St Martin's College art lovers' trip to Rome

Rome, the Eternal City, hosted 27 St Martin's College Art students. The group included Form IV and V students, as well as former students who are now following A-level courses at Sixth Form.

The work-packed programme focused on guided visits to the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Doria Pamphilj Gallery and the Borghese Gallery.

The students will surely not forget Michelangelo's breathtaking Pietà, the phenomenal Last Judgment and The Creation, Caravaggio's original Conversion of St Paul, the fine Baroque example of Bernini's Ecstasy of St Theresa and his masterpiece Apollo and Daphne.

Italian works of art of the last century also aroused the students' curiosity. The Futuristic works by Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla, as well as Modigliani's works intrigued them.

The group had the opportunity to attend a wonderful guided tour of the Scavi - the fascinating necropolis under St Peter's Basilica. They attended Mass at Santa Maria del Popolo, where works of Caravaggio are to be found. Night-time activities included visits to Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and an evening at the LunEur Funpark.

Sketching sessions were held at the various museums. The students' hard work there will be collected in a specially devised art journal, the outcome of which will be presented as part of the practical component of the sec Art Examination.

This educational trip for our students has become an annual event and everyone is looking forward to this year's trip to Amsterdam.