14 art students tour Florence, Italy, through Study Abroad program

Though he’s studied in Florence, Italy, on several occasions, Steven Cody, associate professor of art history in the Department of Art and Design, still feels the exhilarating force of Michelangelo’s David every time he sees it. 

“It’s one of those works that is universally recognized; it’s world famous, from the iconic period of culture, but also one of those works that lives up to expectations,” Cody said. “When you see it in the flesh, it kicks you in the chest! Wow! I get it!”

It’s even more fun looking at that awe in students’ eyes seeing the masterpiece for the first time. The work of 14 Purdue University Fort Wayne art students who toured Florence from May 28 to June 12 as part of the department’s Study Abroad program is now being showcased through Sept. 5 in the “Art of Florence” exhibition in the Visual Arts Building. Hours are 8 a.m.–9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekends. The official opening is 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is free.

Making his 12th trip to Florence, Christopher Ganz, professor of fine arts, and Cody co-led the group, including one-day trips to Rome, Siena, Fiesole, and Lucca. Like studying from a textbook versus seeing works in person, the difference can be as enlightening as eating Italian out of a box compared to a meal prepared by a chef.

“The first couple of days you know you’re there, but you don’t realize it, so it feels like you are looking at a classroom presentation,” senior Coren Paige said. “It takes you a minute to adjust and realize, ‘I’m actually standing in front of the Duomo right there!’”

Part of the Cathedral of Florence complex, the Piazza del Duomo includes some of the world’s greatest sculptures and paintings, both inside and out. Cody presented art history each day on the objects, and then Ganz worked with the students as they created their own drawings.

One of the highlights came in the Brancacci Chapel, where frescos by Masaccio were under repair and behind scaffolding. Cody was allowed to twice climb the scaffolding to present up-close viewings for students. It’s something unlikely to ever happen again in his lifetime.

“The thing I enjoy most about it is the chance to interact with the works,” Ganz said. “That takes time to do that. They learn so much from looking at these works and studying them that they don’t really realize how much they are learning until they start to draw again. Suddenly, they notice things they couldn’t previously. 

“A lot of times it might even take years for them to actually understand what they see. Sometimes you can’t realize the full impact until years later. The immediate impact is still obvious, though, as they grow as artists and in appreciation.”

The experience adds depth, creativity, and nuance to their developing styles, along with new inspiration. Cody said he could see students develop intellectually as they became more comfortable thinking and talking about works, making connections between something they saw one day and another they saw the next.

“It’s also really exciting to see them get their legs under them in Europe,” Cody said. “You see them become comfortable in the different settings. It’s one reason why studying abroad is so important because it allows us to not just experience the different cultures, but to stop seeing differences as something dangerous. You see the subtle nuances, evidence of growth that you look forward to watching as they continue to develop — to seeing who they become.”