

to try to get my novel ready for Beta Readers this summer.

I'm NOT a puzzle person

but writing a novel feels a little like trying to place all the mosaics

in all the right places,
fitting all the correct colors with the right scenes
but without too much rigidity
and more than a splash of imagination.
There's a structured whole yet with individual chapters and scenes
which must have their own flavor and color,
textures and tapestries.

And I'm teaching myself novel writing as I go

so I especially appreciate this last mosaic

of an angel bringing information

during sleep. 

I'm working on the last little bits

of trying to make this book puzzle work

and will take all the help I can get. 

(All Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Bronze doors of the Baptistry in Florence

So while my novel put me in Florence

thought I'd share a couple of exterior photos of the Baptistry. 

The above are the North Doors

created by Lorenzo Ghiberti.

These were originally the East Doors but moved to the North side.

Ghiberti was 21 when he won the competition 

(beating out Brunelleschi!)

and began the commission of the gilded bronze doors

which took him 21 years to finish. 

The first two are the Annunciation (always my favorite)

and the Nativity. 

The doors to the Baptistry are what Michelangelo called

The Gates of Paradise. 

Dante and the members of the Medici family,

as well as most Catholic Florentines,

were baptized in the Baptistry of St. John,

--an octagonal basilica in the Piazza del Duomo 

just next to the main Florence Cathedral--

and was built between 1059 and 1128.

Buried within the quatrefoil,

Ghiberti included plants and insects known to be harmful.

In Medieval thinking,

that was a way of keeping evil away.

Next time a few photos of the 

gorgeous mosaics that make up the ceiling of the interior.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

(Info via Wiki)

Ponte Vecchio sunset

Recently I spent a week at my writing retreat on the Oregon Coast

and immersed myself in novel writing

... which put me in Italy. 

So as promised,

here is a bridge view in Florence.

My novel's love interests end up at a villa

overlooking one of my favorite cities in Italy

while they try to save civilization 

from foreign and domestic terrorism. 

Btw, I LOVE how these old bridges

still have shops ON them.

And in medieval times,

people actually lived in houses on the bridge. 

Oh, Florence!

Be still my heart.

(Here's another shot in Florence
from awhile back.)

Next week, Venice!

Ciao.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Eiffel Tower pond

Another tiny slice of Paris today

cause as always, I'm missing it.

But also because, like last time,

I'm giving you a small glimpse into my novel-in-progress.

My last post showed the Champs de Mars cave

where my protagonists (also love interests) spent some time.

And this is the view back across the duck pond 

to the base of the Eiffel Tower 

where they dance together. 

And tomorrow we'll get a little glimpse of Florence, Italy

where they end up chasing suspense.

And next week Venice. 

Til then,

A bientot.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)