There is a small room inside the Vatican Museums displaying models for the casting of the bronze figures of the Altar of the Throne of St. Peter and of the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament in St Peter's Basilica, Rome.
The models were made in 1673 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini with the help of Giovanni Rinaldi and two of them - made with clay mixed with straw over a framework of wickerwork and iron - refer to the angels incorporated in the altars.
Though the statues are simple models, I find them very interesting as their partially stripped wings and arms reveal the structure underneath. Structures – and in particular well-defined and solid structures – are extremely important in any discipline: in fashion structure can help giving a tidier and stronger shape to a garment for example.
During Milan Fashion Week there has been emphasis on structure in different collections, but wickerwork structures appeared as the showpieces at the end of Dolce & Gabbana's show as bustiers or crinolines hidden under see-through black dresses (part of another Sicily-inspired collection with some bits and pieces ripped off from classic '50s Italian magazines, so nothing new here, but the package sells well with foreign buyers, so why changing it?). Time to rediscover the possibilities that wickerwork structures may give us in fashion (think also about accessories such as bags, shoes or jewellery...)?
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
Comments