NIGEL'S RAMBLES: February 2020

Friday, February 28, 2020

More Gonzaga Explorations

My exploration of the area around Mantua continues. This is a combination of a couple of trips out.

Gazzuolo has been on my list for some time, but San Martino Dell’argine is a new find.

The church in Gazzuolo is a colourful Baroque affair. When I arrived, it was almost pitch-black inside and I could only see the colours on the back screen of my camera. At a certain point the verger turned up, and after a nice chat he turned on the lights to reveal the architecture.

Chiesa Di San Bartolomeo, Gazzuolo,MN

The most famous building here is the covered arcade. It was conceived by the Renaissance Gonzaga Duke who held court here.

Gazzuolo,MN

The most striking feature of San Martino Dell’argine is the covered arcades on each side of the road. The local church apart from some nice memorials is a messy affair.

San Martino Dell’argine

My second outing was one of those days when nothing seemed to go to plan. The place I wanted to photograph was covered in scaffolding. I ran in to “no photography problems” in San Benedetto Po when I tried to photograph the inside of the Abbey. My third choice of place to visit was closed for building works too.

Still I savaged something. I am learning to use the set of shift lenses that I have recently picked up. Up to now I have just used vertical shift to eliminate converging verticals. But shifting in diagonal is an interesting ploy too.

The Abbey is connected to Mathilda di Canossa an important Lombard queen, It was once a very important religious centre.

Abbazia di San Benedetto in Polirone,MN

So, I carried on to Revere a small town on the River Po that I visited a few months ago. But the palace was covered in scaffolding. I photographed the imposing local church and the pretty little bell tower that arches over the main road.

Revere,MN

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Land of the Gonzagas

I have an ongoing photographic project to photograph the area of the Province of Mantua once dominated by the Gonzaga family.

Bit by bit I am exploring the area. A couple of old books I picked up in the flea market in Mantua and Google maps are my guide.

It is interesting to explore these sleepy little, once self-ruling states, and the “Bassa Mantovana” has a particular atmosphere.

I managed to get a couple of spare days last week one on the back of a work visit and the other on Sunday to visit new places and places I have explored before.

I went to Piadena to do a job. After I had finished I had a look around the excellent archaeological museum that charts the prehistoric and Roman occupation of the area.

Piadena MN

Piadena, MN

Prehistoric statue, Piadena MN

Dug out boat, Piadena, MN

I have been to Rivarolo Mantovano before, but I had some photographs in mind that I wanted to take with my Shift lens that avoids all those leaning verticals. The effect of the long streets that run the whole length of the town are quite spectacular.

Rivarolo Mantovano, MN

The last time I visited Mariana Mantovana, the castle was covered in scaffolding. The scaffolding had gone, but they are still working on the castle that I wanted to photograph. Next year maybe?

Mariana Mantovana

Things went well at the lovely little Romitorio di San Pietro near Rodondesco. By chance I met the priest who looks after the place. He had seen the pictures I took last year on this Blog and complimented me. This time as I had hoped the old pews that were stacked against the walls hiding the frescoes had gone and it was possible to take some all enclosing shots. He kindly turned all the lights on and left me to complete the pictures I wanted in much better light than on my first visit.

Romitorio di San Pietro, Redondesco, MN

Romitorio di san Pietro, Redondesco, MN

Romitorio di san Pietro, Redondesco,MN

Romitorio di San Pietro, Redondesco, MN

Announcing the death of the Duke of Mantova. Romitorio di san Pietro, Redondesco, MN

The curious thing about the Frescoes is that they have been defaced over the centuries by passing armies and visitors. The German Landsknechts and Napoleone’s troops have all left their mark.

Romitorio di San Pietro, Redondesco, MN

Romitorio di san Pietro, Redondesco, Mn

Romitorio di San Pietro, Redondesco, MN

Romitorio di san Pietro, Redondesco, Mn

On Sunday I decided on a visit to Bozzolo. I wanted to reshoot the pictures I took last year with the Shift lens on a tripod. I planned on a couple of other places, but working with the shift lens that needs to be perfectly level and square on to the subject, took all my time.