interesting painting

[eyewar]

this picture is defined as fireworks... so what is that metal construction?
Fireworks in Piazza Signoria, 1560 link: http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/ ... cchio.html

[Djchrismac]

It looks to be one of the castle-type constructions they would build at the time to show off their pyrotechnics:

Piazza della Signoria (Florence)
https://abeautifulbook.wordpress.com/20 ... -florence/

Stradanus created some stunning views of Florence in the 1550s, images of the Via Larga, Ponte a Sante Trinita, Piazza del Mercato, Piazza de Duomo, or Piazza San Giovanni that reflect the tremendous pride Florentines took in the splendour of their city. Highlight is his 1598 fresco of ‘Firework at the Piazza della Signoria’. In their quest to stay close to the public, Renaissance rulers adopted the old trick of entertaining the masses. Impressive displays were part of various festivities. Even though the Chinese had invented fireworks, Europe surpassed them in pyrotechnic development in the fourteenth century, which coincides with the time the gun was invented. Shot and gunpowder for military use was made by skilled tradesmen who also produced fireworks for peace or victory celebrations. During the Renaissance, these became a true art form, when sculptors, craftsmen, and pyrotechnicists worked together to create miniature castles adorned with fountains and wheels that would spray brilliant orange sparks, or spin so quickly that the viewer witnessed a spectacular ‘ring of fire’ during a nighttime display. Italians in particular were known for their elaborate exhibits. The link between the military and pyrotechnics was maintained for some considerable time. By the mid-seventeenth century fireworks were used for entertainment on an unprecedented scale in Europe, being popular at pleasure resorts and public gardens.

The people and rest of the scene in the painting do seem to indicate celebration and not running away in terror. The painting does also remind me a bit of the Nuremberg UFO one, however, I wouldn't put it past those in control making a painting like this in order to disguise something else that happened at the time that may have been a lot more interesting... after a few centuries the painting would still be there as an indication of an historical celebration of fireworks but it could easily have been a memorable UFO sighting or similar, over a well known piazza, with the actual witnesses not lasting as long as the painting and thus "history" being remembered as per the description of the painting.

[daniel]

Perhaps "out of control" fireworks... did you notice the buildings are on fire from the fallout and the people are running from either explosions or burning jets of flame in the courtyard? The guys on the bottom appear to be shooting some kind of rifles at something about 45-degrees up in the air.

If you account for the lines of perspective (vanishing point), then the "building" shooting the "fireworks" is floating at least some 60 feet above the ground, based on people / building sizes, and you can see around the left side of the background building. The roof of that back building is also on fire, which appears to be coming from something spewing from the floating object.

The craft, itself, looks much like the Vimana design of ancient India. Two possibilities... it is attacking the city, or having some kind of breakdown/malfunction and is crashing. It would be interesting to find the story that goes with this painting.

BTW, did you see the giants entering the courtyard, just to the left of the 3-arch building in the background? Not statues... about 20 feet high, typical for the "gods" of the old days.

Very interesting painting.

[eyewar]

so we have again official theory - true art form... or coverup like u said i dont know for me its look like City under siege by somekind of flying device anyway thx for lighting response. Daniel can u please mark that giants on photo?

[Lozion]

There seems to be cannons shooting at the craft from the top level of the building on the left. Also, if you look next to the giants, you see a row of shooters pointing their rifles at the center of the plaza while in the foreground of the painting there are figures shooting at them, indicating some kind of fight. Mmm.

[Djchrismac]

[eyewar]

thx.. i thought they are statues.

[Djchrismac]

thx.. i thought they are statues.

I actually thought so too as they are in more recent paintings and photo's and correspond with the statues of Michaelangelo's David and Hercules and Cacus:


No fountain of Neptune (Enki) in the painting (to the left of these ones)... but it was completed in 1565.

[Lozion]

Actually the black statue seems to be in the painting as well, if you zoom in closely.

[Ilkka]

I just have one thing to say.

Why those statues even would be in that place if they were actual statues? I would've chose that their place would've been in the middle of the "plaza" or whatever "yard" or like they are placed in both sides of that entryway to that building. Also I dont think that the artist would've painted them so badly in those specific places where they are. I too believe that they are some giants actually, because it seems to be the most obvious choice.

I think that they shot down that "craft" it seems to be falling down, anyone else see that? Something blew up on top of the craft and its crashing down.

----edit----

Actually it was more than just one thing